Empire State Building approves hated surge-pricing model visits to landmark could top $100

Tourists looking to watch the sunset from the Empire State Building’s observation deck could soon be forced to fork over more than $100.That’s because the owners of the storied landmark have decided to institute dynamic pricing – the hated money-grabbing scheme that sends ticket prices soaring at times of high demand.Tickets for the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors currently start at $79 for an adult, jumping to $96 for prime viewings at sunset.That figure could top $100 if desperate romantics drive up the cost under the surge-pricing model.The stratospheric prices have led to an outcry from fans of the King Kong skyscraper.“The Empire State Building used to be an iconic, affordable NYC experience,” Kyle Taylor, an Atlanta chef who has frequently traveled to the Big Apple over the years, told The Post.

“Pricing it as a near-luxury attraction just adds to the growing exclusivity of the city, which in general, I’m not a fan of.”The new pricing model was revealed during an earnings call on Thursday by Tony Malkin, chief executive of Empire State Realty Trust, who said the plan will help keep the company’s finances strong. “We expect continued growth in 2025,” Malkin said, according to a Crain’s New York, which first reported the move.“We are still below overall 2019 levels of volume and have room for upside as visitation levels improve.”Prices for tickets to the beloved tourist decks already fluctuate based on the time of day, rising to their highest level at sunset, according to Empire State Building’s website.But even at their cheapest, a trip to the New York skyline staple’s top floors would require a family of five to shell out roughly $400.

That’s a huge jump from the $1.10 ticket for the building’s observatory in the 1930s, or even the $55 price just 15 years ago.A dynamic pricing system would employ an algorithm to further raise prices during times of high demand.It is unclear how much more expensive high-dem...