Can someone explain this strange air fare?

Show all answers

flash_flotsam

Airfare pricing (like most goods) are based on supply and demand of the origin and destination airports. The price that is being charged for each route is based on the origin and destination cities, regardless of the component parts within those itineraries. The airline looks at LHR-CVG and LHR-BNA as completely different products with completely different prices, with no regard to the fact that you might have to go through CVG to get to BNA. (In other words, even if you were flying from London to Atlanta to Cincinnati on Delta, you'd likely be charged the same as for the nonstop flight, and the cost to fly from London to Atlanta to Nashville would be the same as flying from London to Cincinnati to Nashville.)

Since it often comes up as a question here, I'd also note that you can't get away with buying the flight to BNA with the intention of only going as far as CVG. As soon as you fail to board the flight to Nashville, the remaining segments on your itinerary (including the entire return to London) will be automatically cancelled. I know that this wasn't the question that you asked, but a lot of people look at the type of itineraries you look at with that idea, not knowing that it won't work.

EDIT: Victoria, with all due respect, you didn't say the exact same thing as everyone else. And you may have gotten thumbs down from other people for this part of your answer:

"as for this it could be a mistake that would if seen online would be rectified at time of confirmation"

It's unlikely that the discrepancies in price seen in this question are an error. Cincinnati, as a hub for Delta, often prices higher than other nearby airports because of this hub status (due to lack of competition). No one here has ever said that this was logical, but to state that the disparity is because of an error that will be caught at confirmation really doesn't help answer the question when a) it's not an error, and b) the answer is far more complicated than that.

southwestskywaitress

In Cincinati, people can choose a nonstop on Delta or connect thru another city. Delta knows this and charges than a premium for the nonstop and people are willing to pay it.

In Nashville, Delta has no sich advantage, people have no nonstop option, but all sorts of 1-stop flights. They can go thru Cinci, or choose other airlines and go thru NY, Washingotn, Chicago, etc. The big factor in their choice is price.

In Nashville Delta needs to stay competitive and the lower fare allows them to do so.

potatochip

Higher airfares is not something we here in Cincinnati are proud of. Delta controls about 80% - 90% of all flights so the airfare is quite high if you choose to fly into Cincinnati. We do not have any major discount airlines to compete against Delta so we are stuck with high airfare prices. Fortunately though the price has come down a bit because of the economy.

But to answer your question, it does not make sense but just as Southwestskywaitress mentioned, Delta needs to stay competitive in Nashville so the ticket prices to fly into that city will be lower than if you fly into Cincinnati.

blaster 2

I can explain this quite easily.It is your final point that will determine the fare.The fact that you are changing in CIN makes no difference to the fare,they will still charge the London-Nashville fare.
Had you been changing in CIN and staying there for more than 24 hours,then this would be classified as a stopover and the higher intermediate fare(lon-cin)would have been charged.Because its not a stopover,they will only charge the Lon-Bna fare which is cheaper.

mrmilo02020

In this case this is what's called a through fare London-Nashville via Cincinnati in each direction.
In other words calculated to the destination where as the
London -Cincinnati return is also just calculated to the destination.
So that the connection really is mute, it's the destination that determines the fare.
Hope that helps.

CARLOS O

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Please check:
Tips:
a- use flexible dates
b- use alternative airports

http://www.hotwire.com/

http://www.cheapoair.com/

http://www.kayak.com/

http://www.orbitz.com/

http://www.priceline.com/

http://www.expedia.com/default.asp

http://www.farecompare.com/

http://www.farecast.com/

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/

http://www.cheapair.com/

Dan

If you are expecting logic where air fares are concerned, then you are dreaming. There is no logic. I wrote tickets before and after deregulation and never saw any logic. I talked to the people who decide what the fare was going to be and never saw or heard anything logical.

United once had a transcontinental fare with a change of planes in Cleveland that was much less than non-stops, and we in Cleveland did not need the connection business. People would occasionally want to stay in Cleveland for a few days, and bring me their tickets, and I had to charge them another $300.

When I went to Atlanta to drive my future wife back here in 1999, I bought a one way ticket, that cost me $564. For that price I could have gone from here to Atlanta to PARIS AND BACK! Logic? Sorry, don't look for any.

Regards,
Dan

Victoria

As someone who as worked in travel for 11 years, nothing makes sense sometimes, for example a 2 week package holiday has been know to cost less or a few pounds more than a week! as for this it could be a mistake that would if seen online would be rectified at time of confirmation or they for some unknown reason do not wish to charge for this extra connection, travel websites use live systems so mistakes and 'false quotes' often occur so triple check everything, good luck!

why are top contributors giving other answers the thumbs down, after i've pretty much said BEFORE them what they have said??!! wow does getting the top answer vote mean that much to you? get a life losers

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: