WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) sent a letter to JetBlue Airlines requesting information about its potential use of customer data and artificial intelligence to set prices for consumers.
READ MORE: Lawmakers question if JetBlue is using personal data to set ticket prices (Reuters)
On Monday, JetBlue’s X account suggested a customer try clearing their “cache and cookies or booking with an incognito window” after the customer complained about a price increase, a clear suggestion that the company is using surveillance pricing. While JetBlue subsequently claimed that airfares are not “determined” by cached data or personal information, Gallego and Casar are demanding answers about the company’s definition of personal data; whether JetBlue is working with external vendors to set prices using personal data; and whether personal data is used in any capacity to inform prices.
The lawmakers write they are “especially concerned that customers could be charged different prices for the same flight based on their need for travel, such as attending a funeral.”
Read the full letter HERE.
In December, Senator Gallego introduced first-of-its-kind Senate legislation to outlaw surveillance pricing. The One Fair Price Actwould prevent companies from being able to use customers’ personal data to set individualized prices.