Laura

I've compared ticket prices, same airlines, dates and destinations, and noticed that if my flight would originate out of a European city coming over here and flying back, the tickets would only cost about half as much. Please someone explain this to me!! Thanks a lot.

Sue

That's contrary to what I have heard; I thought flights originating in Europe cost more. Anyone able to clarify this?

janis

I don't know the current situation - but for years you could fly UK>US>UK for about 30% less than US>UK>US. It always frustrated me because you could not purchase a ticket in the UK for flights originating the USA.

Leslie

I thought they cost more or were at least equal to the price of a ticket from the US. However, is it possible that as an incentive to increase tourism within the US since 911, that the airlines have reduced the fares? Possibly this could be a seasonal phenomenon too?<BR><BR>Laura, this price reduction that you have been monitoring, is it for European carriers, US carriers, or all carriers?<BR><BR>The rationale may very well be that it is better for the airlines to take passengers at low fares than to have empty seats and not collect any fares.<BR><BR>Nevertheless, it is interesting and I would like to read more about this.

KT

Laura, which city in Europe? Market forces do affect ticket prices, so I suppose they could be cheaper from a country where prices in general are lower and people would be hesitant to buy at higher prices, like maybe Portugal or Hungary. Or they could be having a special sale, same as in the US. Also, high season an be at a different time for sale in different markets, due to different timing of holidays and school vacations. <BR><BR>But my experience has generally been the opposite of yours -- I usually get plane tickets to Europe for less than the Europeans I know spend to come to the US. One of my friends here in the US is Swiss and another one had a long-distance relationship that involved lots of flights to and from Italy, and they both said the same thing -- they usually got better deals than their European counterparts.

Joanne

When I was arranging a home exchange last summer, people in London were getting higher prices for their trips than I was for mine.

Ann

When I lived in the UK, it always cost me more to the US than it did to fly to the UK when I lived in the US. And I know that hasn't changed, because whenever friends come to visit us, I'm always amazed at how much more expensive their flights are.

Tony Hughes

Found it to be more expensive to fly UK - USA - UK than reverse. Even when it is same airline et.

Ursula

I think it's the opposite. I am always amazed, when I see the low prices posted here for trips US-Europe.

Sjoerd

I have been monitoring prices between Amsterdam and New York (and back) and Amsterdam and San Francisco (and back) for the last 5 years (and American friends have monitored prices from NYC/SF to Amsterdam and back) and indeed, tickets originating in Europe are almost always about 30% to 50% cheaper than tickets originating in the USA. Why would that be? Airlines will charge whatever a market will allow them to charge. Apparently, Americans are willing and able to pay more for a ticket to Europe than Europeans are willing and able to pay for a ticket to America. Just supply and demand. <BR>Works this way all over the world. A ticket from Bangkok to Singapore is also a lot cheaper than a ticket ffrom Singapore to Bangkok, and business class tickets out of London are 25% - 40% more expensive than business class tickets out of Amsterdam. (there are more lawyers, investment bankers and other unproductive types in London willing to pay a high price.)

Geoff

Laura,<BR><BR>You're nuts. ;-) I've seen prices posted in European travel agency windows when over there. It's not only cheaper to get tickets in the US, sometimes extremely so. Be careful if you see prices from Europe that don't include the VAT.

Sjoerd

Geoff, you are nuts. <BR>Today's prices: Amsterdam - New York - Amsterdam: 210 euro (about 185 US$), Amsterdam - San Francisco - Amsterdam: 305 euro (about 265 US$)<BR>I have booked similar fares to both cities even in June and September.

Laura

Believe me it is true. I have a large family in Germany that come to see me all the time because the tickets are so cheap. Example: I habe found these fares on Orbitz and QIXO today: <BR>JFK - Frankfurt1092 with Lufthansa or United.<BR>Frankfurt to JFK368(non-stop)with Delta or US Airways. These prices are for May/June.

Geoff

Iceland air is currently running the same special from the US - JFK/Boston/Washington to Glasgow/London/Amersterdam/Frankfurt US$189.

Tony Hughes

Found it to be more expensive to fly UK - USA - UK than reverse. Even when it is same airline et.

Randall Smith

Hello all,<BR><BR>Just a thought. Indeed published airfares are always astronomical i.e. $1200 or more for coach rond trip to Paris from Indianapolis. The question is, how many actually pay these prices? <BR><BR>I just bought two R/T tickets from Indy to CDG for $325 for late March returning in April. In fact, out of the last 6 tickets I've purchased I have been averaging between $400 and $500 or so. I did have to pay $900 + per ticket last summer, which was the most I've ever paid for a R/T between the US and Europe. <BR><BR>Thus, I assume the drastic difference that you find is the full fare published price for the ticket, but you can almost always get a great deal if you shop around.<BR><BR>Bon Voyage to all,<BR><BR>RJS<BR>

xxx

interesting question.<BR><BR>I just checked fares on travelocity for travel between D.C. and seven major European cities. It appears, based on this totally unscientific survey, that flying from Europe to the U.S. is MUCH cheaper than the reverse.<BR><BR>The results (for may-june travel):<BR><BR>- Madrid ($425 cheaper to fly from Europe to U.S. than U.S. to Europe)<BR>- Frankfurt ($710 cheaper)<BR>- Paris ($270 cheaper)<BR>- London ($322 cheaper)<BR>- Rome ($425 cheaper)<BR>- Prague ($620 cheaper)<BR>- Moscow ($20 cheaper)<BR>

Laura

My point excactly!!! So, why is it cheaper to fly from Europe to the US? Do we pay more for jet fuel or landing fees? Or is it that we don't mind paying these high ticket prices?! My son is a pilot and he doesn't know the answer either.

Laura

ttt

Patrick

I've always thought that to be true also. Although there are always bargains to be found either way, I just did a little experiment. I went to the American Airlines website. I chose the dates June 24 to July 25 at random. When I checked the exact same flights going on those dates from Miami to London Heathrow the price was $938.20 round trip. When I reversed the direction, originating in London on the exact same flights, and the same dates, the price was $710.20. I then chose the same dates between Paris and Miami. Originating in Miami the fare was $1233.50, but originating in Paris, the fare was $543.50. What a huge difference!!