It seems to me (although I'm willing to accept the explanation that I am just frequent flyer shopper retarded) that ba.com is actually discouraging me from purchasing tickets there. Looking for flights home (USA) for Christmas in NCW, I did searches on Expedia and ba.com. Below I've cut and pasted what I've found. The Expedia prices is less than half of the least expensive flight I could find on ba.com, so I've also pasted in the rules of that fare to show that it is not restrictive in any way. The times, flights and dates are identical and on ba.com I tried both the "best fares" and the "specific flights" options (fyi - most times I get better fares using the specific flights option, which is weird)

Does anyone have any insights as to what I'm doing wrong?

BTW - the Polish Zloty versus USD exchange rate is roughly 3.3


FROM EXPEDIA.COM
$3,096.26
5:50 pm Depart Warsaw (WAW)
Arrive London (LHR) 7:30 pm Fri 23-Dec
Duration: 2hr 40mn
British Airways British Airways 851
Nonstop flight

9:40 am Depart London (LHR)
Arrive Miami (MIA) 2:20 pm Sat 24-Dec
Duration: 9hr 40mn
British Airways British Airways 207
Nonstop flight

8:55 pm Depart Miami (MIA)
Arrive Warsaw (WAW) 5:00 pm +1 day Sun 8-Jan
Duration: 14hr 5mn
British Airways British Airways 208 / 850
Connect in London (LHR)

Expedia Fare Rules:

From: Warsaw, Poland (WAW-Okecie)
To: Miami, FL (MIA-Miami Intl.)
(and return)
Fare Basis Code: DFFEUR

WAWMIA-BA 28AUG05 *RULE DISPLAY* TARIFF 0001 RULE 4439
* ADD APPLICABLE TAX * FED INSP FEES *
-FARE BASIS PLN NUC PTC FT GI
DFFEUR R 9390.00 2840.59 ADT EX AT
DFFEUR/CH33 R 6292.00 1903.19 CNN EX AT
DFFEUR/IN33 R 6292.00 1903.19 INS EX AT
DFFEUR/IN90 R 939.00 284.05 INF EX AT
DFFEUR/CH33 R 6292.00 1903.19 UNN EX AT
BOOKING CODES D
FIRST TRAVEL - 7SEP04 FIRST TICKETING -15SEP04
SEASONS - NO RESTRICTION
PENALTIES - SEE TEXT RULE
DAY/TIME - NO RESTRICTION
ADV RES/TKT - NO RESTRICTION
MIN STAY - NO RESTRICTION
MAX STAY - 12 MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM ORIGIN
BLACKOUTS - NO RESTRICTION
SURCHARGES - UNN-UNACCOMPANIED CHILD 5-11 YRS
BA FLT 8830-8999 FLT 8771-8999 MISC/OTHER
50.00 USD MISC/OTHER PER DIRECTION
STOPOVERS - PERMITTED-UNLIMITED AT 1000.00 PLN
EACH UNITED KINGDOM
PERMITTED-UNLIMITED UNITED STATES
DEPARTURE FROM ORIGIN
TRANSFERS - 6 PERMITTED OUTBOUND 3 INBOUND 3
FLT APPLIC - ANY BA FLIGHT
CHILD DISC - CNN UNDER 12 YRS 33 PCT ACCOMPANIED
INS UNDER 2 YRS 33 PCT WITH SEAT
INF UNDER 2 YRS 90 PCT NO SEAT
UNN 5-11 YRS 33 PCT UNACCOMPANIED
OTHER DISC - NONE
COMBINABLTY - SEE TEXT RULE
ELIGIBILITY - NO RESTRICTION
ACCOM PSGR - NO RESTRICTION
TRVL RESTR - NO RESTRICTION
SALES RESTR - TKT ON/AFTER 15SEP04
TKT BY PTA PTA-TKT PERMITTED
NEGOTIATED - NO RESTRICTION
TKT ENDORSE - NO RESTRICTION
APPLICATION - SEE TEXT RULE
HIPS - SEE TEXT RULE
TOUR DISC - SEE TEXT RULE
AGENT DISC - SEE TEXT RULE
MPM - AT 6372 VIA NORTH ATLANTIC
INDUSTRY FARE TYPE - BND - BUSINESS CLS NON DISCOUNTABLE
PFCS MAY VARY BY RTG
ROUTING 1442 FROM-TO WAW-BA-LON-BA-MIA*


FROM BA.COM

Check your flight itinerary details
Flight number From To Class Depart Arrive
Outbound BA0851 Warsaw,Poland Heathrow (London),United Kingdom Club Fri 23 December 2005 ,17:50 Fri 23 December 2005 , 19:30
Outbound BA0207 Heathrow (London),United Kingdom Miami,USA Club Sat 24 December 2005 ,09:40 Sat 24 December 2005 , 14:20
Inbound BA0208 Miami,USA Heathrow (London),United Kingdom Club Sun 8 January 2006 ,20:55 Mon 9 January 2006 , 10:05
Inbound BA0850 Heathrow (London),United Kingdom Warsaw,Poland Club Mon 9 January 2006 ,13:35 Mon 9 January 2006 , 17:00

Price breakdown
Fare per person plus taxes, fees, charges and surcharges* per person Total
1 Adult PLN19,525.00 PLN722.48 PLN20,247.48
* The price of your ticket includes a security, insurance and fuel surcharge per flight levied by the carrier. For details please click here .
Total flight price PLN20,247.48
(Polish Zlotych)