Cheaper airfares on reverse routes?

[serfty]

Airlines chargee these fares out of Oz because enough people will pay them, whether aware of the price differences or not.

Three Weeks ago while in SEA I purchased for USD11 each some casual trousers that here in Oz might cost $30.

Add GST to that and the difference is nowhere near made up.


Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[JohnK]

Airlines chargee these fares out of Oz because enough people will pay them, whether aware of the price
differences or not.

Then we should get everyone to join AFF so they could know better.

 

[Moopere]

Its funny how things can be construed though. Imagine at some point everone taking a LCC to say SIN and then travelling onwards in F or J from there at more reasonable pricing. Suddenly it looks like there is no market in Australia for premium travel and the option altogether disappears.... One see's this sort of weirdness all the time.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I wonder if too many people take the Asia upgrade route if that will cause the fares to increase.

I suppose if Aussies stopped travelling for a few months it might make the airlines drop the fares to get us back on planes.

It's a bit like why commercial rents in Australia are some of the highest in the world. Westfields say they aren't too high as the occupancy levels of their shopping centers are high and for every vacancy that comes along there's plenty of renters willing to sign a lease. Add in wages being twice what they are in the USA and that explains a reasonable amount of the price difference. As for a flight, well it's the same service where it's a to B or B to A so obviously from Australia to B has so much demand that they can charge more than from B to Australia. The airlines are being rational and charging what the market will bear. We're unfortunately the ones propping up the profitability of the airlines.

The market price is what the buyers are willing to pay. Unless you're a monopoly, or Apple, most companies are price takers to an extent.

so AFFers - let the flight strike begin till we're not being fleeced :evil:

 

[froggerADL]

This is not just an Australian phenomenom.

For example, a Royal Jordanian return J class flight (7 May and 9 May) BKK-KUL costs AUD$679 including taxes. The reverse on the same dates KUL-BKK costs AUS$382.

I paid $1600 for ADL-LHR in 1983 when I was earning about $200 a week. The same trip now costs about $2000 and I earn a lot more than I did in 1983! I travel a lot more these days .

I actually think the difference between airfares in different countries is a function of floating exchange rates. When an Australian dollar was worth 33 british pence it was more expensive to fly from the UK to Australia than the other way around. Now that they are almost giving british pounds away, the reverse is true.

I prefer to earn my money and travel from a country with a strong currrency.

When our currency returns to more normal levels we won't be complaining about being ripped off on the airfare. We'll be complaining about being ripped off for accommodation, food and beer when we get there. Just like the people coming here on their "cheap" airfares are doing right now (if they can afford to come).

Of course, in the meantime I'll be doing my trips between KUL and BKK from KUL.

 

[JohnK]

I actually think the difference between airfares in different countries is a function of floating exchange rates. When an Australian dollar was worth 33 british pence it was more expensive to fly from the UK to Australia than the other way around. Now that they are almost giving british pounds away, the reverse is true.

I don't mean to be rude but I started purchasing airfares from SE Asia back to Australia in 2006-2007. The saving was still very significant. What was the USD/AUD exchange rate in those days? Was it around 70 cents or 80 cents? A lot worse that what it is now yet the difference in airfare is still the same.

 

[froggerADL]

I don't mean to be rude but I started purchasing airfares from SE Asia back to Australia in 2006-2007. The saving was still very significant. What was the USD/AUD exchange rate in those days? Was it around 70 cents or 80 cents? A lot worse that what it is now yet the difference in airfare is still the same.

You're not being rude John. Airfares are the wierdest thing, and you know a lot more about it than me.

Until tomorrow you can get a Jet* flight from DRW-SIN for AUD99 in their latest sale. The return is SGD258. I don't get it really. Probably the ****e (OK, pooey) season to be in SIN and peak in DRW. I'm probably wrong again. I guess they think if you go to SIN you probably need to come back.

I still think we've got it pretty good at the moment, and if we can take advantage of non-Australian originating flights, all the better.

 

[oz_mark]

The key phrase here is you are "in NZ a lot" so this works for you. Also one way fares ex Aust to NZ are cheap so very easy to position yourself there & just buy AKL/BNE returns all the time.

