How International Airfare Works

[mikelan6]

On this week's email show, someone asked about ABD airfares. I thought I could explain how international airfare works.

If a passenger is flying into one city, but out of another, the airlines use half of each way's fare to calculate the total fare. For example, if a round trip from New York to Paris is $500.00 and a round trip from New York to London is $400.00, a person flying into London and back from Paris would pay $450.00, plus taxes and fees. Sometimes the fees and taxes are more than the airfare itself, and each city has a different departure and arrival tax, etc.

I'd be happy to answer any more questions if you got 'em.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks Mike. So if the ABD trip were to start in London, then go to Paris (probably via the chunnel?) and then DLP, we might be better off taking the chunnel back to London and fly home from there? (Or the other way around if flying to Paris were cheaper.) Any idea what the actual price difference between the two cities is and how much it costs to take the train?

 

[mikelan6]

I would say it's not worth it to go back to your arrival city. Fares on the eurostar are pretty high and I doubt you'd be saving any money. I would suggest waiting until the ABD dates are actually released, then you can compare the price differences.

I would also suggest flying Business Class if at all possible as it's a pretty long flight.