United Airlines sell tickets for as low as $0

[MadImmortalMan]

Will no one think of the United shareholders? 

They decided to honor the tickets in the furtherance of shareholder value.

'

They can add to their BS "goodwill" number in their book valuation. 

[Admiral Yi]

They can add to their BS "goodwill" number in their book valuation. 

That's just an accounting entry that doesn't put money in anyone's pocket.

[mongers]

A friend of mine happened to be online yesterday, buying tickets for a class reunion in Colorado. While she was there, she noticed that ticket prices were at no cost, so she bought her tickets to the class reunion, and then also booked a flight to Las Vegas from Chicago, and another to Hawaii.

Total cost: $30 for her and her boyfriend to fly to all three cities.

This doesn't represent the true 'cost' of these flights.

I'd take a crappy flight with rude airline pilots and servers to Hawaii for $15.

Think external rather than internal costs.

No price includes externalities.  That's why they're called "externalities."

Who said anything about price ?

I rephrase it for you, "what are some of the external costs of flying from Chicago to Hawaii?"

[MadImmortalMan]

Well you get a free four hours...