return or one way, why the difference?

[horseman]

been watching the qantas site for prices of an upcoming flight from ABX to MCO, im not sure of my return dates so ive been looking to book a one way ticket, then buy my return at a later date, but today I realised my one way flight have been $2000 - $2500, where if I booked a return trip the total bill would come to less than $2000. how on earth do they work this out!? Same flights same route, just with a return leg on the books.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It can be a combination of many factors however season can come into it eg Aust to USA in June is peak season due to Northern summer however low season USA to Aust as our winter.

If you're looking for airfares I wouldn't just look ABX/MCO as the website sometimes charges the earth for that so I would also look at ABX/DFW or LAX & SYD/DFW or LAX as it may work out cheaper if you pay for the the shorter sectors separately.

If you travel to the US more than once a year & know your dates it can be quite cost effective for example to get a one way ff award ticket Aust to the US then buy a return LAX/SYD/LAX with LAX/SYD being your homeward sector on your first trip & SYD/LAX being your outbound sector on your next trip.

 

[flmyngo]

Sometimes it's even cheaper to buy a return airfare to HNL, then another return from HNL to the US (SFO or LAX work best). Last week I found 2 x returns SFO-HNL direct and HNL-MEL direct for US$1,114 ai.