Multi-city pricing and strategy
 

I am planning a route as follows; want to stay on US Air (or American I suppose):

--Tampa to Paris on July 23 (via Charlotte)
(will take train July 29 from Paris – Amsterdam)

--Amsterdam to Tampa on Aug 13 (via Philadelphia).

Since the return flight on Aug 13 would go through PHL, we are considering staying a few days there, and returning PHL to TPA on Aug 16.

Here’s the question: On Orbitz, the 3 legs with the stop in PHL come to $1540 on US Air and others. However, on US Air’s site, the price is >$1700 for 3 legs, but $1540 if we skip the stay in PHL. Kayak is at the $1700 level for 3 legs.

Is this typical? I realize I can call US Air, but appreciate any insight or input before I do so. Thanks in advance!

First
Kayak doesn't sell tickets, they just point you to online sites who do sell tickets
Second
Is Orbitz using a mix of airlines? Could that be ehy it's cheaper?

Orbitz itinerary is all US Air. I realize that Kayak points to airlines -- the choices found there are at the $1700 level.

You should be able to select the exact same flights you see on Orbitz on US Air. Have you tried that?

FWIW - It might be cheaper to use Orlando instead of Tampa.

When I select 2 legs on US Air's website, i.e. omit the days in PHL, returning to TPA (via PHL) on Aug 13, it costs $1530. However, when I add the leg of Aug 16 PHL-TPA, it adds $150 to the cost. It seems to be due to the multi-city feature which makes each leg a la carte. Ideas?

You have to look at the detailed rules for the fare bucket(s) you're purchasing. Often the lowest fare categories (and there will be as many as ten or more just for "coach") don't allow stopovers, so by adding the stopover you're bumping all or some of the segments into a higher fare bucket.

Multi-city destination pricing rarely makes any sense.

I looked at this on ITA using the star-alliance search and it prices. Couldn't recreate it on US Air, but could on American. It prices at $1534.50. There's lots of options to select different departure times from Tampa to CLT and for PHL to TPA. They are mostly pricing within $2.

Here's one example from American.


Average Price per Person - 1,534.50 USD
Taxes and carrier imposed fees included. Price details
Fare Alert: Nonrefundable fare. Change fee associated with fare.
Carrier Flight
# Departing Arriving Aircraft
Type Cabin AAdvantage
Flight
Miles Meals Travel
Time
City Date & Time City Date & Time

AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS 1700 TPA
Tampa Jul 23, 2014
11:46 AM CLT
Charlotte Jul 23, 2014
01:26 PM 321 Economy
N/A 13 hr
9 min

AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS 786 CLT
Charlotte Jul 23, 2014
04:45 PM CDG
Paris Jul 24, 2014
06:55 AM 333 Economy
N/A
Alert: Overnight flight or connection.

AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS 799 AMS
Amsterdam Aug 13, 2014
10:40 AM PHL
Philadelphia Aug 13, 2014
01:25 PM 757 Economy
N/A 8 hr
45 min

AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS 1700 PHL
Philadelphia Aug 16, 2014
07:50 AM TPA
Tampa Aug 16, 2014
10:43 AM 321 Economy
N/A 2 hr
53 min