A good friend of mine is from Vladivostok (VVO) in Russian Far East, and Korean Air is pretty much the only foreign carrier flies to VVO that can get him anywhere, especially Auckland, New Zealand where we are.

It costs almost US$2000 all-in from AKL to VVO and vice versa with Korean Air, yet VVO is only a couple of hours from ICN. He can save almost 50% by going to Harbin, China first then catch Chinese airlines overseas or from Harbin to Beijing for even more options, but it involves border-crossing and 12-hour bus ride from VVO to Harbin.

I am wondering if there's a cheaper way to fly Korean Air or other airline to VVO, or KE is happy to suck blood because it's the only vampire in town? Strangely no Chinese airlines fly to VVO, given a robust trade the city does with China. Aeroflot isn't really an option as you have to fly to Moscow to get anywhere international.