|
Question on airfare pricing
Hello Flyertalkers,
Pretty sure this has been asked before...but I'm currently trying to book a flight out of SFO-HKG and it's costing like $1K via UA. However when I searched airfare departing SEA it's $625 with a layover in SFO... So SFO-HKG is $1k but SEA-SFO-HKG is $625. I'm just wondering if anyone knows why :(. Thanks for the help. SFO is my main hub and trying to book a flight really to...SFO-NRT-HKG-SFO. |
This is a very complex situation with lots of factors.
-SFO being UA's hub and has less competition than say NYC-LON means UA can charge more. 3 airlines with about 4 flights a day vs 5 airlines flying multiple flights a day each. -Tickets are sold by fare buckets. As the cheaper ones sell out the higher fares remain. Less seats on a route = less cheaper fares = faster sell out of those cheaper fares. -SEA-SFO-HKG is cheaper has more of the lower fare bucket are available as they aren't in as high demand AND to attract attention away from competition as SEA isn't a UA Hub and has tech & aerospace companies. You could probably get a cheap 1 way to SEA to start your flight off and then upon return to SFO ditch the remaining segment. As long as you don't do this often the airlines won't give you a hassle. Skipping the SEA-SFO will cancel the whole ticket. Basically combine Supply & Demand crossed with competition. |
Its likely in response to Delta ramping up international service in SEA. Entice people to connect via SFO instead of SEA-HKG non-stop. DL SEA-HKG & SEA-ICN starts this summer.
|
Simple supply & demand. Higher demand for SFO-HKG means higher fares than SEA-HKG. Airfares have little to do with actual distance.
|
There is also this explanation of airfare pricing, courtesy of Dave Barry.
Q. Airline fares are very confusing. How, exactly, does the airline determine the price of my ticket? A. Many cost factors are involved in flying an airplane from Point A to Point B, including distance, passenger load, whether each pilot will get his own pilot hat or they're going to share, and whether Point B has a runway. Q. So the airlines use these cost factors to calculate a rational price for my ticket? A. No. That is determined by Rudy the Fare Chicken, who decides the price of each ticket individually by pecking on a computer keyboard sprinkled with corn. If an airline agent tells you that they're having "computer problems, " this means that Rudy is sick, and technicians are trying to activate the backup system, Conrad the Fare Hamster. Full article has answers to other air travel questions and is here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/2...dly-skies.html :D |
... and then Rudy the Fare Chicken and Conrad the Fare Hamster have a little too much eggnog on Christmas so we all get to book tickets to Hawaii for $80 the next day, and everyone is happy!
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 9:45 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.