Originally Posted by
adventures_await
I've been looking at business class airfares from San Francisco to Warsaw Poland for travel this fall. The prices are going through the roof. Just for fun I compared the exact flights from SFO to Frankfurt and SFO to Warsaw. I then reversed the itinerary from Frankfurt to SFO and from Warsaw to SFO. The dates I selected was departing Sept 13 returning Oct3. Selecting the exact flights there was a big difference. The base prices and taxes were close. The big difference was the so-called international fuel surcharge fee which seems to be a below the line way to hike prices. I saw this with almost all the airlines I checked.
The SFO to Frankfurt cost on United/Lufthansa was $4,481 roundtrip. The exact same flights this time starting from Frankfurt to SFO was $3,792. a $689. difference.
The SFO to Warsaw cost on United/Lufthansa was $5,523 roundtrip. The exact same flights this time starting from Warsaw to SFO was $4,170.00. a $1,353. difference.
Again, this is not a United/Lufthansa specific problem. All the airlines I tested this with are doing the same. Looks like an airline imposed US itinerary originating fee.
It's not at all unusual for ex-EU roundtrips to the U.S. to price lower than ex-U.S. roundtrips to the EU. Different markets, different demand, different prices. I expect that if carrier surcharges were eliminated (or banned) you would see the same disparity fully reflected in the base fares.
Unless you think that it's a "scam" for roundtrips that start in the U.S. to cost more than roundtrips starting in a different country, then this is much ado about nothing. Regardless of the components that make up the final price of the ticket, you either pay the final price, or you don't travel.
People who regularly fly between the U.S. and the E.U. will sometimes buy a one-way ticket (or frequent-flyer award ticket) to the E.U., and then purchase a series of E.U.-originating roundtrips back to the U.S. to save money.