Why are USA to Europe round-trip airfares more expensive than Europe to USA round-trip airfares?
I travel to Milan about three times a year from San Francisco. I have never understood why the round trip flights are almost double if you originate in the US? For example, Milan-SFO-Milan in June is US$ 1,003. But SFO-Milan-SFO is US$ 1,956. It almost makes sense to purchase a SFO-Milan-SFO ticket and not use the return part. Then I would buy tickets Milan-SFO-Milan, right? And save lots of money.
So why is there such a discrepancy in pricing depending what is the originating country?
Best Answer
It depends on the demand for those tickets - perhaps more Americans want to go to Europe, so the airlines can charge more?
Here is a tip that will help you. The origin of your flight means nothing. It's not where you live, it's not where you are for months before the flight, it's just an airport. And where you fly to is also not where you live or where you are committing to stay the whole time. It's just an airport. So, you want to go SFO-Milan-SFO a lot? Don't throw anything away, just think differently. Let's say you want to spend January, April, and August in Milan.
Look at the price of a one-way ticket SFO-Milan Jan 1st, a one-way ticket Milan-SFO Aug 31st, and a return ticket that combines those two. Buy whichever is cheapest, the two one-ways or the return.
Buy a return ticket Milan-SFO Jan 31st and SFO-Milan April 1st. As though an Italian wants to visit the US for 3 months. Similarly Milan-SFO April 31st and SFO-Milan August 1st.
Presto - you have saved $953*2. In some cases, such as trips for less than a week on airlines that changes less for "Saturday night stays" the savings can be even more impressive. This technique is called "nested returns" and while it's only useful to people who make the exact same trip a lot, it sure is useful. Some people recommend you don't do the first set of tickets (Jan 1 and Aug 31) on the same airline as the others; some say it doesn't matter.
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Why are European airlines cheaper than American?
Competition. The largest single reason for lower airfares in Europe is the presence of competition. The open skies agreements established in the European Union mean that European airlines can fly between EU countries freely.Why is airfare so expensive in USA?
Fuel and salaries are two of the biggest expenses for airlines. Jet fuel prices this summer are roughly double what they were during the last several summers. And air travel demand is way up: Summer travelers will experience the type of crowds not seen since 2019, before the pandemic and lockdowns squashed travel.Why are flights back from Europe so expensive?
Supply and Demand After it nearly evaporated in 2020, demand for travel is back and isn't going anywhere. In fact, it might be higher than ever. That's good and bad news. As with all things, one of the biggest factors behind flight prices is the simple law of supply and demand.Why are flights to Europe so expensive right now?
Demand Fell During the Pandemic Whether it was forced due to lockdowns and closures or by choice because travelers didn't feel safe, fewer people were looking for airline tickets in 2020-2021.HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights
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Answer 2
I see flights leaving SFO->MXP on June 16 and returning MXP->SFO June 30 for $1,009 (Delta), $1,100 (KLM), $1,069 (AA) which is not significantly different from your $1,003.
We're already a week into June. If you try to book too close to departure time, you may not get the best price, because of demand and supply. School holidays and other peak travel times are going to attract premium prices.
September is a nice time to go to Europe.
Answer 3
Buy a U.S. to Milan ticket with departure whenever you next want to be in Milan and as long a stay as permitted by the fare rules (e.g., six months or one year). Then buy a Milan to U.S. ticket with departure for when you want to come home, and a return for when you next want to go to Milan. Repeat as desired. You are nesting tickets, which is permitted by airline rules. But you need to be aware of the maximum stays permitted by various fares.
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