Saturday, October 06, 2012

Markets in Everything: Speculating on Airfare, Beer for Space Travelers

How about this: When buying your airfare; get a discount if speculate right on fuel prices or pay more if you’re wrong.

image

AllegiantAir wants it’s customers to be able to gamble on fuel prices. They’ve written a letter to the Department of Transportation asking for permission to allow their customers to be able to choose between a traditional fixed-price ticket and a discounted, variable-price one. If the price of jet fuel falls by the departure date, customers with a variable ticket would get some cash back. If the price climbs, they would pay more, up to a pre-disclosed cap.
Or how about specialized beer for astronauts and for space travelers?

image

It’s too late for Oktoberfest, but the world’s first space beer will soon be available, if tests by Astronauts4Hire prove it has the right stuff.

The beer, produced as a joint venture between Saber Astronautics Australia and the 4-Pines Brewing Company, is a recipe designed for easy drinking in both in microgravity and on Earth. It is intended to meet anticipated demand from the nascent space tourism market.

No comments: