Is there a reason for low fares
Apr 6, 2026 | 10:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 605
Is there a reason for low fares
I have been looking for return flights to Bangkok flying from Manchester and i can get a return flight for Ł650 which is a lot cheaper than i can remember and i just wonder, Is this due to the currant issues and not many people flying or is there another reason, I would have thought with the price of fuel, It would be effecting the airlines unless middle eastern airlines don't have issues with jet fuel. We are looking at booking for Jan 2027 and its Class O but i can still get these fares flying in the next few months. I note that there's no sales on at the moment and if a sale did happen , I cannot see these prices come down any more.
Apr 7, 2026 | 3:48 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 18,280
I have been looking for return flights to Bangkok flying from Manchester and i can get a return flight for Ł650 which is a lot cheaper than i can remember and i just wonder, Is this due to the currant issues and not many people flying or is there another reason, I would have thought with the price of fuel, It would be effecting the airlines unless middle eastern airlines don't have issues with jet fuel. We are looking at booking for Jan 2027 and its Class O but i can still get these fares flying in the next few months. I note that there's no sales on at the moment and if a sale did happen , I cannot see these prices come down any more.
Etihad is even more desperate. I'm getting from Manchester to Hanoi (and back) in Y through AUH in May for under Ł300. Taking on as quid pro quo the risk of schedule upsets without the protection and perks status makes it something of an adventure. OK, I'll get a thin trickle of miles into my FlyingBlue account, but I think that's it.
Apr 7, 2026 | 3:53 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 605
Etihad is even more desperate. I'm getting from Manchester to Hanoi (and back) in Y through AUH in May for under Ł300. Taking on as quid pro quo the risk of schedule upsets without the protection and perks status makes it something of an adventure. OK, I'll get a thin trickle of miles into my FlyingBlue account, but I think that's it.
Last edited by msm2000uk; Apr 8, 2026 at 3:47 am
Apr 7, 2026 | 9:53 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 5,103
Worth noting that QR have been playing hardball with some of their rescheduling and cancellations, so it would be sensible to ensure any financial commitments made for your stay in BKK are changeable or refundable at short notice.
Also your travel insurance is probably not going to cover you for delays, cancellation and anything that happens whilst you are in transit in Qatar due to FCDO advice. There are some insurers who will cover, for a price.
Also your travel insurance is probably not going to cover you for delays, cancellation and anything that happens whilst you are in transit in Qatar due to FCDO advice. There are some insurers who will cover, for a price.
Apr 23, 2026 | 5:43 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,135
Worth noting that QR have been playing hardball with some of their rescheduling and cancellations, so it would be sensible to ensure any financial commitments made for your stay in BKK are changeable or refundable at short notice.
Also your travel insurance is probably not going to cover you for delays, cancellation and anything that happens whilst you are in transit in Qatar due to FCDO advice. There are some insurers who will cover, for a price.
Also your travel insurance is probably not going to cover you for delays, cancellation and anything that happens whilst you are in transit in Qatar due to FCDO advice. There are some insurers who will cover, for a price.
Apr 23, 2026 | 12:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,814
I have been looking for return flights to Bangkok flying from Manchester and i can get a return flight for ÂŁ650 which is a lot cheaper than i can remember and i just wonder, Is this due to the currant issues and not many people flying or is there another reason, I would have thought with the price of fuel, It would be effecting the airlines unless middle eastern airlines don't have issues with jet fuel. We are looking at booking for Jan 2027 and its Class O but i can still get these fares flying in the next few months. I note that there's no sales on at the moment and if a sale did happen , I cannot see these prices come down any more.
Now the OP's report is for next Jan, but for late December, I am seeing sky-high prices for USA-India. Up to about $4K in economy and $16K in business class. Again, this is not based on fuel costs as such, but presumably because they think that holiday demand will remain high and passengers will pay high prices since they have heard that fuel is expensive.
Apr 24, 2026 | 4:41 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QRPC PLT/OW EMD; Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 14,559
While many airlines purchase fuel through hedging in the futures market, thus providing predictability in their fuel costs, Qatar does this only rarely. Most of the time, QR purchases fuel as needed, at current market prices.
Apr 24, 2026 | 2:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 195
Operating costs are a key factor in achieving and maximizing profitability, of course, and the cost of fuel is one of the most significant factors in airline operating costs.
While many airlines purchase fuel through hedging in the futures market, thus providing predictability in their fuel costs, Qatar does this only rarely. Most of the time, QR purchases fuel as needed, at current market prices.
While many airlines purchase fuel through hedging in the futures market, thus providing predictability in their fuel costs, Qatar does this only rarely. Most of the time, QR purchases fuel as needed, at current market prices.
Apr 24, 2026 | 8:24 pm
#12
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Location: Hong Kong, France
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Operating costs are a key factor in achieving and maximizing profitability, of course, and the cost of fuel is one of the most significant factors in airline operating costs.
While many airlines purchase fuel through hedging in the futures market, thus providing predictability in their fuel costs, Qatar does this only rarely. Most of the time, QR purchases fuel as needed, at current market prices.
While many airlines purchase fuel through hedging in the futures market, thus providing predictability in their fuel costs, Qatar does this only rarely. Most of the time, QR purchases fuel as needed, at current market prices.
The marginal cost of adding one pax is quite different from the average cost. In cost accounting the marginal cost of that pax is rather small.
QR is in survival more. They are bleeding cash and reputation. The State of Qatar is bleeding cash too..QR only hope is that the situation returns to normal and that the "episode" will be forgotten in a couple of years. In the meanwhile, they have to fly as many flights as possible.
Apr 25, 2026 | 10:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,814
Of course, but they are not the key factor in setting fares. This is why, for example, trips that terminate in DOH cost more than trips that include transfers in DOH and are thus longer.
Apr 25, 2026 | 11:35 pm
#15
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Location: Hong Kong, France
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QR keep adjusting its fares very frequently from low to semi-high to semi-low and so on.