Why does a 4 night flight only cost more than 7 night return

[CCCS]

I've been looking at flights from the UK to Washington DC or New York in October.

I can fly with Aer Lingus to DC. Depart Friday 11th or Saturday 12th for £340. Return Friday 18th for £260.

If I want to go Monday 14th the same time flight is £477. Return Friday 18th changes from £260 to £356 for the same flight.


Virgin to New York-

Fly Friday 11th and return Friday 18th - £473
Fly Monday 14th and return Friday 18th - £1691.
Using the same time flights.

There are no special events I'm aware off. I've looked at different dates for 7 and 10 nights and it appears shortening the trip to 3 or 4 nights increases the flight prices.

Why is this?

[jonsp]

The expensive flights are because you're not staying a Saturday night.

[CCCS]

jonsp said:

The expensive flights are because you're not staying a Saturday night.

It's flights only, why does not staying Saturday night matter?

[MrBen.911]

Trying to understand flight pricing models is a quick route to insanity. There are too many factors, and ultimately you can't change them as a buyer. Just keep an eye on pricing and book when it's at it's cheapest. Obviously if you can be flexible with dates and routes then that is massively to your advantage.

[nikaiyo2]

CCCS said:

It's flights only, why does not staying Saturday night matter?

It suggests you are a business traveler and therefore dont care about the cost of the ticket :P

[jonsp]

CCCS said:

It's flights only, why does not staying Saturday night matter?

I assume the airlines do this because business travellers - who are willing to pay more - don't usually stay Saturday night. Leisure travellers who are more price sensitive do tend to stay Saturday night.

Price up a trip that involves a Saturday night and it will always be significantly cheaper.

[fat80b]

It's business pricing. If you want to go Monday-Friday then they assume you are a business person and will pay more from the privilege.

If you straddle a weekend, then they assume you are on more of a holiday, and they tend to be lower cost.

From memory, some airlines treat the saturday slightly differently - If you fly sat night, land sunday moring, it was cheaper with Virgin and not BA (or something like that)

[Sheepshanks]

CCCS said:

Fly Friday 11th and return Friday 18th - £473
Fly Monday 14th and return Friday 18th - £1691.

Our works travel agent used to book two sets of returns overlapping the weekends with one originating in the UK and the other the US so you were always using the first leg.

I think the airlines clamped down on that and the pricing got adjusted so it didn't quite makes sene - although it would in the example given above.

[Scrump]

Business travellers want Monday to Friday, not weekends. So weekday flights, especially at beginning and end of week are in higher demand.

[sleepezy]

Without meaning to endlessly repeat this is all about business pricing.

I've just returned from North Carolina. I had to stay Wednesday to Wednesday due to various meetings, the flights were 50% of my normal Sunday to Thursday. Am about to book Singapore next month Thursday to Thursday as we have to fire off to Taiwan for a weekend meeting with a supplier,similar story although not quite so extreme,although if I came back on the usual late evening Thursday flight the differential is back up to 50%.