Why are Y flights so expensive at the moment
Mar 25, 2022, 6:59 am
#1
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Why are Y flights so expensive at the moment
Im looking to go to NYC in Sept / Oct and i was pricing up flights- it will cost me £20 more to fly with united and get my flight back on Premium Economy then it would to fly with BA on Y (its coming up as £570 return). I have never seen BA LHR-NYC flights so expensive? I get covid and they need to make their money back but this is an off peak flight and im confused as to how its coming up as so much..
Is there a reason other than BA being overpriced?
Is there a reason other than BA being overpriced?
Mar 25, 2022, 7:12 am
#3
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I have seen LHR-NYC in Y far more expensive than that, especially in the summer when it is not unusual to find nothing below 1k. That said, for Sept-Oct, it may well be that BA is not releasing the cheapest buckets - it seems to be a frequent issue at the moment on several routes I have been looking for across travel classes.
Mar 25, 2022, 7:30 am
#5
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I'd be careful with this. BA is pricing a lot more aggressively these days than pre-pandemic. Looking at my usual routes in 6-8 weeks they are very expensive. Now obviously this is just a very small dataset, and the usual pattern may return soon, but the post-pandemic world is a new market and we may well see new pricing patterns.
Last edited by LCY8737; Mar 25, 2022 at 9:31 am
Mar 25, 2022, 7:31 am
#6
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I have seen LHR-NYC in Y far more expensive than that, especially in the summer when it is not unusual to find nothing below 1k. That said, for Sept-Oct, it may well be that BA is not releasing the cheapest buckets - it seems to be a frequent issue at the moment on several routes I have been looking for across travel classes.
I wish they would just release them because whilst i was expecting to pay more because of covid, pre covid, i used to pay around £350 so this is way higher and frankly unaffordable
Is there any reason they are doing this?
Mar 25, 2022, 7:41 am
#7
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Presumably they think they can sustain the pricing because of consumer inertia. Personally I'd book the cheaper fare from another supplier; BA may be expensive, and be playing games with surcharges, but there are still a lot of cheap ways to fly. I just booked a round the world for around £800 on a mixture of low cost carriers.
Incidentally, there are much better BA/OW Y fares available ex Germany (~£249) just now, and probably from other start points.
Incidentally, there are much better BA/OW Y fares available ex Germany (~£249) just now, and probably from other start points.
Mar 25, 2022, 7:41 am
#8
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They are doing it as some very sophisticated software shows they can and make a decent profit through doing so. While business travel is still massively down, leisure travel is off and running. As a business BA are going to be working to maximise the profit from those customer groups.
Also those cheap economy tix to NYC were subsidised by lots of J tickets pre-Covid. The J demand has gone so those down the back have to pay their way.
Also those cheap economy tix to NYC were subsidised by lots of J tickets pre-Covid. The J demand has gone so those down the back have to pay their way.
Mar 25, 2022, 7:41 am
#9
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Hmm, then perhaps look at other destinations - NYC is not affordable with hotel prices, eating out costs, pretty poor exchange rate - the £1/200 difference in flight cost would be small factor on a trip there in my opnion
Mar 25, 2022, 7:51 am
#10
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A bit of supply and demand too, there are still fewer seats in the market on most routes than there were pre covid, I think New York is coming back up to normal frequency later this year but I think there may still be fewer seats, all those 747's being replaced by smaller aircraft.
Mar 25, 2022, 7:51 am
#11
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Whilst i get what BA are doing and for profit, is there really that much demand when you can get a united flight that is much cheaper?
Mar 25, 2022, 7:54 am
#12
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I imagine their pricing is deliberately "erratic" and hoping to maximise profit yes. But they will at times be lead by competitors, so if VS were to drop to £300 at some point, I wouldn't be surprised if they silently (or loudly) do the same !
Mar 25, 2022, 7:55 am
#13
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Just a datapoint but a week to NY (albeit from Amsterdam) is €585.12 (488 pounds) that seems perfectly reasonable for me. KLM charges (same dates, same airports) €604.98. United (also direct, but Newark instead of JFK) € 584.98. All prices for a return. Seem to be really close (although again, from Amsterdam).
Mar 25, 2022, 8:26 am
#14
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I didnt think to look at VS but you are right. Exactly the same price.