Why do some airlines (eg. BA) effectively prohibit single tickets? I have often tried to book one-way, but it is usually more expensive than a return. I normally buy a return ticket and throw away the unwanted leg. I suppose all passengers do this, which must create havoc for the airline. But why force passengers into this in the first place?
As an aside, I have a feeling this is actually illegal as it contravenes the conditions of carriage, which you have to agree to before buying a ticket(buying a dummy return). Does anyone know for sure if it is?
I am attaching 2 screenshots from BA: 2 single tix costing £1,669 more than 2 return tickets. The outbound leg is identical (same flight number, same date, some class [cheapest business ticket]). I chose the cheapest return option.
Any ideas?
By: bmi-star - 8th September 2004 at 16:50
I got my MAN-LHR single with bmi for £30, they r one of the best for singles
By: mongu - 8th September 2004 at 13:42
At first I thought that the reason was to do with “no shows”. Typically a rough % of pax won’t turn up for the return flight, this the airline overbooks the return leg. Encouraging pax to buy return tix only, allows this to happen.
But with a single ticket, a slight chance of a no show becomes a definite chance of a no show. So the exact logic of it still eludes me!!
Maybe they just figure that some travellers won’t cotton on, and will happily pay the premium?
By: Bmused55 - 8th September 2004 at 11:16
Hmmm…. I checked bmi’s website. A single LHR-MAN ticket for the dates I wish to travel was approx £38 incl taxes (a return was approx £54). As a comparison, BA is almost £170 single (or approx £64 return).
Surely in this age of terrorism and tight profit margins, flying aircraft with paid for but unoccupied seats doesn’t make much commercial sense.
fair enough
By: Pablo - 8th September 2004 at 11:12
I think it is a general “problem” and not just BA.
Hmmm…. I checked bmi’s website. A single LHR-MAN ticket for the dates I wish to travel was approx £38 incl taxes (a return was approx £54). As a comparison, BA is almost £170 single (or approx £64 return).
Surely in this age of terrorism and tight profit margins, flying aircraft with paid for but unoccupied seats doesn’t make much commercial sense.
By: Bmused55 - 8th September 2004 at 10:56
I dont understand it either if i want a single ticket to or from London, BA charges a huge amount for a one-way BMI or VLM do not ! ?
I think it is a general “problem” and not just BA.
By: carl727uk - 8th September 2004 at 10:45
I dont understand it either if i want a single ticket to or from London, BA charges a huge amount for a one-way BMI or VLM do not ! ?
By: Pablo - 3rd September 2004 at 10:12
BA tried to charge me almost 3 times the return fare (£64 return) for a LHR-MAN single flight. Quote was circa £170.
By: Hand87_5 - 3rd September 2004 at 09:51
That’s right AF doesn’t apply major penalty if you by only one way on domestic flights
By: markkipling - 3rd September 2004 at 09:27
I just booked (and travelled) a one way from LGW to AMS (came back on the ferry) for £45, so they must operate a different policy on short haul as this was roughly half the return fare
By: Hand87_5 - 3rd September 2004 at 07:36
They just don’t want you to buy one leg with them and the return on an other airline.
By: mongu - 2nd September 2004 at 23:34
Of course, just “accidentally on purpose” don’t turn up for the unwanted leg.
I think some airlines are more enlightened though – don’t Flybe offer singles?
By: kev35 - 2nd September 2004 at 23:25
I had the same problem trying to book a single with Thomsonfly. The single was three times the price of the return but when I said OK I’ll take the return but then not return I was told it was illegal and they would not sell a ticket on that premise. Same with Ryanair and BA.
It’s just another way of the airline extracting extortionate fares from people only wanting to travel one way. There is, sometimes, a way around it though.
Regards,
kev35
Sign In
September 2, 2004 at 11:12 pm