Opaque rate

Opaque rate is the discounted pricing of products or services that doesn’t specify the details about the purchase until it is complete. 

For example, a traveler searches for car rentals on a third-party booking platform that offers opaque pricing. The traveler indicates the pickup location, dates, and car type preferences but has no information about a particular rental company until after booking. Another example is a travel booking website offering flight deals, where the information about the airline, exact departure time, and sometimes even routing are hidden until after purchase.

Opaque rates allow providers to capture revenue from bargain-seeking customers willing to accept uncertainty in exchange for a lower price. This helps offload unsold inventory and avoid spoilage. Resellers also benefit from opaque rates, as they can earn higher markups or commissions from unpublished rates.