Fare classes divide the same cabin into price buckets
Economy may contain many booking classes even though the physical seats are identical. Each class can have its own price, availability and rules.
Flexibility is part of what the fare buys
A refundable ticket or one that permits easy changes can cost much more than a restrictive fare. The price difference therefore reflects contractual flexibility as well as the seat itself.
Demand changes as departure approaches
If bookings are stronger than expected, cheaper fare classes may close. If demand is weak, an airline can reopen lower-priced inventory or promote the flight through specific channels.
Business and leisure demand behave differently
Travelers booking for work may purchase later and value schedule convenience more highly. Leisure travelers often plan earlier and are more price-sensitive, so airlines try to segment those patterns.
Connecting itineraries can price differently from local travel
A seat on one flight may be part of many origin-and-destination journeys. Airlines can price the entire itinerary rather than simply adding up the standalone price of each segment.
There is no single moment when tickets are always cheapest
Pricing reacts to bookings, competition, seasonality and remaining capacity. Historical rules of thumb can help with planning, but they cannot predict the exact fare path of a specific flight.
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