What is it with intra-Europe flights and the one-way penalty?

[Aussie_flyer]

an Airpass type add-on to your European fare might be another way of going if it works for you.

There are skyteam, oneworld and star alliance air passes available at a flat rate per sector. These can be used in conjunction with your fare to europe. Speak to a travel agent about it, it doesn't always work out cheaper of course, but they are there and can be handy for some people.

e.g. on the star alliance coupons:

GROSS FARE:
0-150 MILES USD85
151-500 MILES USD110
501-1000 MILES USD135
1001-1250 MILES USD160
1251-1500 MILES USD175
1501-1750 MILES USD190
1751-2000 MILES USD220
2001-2250 MILES USD245
2251-2600 MILES USD270

 

[sinophile888]

The situation with one-way fares seems ridiculous.

I faced a similar dilemma a couple of months ago when I was deciding about a cruise whilst my daughter and I are in Europe. We had the choice of one cruise out of Barcelona or another cruise where we could embark/disembark in Rome or Genoa. A Genoa departure was €180 pp cheaper. The clincher was that we could get a one-way flight from Genoa to London for only €69 on British Airways. The next cheapest flight was US$700 and the price went up from there. Also other down sides to the other choices were at least one stop on the way and inconvenient departure times.

I guess we are very lucky that the price, date, airline and the timing all suited us.

 

[opusman]

The situation with one-way fares seems ridiculous.

Remember it wasn't that long ago that we had the same thing in Australia, along with 7/14/21 day advance purchase, having to stay away a Saturday night, etc.

 

[Homer]

an Airpass type add-on to your European fare might be another way of going if it works for you.

There are skyteam, oneworld and star alliance air passes available at a flat rate per sector. These can be used in conjunction with your fare to europe. Speak to a travel agent about it, it doesn't always work out cheaper of course, but they are there and can be handy for some people.

e.g. on the star alliance coupons:

The only problem is that you need to arrive in Europe on a OneWorld, Star Alliance or Skyteam carrier and EK is none of these so we can’t buy an airpass.

I think it’s resolved though. Using Expedia I was able to find a CDG-MXP-MUC-CDG fare from Lufthansa for $1,500 and change (for all three of us - so about AUD $500 per pax) that fitted our schedule perfectly. My TA was able to book the flights at the same price on her system. All I had to do was switch the Europe EK departure from FRA to CDG (which I think is better anyway because of the 380 out of CDG) which I did without penalty.

Considering that I was looking at $900 for CDG-GOA one-way and then $1,800 for MXP-MUC one-way, plus the cost of the ICE from MUC to FRA at about $700 I think this has worked out pretty well.

The only big negative that I can see is the check-in experience because we have no status with LH - that means getting to the airport early, lining up in the whY lines to check-in, etc. Fortunately our Priority Pass cards will give us lounge access in two out of three terminals.

 

[samh004]

The only big negative that I can see is the check-in experience because we have no status with LH - that means getting to the airport early, lining up in the whY lines to check-in, etc. Fortunately our Priority Pass cards will give us lounge access in two out of three terminals.

A glaring omission from Centurion/Platinum services? A tie-in to allow priority checkin with certain carriers might fit the card?

 

[Homer]

A glaring omission from Centurion/Platinum services? A tie-in to allow priority checkin with certain carriers might fit the card?

That would be great but I guess they already have that in some markets where you get top tier status with certain airlines just for having a particular Amex card.

 

[samh004]

That would be great but I guess they already have that in some markets where you get top tier status with certain airlines just for having a particular Amex card.

Ahh, true.

 

[hazel]

As part of our Europe trip in Oct/Nov we want to fly from Milan (either MXP or LIN, we don’t care) to Munich but Lufthansa wants more than $700 per pax (there are three of us) for a one-way trip in Y. If I make it a return trip it’s around $100 per pax but I have been told that if we don’t take the return leg (which we wouldn’t as we are leaving Europe via FRA) then they charge the difference between the return and the one-way fare to your credit card.

Hi - I had the same issue in July we wanted to go from CDG to IST. We ended up buying a return with Swiss Air via Zurich. They didn't have an issue with us not using the return flight.
cheers

 

[Sethor]

If I make it a return trip it’s around $100 per pax but I have been told that if we don’t take the return leg (which we wouldn’t as we are leaving Europe via FRA) then they charge the difference between the return and the one-way fare to your credit card.

I think that is a load of BS, I booked 3 return fares with Lufthansa BCN-SOF via MUN in March 2009 & only traveled one way. We did not get charged the one way fare, I think you can cancel the return leg and they will refund you the taxes on the unused fare(We did not bother doing this).

 

[lukemulligan]

I just had this problem in Europe. My agent was booking flights for a work trip in November/December and I need to fly Amsterdam to Rome. The one way trip on Alitalia was $991.60. Booking a return fare was $240.70. Travel agent said they usually just book the return fare and you just do a 'no-show' for the return flight!

 

[rooboy68]

For good value one way flights in Europe try Transavia airlines.
I just booked Nice-Amsterdam direct for 69 euro one way. Next best was BA at 280 euro via LHR.

Don't think they fly Milan-Munich though...

 

[xt_20]

We used Air Berlin for our intra Europe flights -- we flew CPH-TXL, TXL-DUS and DUS-ZRH and all were excellent and roughly 4 times cheaper than LH. They even gave us exit row seating for one flight without us asking.

We booked all the flights via their website using an Aussie credit card -- no problems at all. Just remember to bring some reading material, as all they have on board are German.

 

[Ewok]

I have been told that if we don’t take the return leg (which we wouldn’t as we are leaving Europe via FRA) then they charge the difference between the return and the one-way fare to your credit card.

I've done this at least a dozen times this year on a variety of European carriers and it doesn't happen.