Why do return ticket prices jump up if the return flight is more than six months after the departing flight?
On Singapore Airlines, if you book a flight from London to Singapore for almost any date, the price is either £690 or £1088. For example, a flight leaving on the 28th of Dec with return on 28th of June costs £690 but changing either date to make the trip duration longer than six months by even one day increases the price to £1088.
I realize this is only one example but I don't think it's an isolated case. Four years ago, there was a question that seemed to ask something similar but didn't state it clearly. Why do airlines have such a policy?
Best Answer
This is not a specific 'policy'* the airlines have. All itineraries and routings are dynamically priced.
Why the jump at exactly 6 months? The pricing engine has a rule that increases the return fare on qualifying itinararies.
Why the rule? Only someone in revenue management knows that at each airline but I will speculate that since 6 months is the upper limit for a number of visa types, anything beyond that represents a higher risk of repatriation. Or, they just figured out people will pay it for some reason or another.
*I know, esoteric difference, but still a difference.
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Why does a return ticket cost more?
If you're not sure when you'll be returning, purchasing a one-way ticket seems logical. However, since the airline can't be sure you'll use them for the return trip, their one-way tickets are more expensive as a way to recoup the potential losses of you as a return passenger.Do plane ticket prices go up the closer to departure date?
In fact, airline pricing typically increases closer to the departure date. To fill the most seats, airlines often offer the lowest prices far in advance. As the departure date nears, the prices gradually increase. Leisure travelers tend to book flights earlier compared to business travelers.How far in advance should you book a flight to get the best price?
Timing Matters: Not Too Early, Not Too Late The general rule is that for domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance.How long can a return flight ticket last?
An unreserved airplane ticket and its price are, as a rule, valid for 1 year as calculated from the day after the ticket is issued, as well as the day it is issued. However, this does not necessarily hold if there are other rules that apply to your airplane ticket due to specific fares.HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights
More answers regarding why do return ticket prices jump up if the return flight is more than six months after the departing flight?
Answer 2
This is all about fare rules. Usually the maximum stay is 1,3,6 or 12 months.
The fare rules for a flight can be found at https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ for free.
You can also use Expertflyer, but that isn't for free.
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