Why is there such a cost difference based on origin?!?
 

This is something I can not understand. When trying to book a flight originating from JFK going to India Via DXB; the cost is 2 and a 1/2 times more than cost of the same trip in the same class and on the same dates if originated from India instead.

WHY DOES EMIRATES DO THIS?!?!?!?!?!??!

The magic of airline pricing ... once the average household income in India is on the same level as in the US, maybe fares will equalize.

Every airline does it. Sadly (or happily, depends on where you originate)

A return BOM-DXB-SFO-DXB-BOM in AED works out at 3890 in Y. For the same flights DXB-SFO-DXB amounts to AED 6950. That's using the same flight, plus 2 x 3 hours flights to and from BOM.

Emirtaes are not the only ones as no doubt everyone will point out!

This is even more fun (though no longer the case AFAIK)

JFK-DXB-AMD US $ 860.00
JFK-DXB US $ 1205.00

Cheers,

They always have these things, I needed to be in Dubai in July, if you look for a regular return, the price is about 3500dhs, so now I booked a return Shanghai, which (even with visa costs) turned out to be 2400dhs! Rediculous, but ahwell..

Care to share the AED 2400 itinerary ? ^

International fares are submitted for approval to government authorities in the country of origin. This includes a request for the actual fares and the fare rules. The fares are based on the competition ex. that country and what the home government will approve. In addition if a country's currency has decreased/increased against the dollar that can cause wide discrepancies in pricing. Colombo and Tripoli were quite well known destinations from which low business fares could be obtained. The same was true from BKK when their currency took a nose dive. This is not an EK issue. Every airline goes through the same process.

I doubt that this is universal. Prices on US-EU flights (within a fare class) can change faster than any government would act.

Actually its 2400 something, 460 euro's:

EK056

Wed 05 Aug 09

15:25 Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) 6hr 30min
23:55 Dubai International Airport (DXB)

EK302

Thu 06 Aug 09

02:50 Dubai International Airport (DXB) 8hr 40min
15:30 Pu Dong Airport (PVG)



EK305

Fri 07 Aug 09

07:15 Pu Dong Airport (PVG) 9hr 20min
12:35 Dubai International Airport (DXB)

EK055

Thu 17 Sep 09

08:40 Dubai International Airport (DXB) 7hr 5min
13:45 Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS)

You need to play a little with the multi city option, what also works is DUS > PVG on for example the 5th of August, return to DXB on the 29th of August and return to DUS on the 30th.

As far as I can see it it works for August & September, just make sure you book at least one stopover in either DXB or PVG. Works for PEK aswell.

Not good for same day return, but if you need to be in china or the UAE for business/tourism anyway, its a good deal

Its a mystery
 

I don't think pricing has anything to do with household incomes.

JNB-DXB-MAA-DXB-JNB (Johannesburg-Chennai Return) costs about ZAR 5750 (Was about ZAR 4600 about 3-4 weeks back)

For the same date range, a ticket from Chennai-Johannesburg and back costs about INR 45000 (About ZAR 8000). Thats almost double and in this case costlier ex-India.

--

Cheers,
ViZMaX

Any way around this?
 

That price difference spoilt my chances of going to South Africa to visit my parents for holidays :( .. Instead they came here to Chennai, paying for 2 just about the same amount that I would have paid to go alone from here.

Is there any loophole or a way around this? Can you get the fare of JNB-MAA-JNB trip for normally the more expensive MAA-JNB-MAA trip.. I don't mind if the ticket has to be paid in anyform in any of the two countries..

Please Share any knowledge...

-------------------

Cheers,

VizMaX

In the olden days, you used to be able to buy the ticket AAA-BBB-AAA and fly BBB-AAA-BBB by stapling the coupons in reverse order but this is of course no longer possible.

Cheers,

Book early!^^

Not really....

One option - for regular travel - is to start off with a one-way ($$$ if reasonable or redemption?) and then book the returns from the cheaper point of origin.. with the second leg being the first leg of the next trip... if that makes any sense!! :D