Strange Pricing Policy

[Tartan Gannet]

I intend to fly up to Rab C Nesbit International (GLA) from LHR next month but will not be flying back but getting a lift.

Now when I logged on to BA's website I found that a single ticket was £165 against £138 for a return. It would be cheaper for me to book a return and throw away the inbound section once I arrived at GLA. This seems illogical especially as the operator can sell that seat on the return flight to a standby passenger and has had my money for a service I wont be using.

Can anyone explain this anomoly to me????

. . <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Avman]

It's the same everywhere with everyone (except the no-frills airlines) which is why there's such a much higher number of "no-shows" these days - all the pax not showing up on the return portion of an APEX return. Crossing the atlantic one-way you can (at present) purchase roundtrip tickets for about 20-25% of the price of a one-way fare!

[Pax Vobiscum]

And, of course, you can get two APEX returns for much less than the full return fare, which also boosts the number of no-shows.

Not that I would ever condone such naughty behaviour ...

[SLF]

I remember getting a great Club deal LHR=&gt;LAX about 5 years ago, providing I went to LAX to Mexico City mid trip. Suffice to say 2 sectors went unused... <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[sycamores]

I was once told that it was an IATA ruling (true or not?) You're not meant to do it thats why if you want to do something like that, or 'back to back' tickets you need to use the internet. I've had some shouting matches over the phone as they protest at me! <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[flypastpastfast]

I was once told back to back was illegal. Is that really the case, and what kind of sentence might I expect if caught? Always wondered if it was just an 'urban myth'.

[sycamores]

Don't know about sentances as i've presented the wrong tickets for a back to back sector and the ticket staff were fully aware of what i was up to.. .They just smiled!I have heard of FF passengers being given a full refund and having their reservation cancelled by a late Belgian carrier! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[PAXboy]

Back-to-Back is 'illegal' in their Conditions of Carriage. But they would rather have some of your money than no money at all!

However, bear in mind that if you fail to show for the first leg of a price restricted ticket - the second leg will be closed automatically. i.e. you can always throw away the 'return' but you cannot throw away the 'out'.

It is my understanding that pax devised back-to back, to get around ancient and restrictive practice by the carriers. The carriers would rather see their rules ignored than change them. That would admit defeat and (in their minds) unravel the whole 'pricing parcel'.

As it turns out, that pricing parcel is being chopped up by the low cost carriers. So the whole issue about back-to-back is now irrelevant. :)

[sycamores]

Yes they are being chopped up by the low-cost carriers however i for one am no longer willing to fly with any airline that is unreliable/regularly late and has the most reprehensable attitudes towards its SLF(For above read EasyCheezy/MOLlymaloneAir/Gonair/South-wish- we-cud-be-best-Air)and sad as it is undoubtedtly BeMiBrat will turn out the same. I mean being stuck in Luton after the trains have stopped is still a damnsight better then in Castle Donnington(Shiver!).Give me a warm cabin, a relaxed crew and heathrow with its attached 'civilization' any wet sunday evening after a delayed flight.. .This way everyones happy. I feel secure and mature carrier gets its money. <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[Tartan Gannet]

Thanks folks, I get the picture.

Now I could understand a return being dearer than 2 single tickets. This happens with trains, buses etc. But when the cost of a single exceeds that of a return ticket, that is funny economics to me I have to say. Still, ours not to reason why, ours but to buy the ticket and fly from LHR to GLA.

[PAXboy]

I am certainly not going to try and predict what the fare structure will be in five years - but I'll bet it will be different, due to:

1) Low Cost Carriers. .2) WWW

Most of the old fashioned pricing structures that we still have, date from the days of nationalised airlines. As they have to complete with (1 + 2) above, they will have to change these things.

Unfortunately the CAA and their cohorts around the world are still often (not always!) plagued by a 'wannabee airline CEO' mentality. This too has to change but will take much longer.

[ 26 January 2002: Message edited by: PAXboy ]</p>