How does this work?

[LVSteve]

Checking some flights for a trip. I look on google and come up with flights and prices. I select the round trip options that work for us and get a total number. I then go to the airline's own website and go to book that flight, and the price is over $100 more. HUH??? Color me majorly baffled. Both prices allegedly include all the relevant taxes and fees.

My only guess is that it has something to do with the airline being foreign. Yes, I can see the hands being thrown up in horror, but they are the only carrier that provides a direct flight.

[swsig]

Probably for the same reason they charge for paper tickets, carry-ons, checked baggage, etc.: they can make money. It's likely cheaper for them to let a middleman handle the data, so they're charging you for the "privilege" of dealing directly with them.

[MelvinWalker]

Originally Posted by LVSteve

Checking some flights for a trip. I look on google and come up with flights and prices. I select the round trip options that work for us and get a total number. I then go to the airline's own website and go to book that flight, and the price is over $100 more. HUH??? Color me majorly baffled. Both prices allegedly include all the relevant taxes and fees.

My only guess is that it has something to do with the airline being foreign. Yes, I can see the hands being thrown up in horror, but they are the only carrier that provides a direct flight.

From what understand, places like Trivago, booking.com, etc get a certain amount of slots at X wholesale or jobber price to sell for all participating airlines, hotels, rental cars, etc..The Airline or entity itself sells some as well at their retail price. The prices can vary wildly. I would always check an aggregate site like booking.com, etc before I bought directly through the airline/hotel, etc.

[lihpster]

Get a plane full of people taking the same flight and you'll get a wide variety of ticket prices, depending on where they got their tickets. It pays to shop around.

[Thom_44]

last time i checked, alot of it is promotional pricing. The website can tell you more on how they price. And from what i remember its alot like bargain cell phone plans.

The third party retailer buys 1,000 seats at a time for a reduced price, then resells to YOU for slightly under the airline pricing.

[gmarshall99]

After having hassles with cancelled flights, missed connections and the like I only book flights directly with the airline. Getting refunds,and changes are easier without the middleman.

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Originally Posted by lihpster

. . . shop around.

Miracles, 1960.

YouTube

[HOUSTON RICK]

Who says that it needs to make sense?

[326MOD10]

Middleman vendors, as posted above.

Those sites aren't run by the airlines and if you Google, other than the airline, you get the prices from the cheapest available.

I usually just go with the sure thing and get my tickets from the airlines. I may lose a little money, I may not, but at least I know I am dealing with the people that own the plane.

Good luck and have a safe trip.

[Narragansett]

Flying should be free. As a taxpayer, I have countless billions dumped into these operations so that they do not go under, pay the CEO more than they are worth, and give the shareholders a return on investment.

[LVSteve]

OK, now it's gone from strange to WTH. I clicked through the google flights link and it took me to the airline's website at the lower price!!!! I've gone from baffled to totally stumped.

My only thought is that there is something to do with processing fees that is different. Maybe if you access the foreign airline directly, there is some higher charge that you don't get when going through the Web in the US. Flimsy, I know, but the best I can do.

[rockquarry]

You're not supposed to know how it works. It's called airline ticket marketing. As long as the system is complicated, they can shake down passengers for more money.

[madmikeb]

When I am buying flights if I find a decent price I buy them then and there. I have priced tickets closed the browser, gone right back in and gotten a different price. The day of the week will make a difference also.

I agree with gmarshall99 completely, I don't buy tickets from anyone but the airline directly. If there are any issues it will be much easier to straighten things out without a middleman. I know my employer was flying to Florida a few years ago, bought tickets from a third party, flight got cancelled, third party refunded money and left him at the airport to find his own way.

[LVSteve]

I think I have solved the mystery. The price quoted is for the airline's "travel light" scheme, one personal item only, NOT a carry on bag. That's not going to work for a five day visit.