Differences in ticket prices on the same flight / same metal - different carrier

[eckorock]

Let's say there is a flight from AUH-IST ,

Etihad offers the flight for $200, and says "Operated by Turkish Airlines"

Turkish Airlines offers the same flight for $180.

Why is Etihad charging more? Is there any benefit for buying the Etihad branded ticket?
Let's say because I have VA Gold, does it mean I get to go priority-check-in at an Etihad desk and have extended baggage allowance... hence giving me a reason to pay the extra $20

I'm assuming that because it's operated by Turkish that none of that will count, so there's no reason to pay more... right?

 

[mannej]

Being a codeshare, you will be checking in at the operating carriers desk, not the marketing operators.

You are paying extra, as that is what Etihad believe people will pay for the ticket pure and simple.

 

[oz_mark]

Why is Etihad charging more? Is there any benefit for buying the Etihad branded ticket?

It's one thing to codeshare - quite another to be allowed to collude on prices. Etihad believe they can sell them for more.

 

[Simo]

Extra profit for Etihad for no work.

 

[IrishPete]

Here in Oz it is more likely that the codeshare will be Virgin, flying on an Etihad airplane. I often find Etihad to be cheaper, and also they don't charge credit card fees, by booking direct with them you can do online check in, and lots of other advantages.

IP

 

[philtru]

Here in Oz it is more likely that the codeshare will be Virgin, flying on an Etihad airplane. I often find Etihad to be cheaper, and also they don't charge credit card fees, by booking direct with them you can do online check in, and lots of other advantages.

IP

I think a lot of the price differential can be related to how much of their assigned quota each code share partner has sold at the time you are checking - i.e. demand pricing in action. I frequently fly POM - BNE on Air Niugini metal, which is a Qantas code share. Some flights Qantas is cheaper, some Air Niugini is. And the difference can be several $'00 which is interesting given it is only a 3 hour flight.

 

[paultiffen]

If the mileage accrual rules vary or the elite benefits vary then could that explain the difference?

 

[brzbnkr]

How is this for a difference... my wife comes from Finland, so to travel there:

BNE to HEL, in discount J, booked directly through airlines:

Qantas minimum $9,000
Finnair minimum $6,842

Both prices are for flying on the same metal. Maybe there are slight differences in T&C'S, but for over $2k difference per person, I can live with that!

 

[elemist]

Prior to the VA / Skywest merger they had quite different pricing structures. If you booked direct with Skywest PER to ALH the flights were quite cheap, booking the same flight through VA was usually ~$50 more. Could never work out the difference myself. It appears though since the merger they taken Skywests fare rates rather than the one's VA had..

 

[whatmeworry]

IIRC I have seen QF flights to Germany with QF to DXB and then EK to Germany on QF numbers cheaper then EK flights.