Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - LHR - iad late October = expensive

have a daughter that wants to come back to US for November. Her earliest departure date is Oct 22. Oddly, there's a big jump in fares for all airlines on that date - $100+ more than the corresponding day a week earlier, and even more expensive than August travel.

More oddly, United's fares are much lower LHR-ORD or LHR-EWR, just to use examples.

First time I've seen such a situation. It seems all the more odd because if you look at the seat maps, the planes are empty.

Anyone have ideas regarding what's up?

High prices and empty metal for a low travel time of year? Seems like a curious business model.

wait til tomorrow. rates will change. maybe ord & ewr will go up.

does anything else happen between lon and was on that date?

I've been watching the IAD fares for weeks - no change. I realize it's early for sales, but still odd that IAD would be so much more than other locatiions. Historically, IAD hasn't been much more than JFK or EWR, for example.