One of the good things about oz-NZ is that the fares are basically one way fares. The problem with legacy carriers to just about everywhere else is that to get the cheaper fares, you generally need to book a return flight. I really wish they would make the cheaper fares a one way fare structure like the LCC's can manage to do.

 

[Origin]

One of the good things about oz-NZ is that the fares are basically one way fares. The problem with legacy carriers to just about everywhere else is that to get the cheaper fares, you generally need to book a return flight. I really wish they would make the cheaper fares a one way fare structure like the LCC's can manage to do.

I found buying a one way fare Sydney to Hawaii and then a one way ticket back on Jetstar was significantly cheaper than a return from Sydney. Just had to pay the second leg in US dollars on Aussie website. Go figure!Both ares were Business Max.

 

[Ansett]

As for a flight, well it's the same service where it's a to B or B to A so obviously from Australia to B has so much demand that they can charge more than from B to Australia.

But those that leave these shores surely would be coming back well atleast the vast majority thereby negating this theory and revitalising the Gouging concept???

 

[Isochronous]

This is not just an Australian phenomenom.

For example, a Royal Jordanian return J class flight (7 May and 9 May) BKK-KUL costs AUD$679 including taxes. The reverse on the same dates KUL-BKK costs AUS$382.

I paid $1600 for ADL-LHR in 1983 when I was earning about $200 a week. The same trip now costs about $2000 and I earn a lot more than I did in 1983! I travel a lot more these days .

I actually think the difference between airfares in different countries is a function of floating exchange rates. When an Australian dollar was worth 33 british pence it was more expensive to fly from the UK to Australia than the other way around. Now that they are almost giving british pounds away, the reverse is true.

I prefer to earn my money and travel from a country with a strong currrency.

When our currency returns to more normal levels we won't be complaining about being ripped off on the airfare. We'll be complaining about being ripped off for accommodation, food and beer when we get there. Just like the people coming here on their "cheap" airfares are doing right now (if they can afford to come).

Of course, in the meantime I'll be doing my trips between KUL and BKK from KUL.

What's the QFF SC earn on that Royal Jordanian J Fare?

 

[serfty]

What's the QFF SC earn on that Royal Jordanian J Fare?

If it is eligible for earn then it will earn SC as for Business class (same as on QF), including COS bonus.

 

[juddles]

... I guess you and I are not going to see things the same on this issue.....

John, if we all saw things the same there would be no debate, and that would be boring!

 

[spudseamus]

Im just like the op this next trip will be Mel to Dub so it will be EY or EK direct the price difference a month ago on the same airlines only in reverse was nearly $2300 aud !! if it was a few hundred $ I wouldn't care !! so the strong dollar is the cause of this ? or is it because they can!! lol!

 

[browski]

When our currency returns to more normal levels we won't be complaining about being ripped off on the airfare.

You might like to change your wording from "normal levels" to "historic levels". I do not think anyone would be predicting that the aussie dollar will be back at $0.69 in the next 5 years. At $1.04, we are at the new normal.

 

[juddles]

...so the strong dollar is the cause of this ? or is it because they can!!....!

Exchange rates have nothing to do with this! It is pure marketing.

 

[browski]

One of the good things about oz-NZ is that the fares are basically one way fares. The problem with legacy carriers to just about everywhere else is that to get the cheaper fares, you generally need to book a return flight. I really wish they would make the cheaper fares a one way fare structure like the LCC's can manage to do.

There are some full service carriers that price their one-way fares at approximately half the price of a return fare (some other full service carriers do this on just some nominated routes). The key to beat this airline strategy is of course to dispense with loyalty; or at the very least spread your loyalty over a couple of FF programs. It is also handy to be aware of the availability of 5th Freedom flights

 

[Moopere]

Opening this up for some more comment:

So, I need to go PER-KCH 19th july this year and would like to go J. Had a look at pricing. Hmm. 4500+ return. Because of this thread and a few others like it I went and did a price on KCH-PER in J ... AUD$2600+

Pretty significant difference, and for what? Same airlines same flights in many of my dummy fare runs.

After some more stuffing around it became clear I needed to hub out of SIN for this flight and pretty much any others I might want to take aside from the South Pacific. So, need to get to SIN, then buy my future J fares from there and always end with a SIN-PER-SIN ticket so that my time in PER becomes a stopover, with a paid for J return to SIN where I'll pick up my next ticket to wherever.

A bit more digging showed me these numbers for economy flights:

Purchased from Perth, one way:

PER-SIN MH $723
PER-SIN SQ $670
PER-SIN QF $673

Purchased from SIN:

PER-SIN MH $738
PER-SIN SQ $755
PER-SIN QF $606

Not much in it no matter the place of purchase, the route seems to be the problem. Lets look at that:

Purchased from PER:

SIN-PER MH $288
SIN-PER SQ $2400 (!!!???)
SIN-PER QF $604


Purchased from SIN:

SIN-PER MH $290
SIN-PER SQ $564
SIN-PER QF $302


I didn't bother going into it, but the 2400 figure SIN-PER above, purchased from PER is obviously a search engine error or some availability artefact. Not too worried. But the other numbers show clearly that if we don't assume price gouging then the planes must be coming back into Australia almost empty, thus the half price fares to encourage someone, anyone, to buy a fare.

So lets assume that (and no gouging). What would a return fare cost?

Purchased in Perth, return flights:

PER-SIN MH $992
PER-SIN SQ $660
PER-SIN QF $710

Purchased in SIN

PER-SIN MH $1012
PER-SIN SQ $1185
PER-SIN QF $591 (I checked this, its not JQ)

Hmm

Purchased in PER:

SIN-PER MH $592
SIN-PER SQ $3815 (obviously some weird error)
SIN-PER QF $1048

Purchased in SIN:

SIN-PER MH $598
SIN-PER SQ $663
SIN-PER QF $479 (again, not JQ)


Whats interesting there is that I can buy a SIN-PER return of QF metal for less than a PER-SIN one-way.... This would lead one to think of buying the return ticket and just no-showing on the first leg ... but the fare rules mention specifically cancelling the ticket upon a no-show.

In any event, apologies for the long long post, but it seems direction is everything, and whilst there are thought provoking differences on this day, on this route with a small number of airlines given the place of purchase, its a reasonably insignificant amount except for QF who are busted several times doubling the fare based upon nothing but place of sale.

Now off to plan the effect on my travel budget to hub out of SIN including what will amount to free nights at SIN Conrad or Hilton, paid for by massive J fare savings.

 

[browski]

Being from PER, this may not help you but.......If traveling ex-MEL there may be another option. I often fly to Kota Kinabalu so I catch the Royal Brunei flight: MEL-BWN-MEL, currently $674 return in Y and $2700 return in J. FF Points credit to CX Asia Miles.
From BWN it should be pretty straightforward to get to KCH, but I don't know the flight timings.

One-way flights from MEL-BWN are $570.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Not much in it no matter the place of purchase, the route seems to be the problem. Lets look at that:

Purchased from PER:

SIN-PER MH $288
SIN-PER SQ $2400 (!!!???)
SIN-PER QF $604

Purchased from SIN:

SIN-PER MH $290
SIN-PER SQ $564
SIN-PER QF $302

Whats interesting there is that I can buy a SIN-PER return of QF metal for less than a PER-SIN one-way.... This would lead one to think of buying the return ticket and just no-showing on the first leg ... but the fare rules mention specifically cancelling the ticket upon a no-show.

When you say above "purchased from PER" & "purchased from SIN" what booking engines are you using to determine where the fare is purchased?

Outbound PER/SIN then even if they don't autocancel your return leg SIN/PER, your eticket coupons will have the status "suspended" so you won't be able to checkin on it even if you still have a booking on the SIN/PER flight. Remember you cannot use coupons out of sequence so if you haven't flown PER/SIN first you can't fly SIN/PER.

Making the most of buying return airfares from other countries isn't to noshow anywhere but to position yourself PER/SIN is the most economical fashion like a YASA or classic one way redemption or even a JQ cheapie PER/SIN, then return back to PER on the outbound coupon of your airfare ex SIN. This means you will have a PER/SIN coupon still to be used to get back to Asia for your next trip. Getting back to PER each time will always be the first flight coupon of your ticket "purchased in SIN".

When I say "purchased in SIN" you could physically be at home in PER on your computer making the actual booking but if you used a SIN based travel website or a global site where you have selected SIN as your home country then the ticket for all intents and purposes is 'issued in SIN'.