To the dismay of business travelers, airlines discretely cater to families with young children who fly first class (Rosman, Katherine, "Frequent Criers," Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2005, W1). Suppose a family's value is $4,500 from traveling in first class and $1,500 from traveling in coach. The total price of first-class tickets for the family is $4,000. Thus, the family's net value of traveling in first class is $500 = $4,500 - $4,000. Because the total price of coach tickets for the family is $1,200, the family's net value of traveling in coach is $300 = $1,500 - $1,200. A seasoned and weary business traveler who prefers to travel first class observes that a family is about to purchase first class tickets. The business traveler quickly considers whether to offer to pay the family to fly in coach instead.
a. Suppose that the business traveler knows the value that the family places on coach and first class travel. What is the minimum price that the traveler can offer the family not to travel in first class?
b. Suppose the business traveler values peace and quiet at $600. Will the business traveler and family reach a mutually agreeable price for the family to move to coach?
c. If instead the business traveler values peace and quiet at $200, can the business traveler and family reach a mutually agreeable price for the family to move to coach?