Return fare cheaper than one way??

[Deep]

Hi
I have come across something bizarre whilst trying to book a flight and was wondering if anyone can shed some light on this.

I'm looking at an international ANA/JA flight from a South East Asian country to Tokyo, I don't want to fly back to the same SEA country
If I look at a one way fare in business it is £1100. If I actually look at a return fare it's £800, approx £400 each way.

I've never come across this before and can't figure out why I can't just book a one way for £400.

Anyone seen this before?

Thanks

[andy43]

Caroline Lucas has left the chat.

[Deep]

andy43 said:

Caroline Lucas has left the chat.

I don't get it.

[FlyVintage]

The pricing structure is often like this and not just for airlines.

Look at sky scanner multi sector search; that way you can put whatever destinations you want and it’s often much cheaper than individual one-way tickets.

[simon_harris]

I used to deal with a guy that would book two return fares as it was most often cheaper than booking a return for the dates he needed (business travel) and almost always cheaper than booking two one way tickets.

[snuffy]

Like trains. £10.10 return or £10 one way.

Can't i just buy 2 of the return bits fir 20p?

[Deep]

Thanks.
I must say that I have never seen this before. Whenever I have booked flights there is a clear price for outbound and inbound and the two together give you the return price.

I find the whole thing bizarre. I will call them and see what they say. No doubt it will be some kind of double talk that makes no sense.

[Dbag101]

Wait until you discover split save. Mind blown.

[Monkeylegend]

It is aimed at business travellers who often have an ongoing schedule so not flying back from the same destination, and who are also less concerned about cost.

I had business customers who regularly booked return flights because they were cheaper knowing they were flying back from somewhere else, so just didn't turn up for the return flight.

They were the ones who were more concerned about cost.

It was also cheaper to get a LHR flight to Amsterdam and stay overnight, then get a flight from Amsterdam to USA the next morning that stopped over at LHR on the way to the USA., even with the overnight hotel cost built in.

[snuffy]

Dbag101 said:

Wait until you discover split save. Mind blown.

Yes. It's like you have a deck of cards in your pocket!

[Vasco]

Deep said:

Thanks.
I must say that I have never seen this before. Whenever I have booked flights there is a clear price for outbound and inbound and the two together give you the return price.

I find the whole thing bizarre. I will call them and see what they say. No doubt it will be some kind of double talk that makes no sense.

I woildn't bother with the phone call, it will annoy you even more. There's plenty of this silliness on planes and trains.

[Truckosaurus]

snuffy said:

Like trains. £10.10 return or £10 one way.

Can't i just buy 2 of the return bits fir 20p?

Interestingly, my local train operator (South West Railway) has stopped doing this and now a single is half the price of a return due to the introduction of a smartcard system so you don't buy a ticket.

It's reduced the price of my trip to work as the evening return is now at a cheaper rate, whereas before you had a peak return valid all day.

[Deep]

Thanks everyone

[snuffy]

Truckosaurus said:

snuffy said:

Like trains. £10.10 return or £10 one way.

Can't i just buy 2 of the return bits fir 20p?

Interestingly, my local train operator (South West Railway) has stopped doing this and now a single is half the price of a return due to the introduction of a smartcard system so you don't buy a ticket.

It's reduced the price of my trip to work as the evening return is now at a cheaper rate, whereas before you had a peak return valid all day.

The last Government claimed they were going to stop the single/return price nonsense:

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advi...