Why is flight cheaper with additional leg?
Sep 11, 2009 | 9:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Houston, TX
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Why is flight cheaper with additional leg?
Hi all, sorry if this has already been covered but I need help understanding something - I am flight shopping for a friend who wants to go IAH-BDA in December. Why would it be over $100 cheaper to go AUS-IAH-EWR-BDA than just IAH-EWR-BDA? Can my friend just buy the AUS-BDA ticket and just not board in AUS (we are in Houston), or is there some sort of penalty for that?
TIA
TIA
Sep 11, 2009 | 9:29 am
#2
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Location: 27 minutes north of EWR (on a good day)
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Sep 11, 2009 | 9:36 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Houston, TX
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Posts: 47
?
So does this mean the entire itinerary would be cancelled? And, I should not encourage my friend to do this and instead go ahead and buy the more expensive ticket without the AUS leg?
Sep 11, 2009 | 9:39 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: YVR
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Yes.
Yes.
The only alternative is to buy the ticket out of IAH, go to IAH to start the journey there, and then on the return drop the last leg AUS-IAH.
This might still yield some savings (or not) at the cost of some inconvenience.
The only alternative is to buy the ticket out of IAH, go to IAH to start the journey there, and then on the return drop the last leg AUS-IAH.
This might still yield some savings (or not) at the cost of some inconvenience.
Sep 11, 2009 | 9:41 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: EWR
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Posts: 5,190
The question then is, is the AUS ticket cheap enough to bother going to AUS and getting on that flight, or would you rather have the ease of leaving from IAH.
Sep 11, 2009 | 10:06 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IAH
Programs: CO Plat
Posts: 121
Though we are IAH based, we often fly out of SAT, connecting in Houston and saving, believe it or not, up to $100 per ticket. I believe its called the "HUB penalty". We actually saved $150 a ticket to Costa Rica last year. We have reasons to be in SA often, and find the airport so convenient, parking reasonable, Pres Club people great, and baggage claim almost instantaneous. So when its possible, we time our flights to coincide with our trips to SA. Its worth the drive.