Emirates - MAN vs GLA

[Akrotiri bad boy]

I'll be travelling to AKL early next year and having worked my way through the various options decided that Emirates was the best bet. I was then faced with a choice of MAN, (a 90 min drive), or GLA, (a 3.5 hr drive). Looking at MAN I found each flight to be substantially more expensive than GLA options, this despite MAN being 200 miles and half an hour closer to Dubai than GLA. Furthermore, each MAN option included the obligatory Dubai connection but also included Bali fuel stops adding at least two hours to the second leg to AKL. I've now booked from GLA factoring in the added seat selection costs the price is still £300 less than MAN departures. From this I have a number of questions which I hope fellow Ppruners can answer:

Why are all MAN departures more expensive?
Why do Emirates use the A380 ex MAN then change to the B777 for the AKL leg thus requiring fuel stops? The exact opposite of GLA departures (B777 then A380).

Puzzled of Albion

[TartinTon]

I would imagine it's down to demand for the MAN vs GLA bit and effective aircraft utilisation for the Dubai swap bit.

[Mister Geezer]

I suspect the old adage of supply and demand comes into play. Since EK started EDI last year, EK pax throughput at GLA has dipped around 10% -15% on a month by month basis prior to the addition of the A380 at GLA. Therefore more competitive pricing would make some sense compared to MAN. Whether the addition of the A380 has helped to reduce the deficit in pax numbers, remains to be seen.

The 777 used to operate the direct AKL when the route first started, so the old girl can fly the route non-stop, as do QR from DOH. The DPS stop was created purely for commercial reasons and to provide a link between AKL-DPS, as no one was operating the route prior previously.

[gilesdavies]

Not sure of your exact location, but did you consider Newcastle?

Fares from there always seem a bit more competitive... Similarly how fares on the new Stansted service are cheaper than from the other London airports.

[Rutan16]

RAF Cyprus south salt pan , Given Manchester has three flights to and from Dubai each day each using an A380 ( two using the very dense two class versions) - that works into one per hub wave and I am certain the none stop Dubai - Auckland option is available as a single ticket.

It might not be the first to show depending on your search parameters. If shortest connection time chosen the one stop option for the second leg could show up first.

With fewer options from Glasgow the probability of the none stop Dubai - Auckland option being offered first is certainly higher imho.

BTW airline fares bear no resemblance to mileage traveled period stop ! but are calculated via a myriad of complex algorithms these days.

Emirates basket of one stop fares from Manchester in particular favours Middle East regional , Sub Continent, Bangkok and Hong Kong and Australia.

New Zealand will have rather lower demand and as such may well attract a fare premium imho

[AirportPlanner1]

I have a question in return for the OP.

Is £300 in your pocket a price worth paying for the extra 2 hour drive after having flown long-haul (maybe even in from NZ? Plus an extra two hour drive ahead of a long flight going out. And petrol isn’t free...£300 might become £270

England and Scotland have different school holidays...are you comparing peak in one v off-peak in the other?

[LiamNCL]

Unless you want a evening departure you could of considered NCL aswell , closer to MAN than GLA.

[easyflyer83]

Supply and demand exactly. Also, remember that for the three major Middle East carriers, MAN actually, so I am led to believe, appears in their respective top ten routes.

[kriskross]

Try going by train? Saves on stress and parking fees?

[Celtic_Plumber]

Wife and I flew to AKL from MAN last year; hopped on a cheap Flybe flight to AMS and began our long-haul journey from there. Travelling in Biz, we saved over £800 each compared to starting the long-haul from MAN.

[160to4DME]

You don't "have" to route via DPS on the B777.