Why are direct flights more expensive than connecting [duplicate]

I am an American living in Tokyo. I plan to go back to the US (NYC) to visit my family and for Christmas and New Year. Flights from Tokyo Narita to JFK on ANA (return) are $1,400. Of course this is too expensive. However, when I checked flights from Manila to New York, it was $600 return, on ANA's site and using the same NRT-JFK and back $1,400 flights. When I find flights from Tokyo to Manila, they were $500 return (on ANA as well). Sure, $1,100 is less than $1,400, but this is still expensive. Why is this? Also, can I book the MNL-JFK flights for $600 and not get on the flights to and from Manila?

air-travel ana

Best Answer

Why are direct flights more expensive than connecting

Because the airline want to make more money. They feel that a non-stop flight is more valuable to the customer than a connecting flight hence they can charge more even though their own cost is significantly less.

Airlines typically don't charge based on cost but mainly on "what price we can get away with" using complicated revenue optimization systems. There are dozens of different prices for the same seat on the same plane.

Also, can I book the MNL-JFK flights for $600 and not get on the flights to and from Manila.

Typically no but it's complicated. This practice is called "hidden city ticketing" or "skiplagging" and you can google on how it works and what you can and cannot do. In short: it violates the terms and condition of your contract. If you don't a fly any leg or your itinerary the airline will immediately cancel the rest of your flights, so you can only do it on the last leg. It also doesn't work with checked baggage.

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Why direct flights are more expensive than those with connecting flight or direct flight?

This is a classic airfare question that can be boiled down to a simple enough answer: Supply versus demand. Nonstop routes are a gamble for airlines because they require consistent demand for travel on that exact route.

Why are layovers cheaper than direct flights?

It could reduce prices on the nonstop to increase demand, but then it dilutes the fares that all those other people would have paid and that could result in less revenue even if it puts more people on the airplane. So it tries to find another way to fill up those seats.

Are connecting flights cheaper than direct?

Connecting flights are generally not more expensive than direct ones. In fact, they are generally cheaper as some passengers may wish to pay more in order to get to their destination quicker with a direct flight.

Why are connecting flights less expensive?

In a very basic sense, the airlines try and forecast supply and demand as best as they can for every single ticket, and then price each one accordingly so as to sell for the highest possible profit. This results in price discrimination, or charging different prices for the equivalent seat on an airplane.

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