Why RT cheaper than One-way?

Why are international RT tickets cheaper than one-way?! Very frustrating. We want to do a transatlantic, if we simply don't use the return flight, what are the consequences? Can we reticket that portion to return from a westbound transatlantic in the spring?

thank you in advance for your help

I am not sure why the difference in prices.

As to your second question - if you don't use the return portion nothing happens. We used FF points to fly to Amsterdam and were taking a cruise from Bucharest to Amsterdam. We needed to fly one way. Cost was nearly triple for a one way versus RT. Bought the RT and threw away the return. Never heard a word.

Paul

Simple answer on pricing: One-way tickets are higher because there are no restrictions on their use, as you find on many RT's.

As for using it in both directions with a long time gap in between: No problem. Just book it that way from the start. Many tickets have up to a year to use the return, while others have 30/60/90 day maximums. All depends on the specific fare being used. (the year longs are likely to be higher priced, but will be more versatile for your plan for a "reverse" TATL.)

A few more specifics on just when/where you were planning on FLYING might elicit a more detailed specific answer.

You could book R/T and not go back. Make sure your 1st flight is the flight you will be on. Book your fake return coming back on a Wednesday about 2 or 3 weeks later (Wednesday is usually the cheapest day to fly.)

Thanks everyone for your replies. Am considering a westbound TA in late Oct, but once I started thinking of the logistics of a reverse eastbound TA in the spring, realized scheduling conflicts; so will only be able to use one-way.

The reason for the speculation about my own airfare is that the cost of a guarantee room is pretty cheap, but they won't do airfare. The airfare they offer is a pretty good deal--will probably go with the cruise air with a little higher room rate (if I can convince DH).

We are also looking at a transatlantic cruise and are also looking at a one way air fare and it is pricey. Even the cruise line airfare is pricey, and we would like to spend a week or so in Copenhagen or Amsterdam post cruise, so any advice would be welcome. Since we would be cruising to Europe and we would need the flight back home from Europe to LAX. We would be going in April or May 2007, from Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen, or from Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam depending on which cruise we pick. We live in Los Angeles and can get our LAX to Fort Lauderdale air easily , but it is the Copenhagen or Amsterdam to LAX that breaks the bank. :) We don't fly often so I don't have any FF miles to use. Thanks for any advice. Appreciate it.

Cori

European cities where spring crossings terminate are often ones without good air fares back to the US. If you're going to spend some time in Europe after the cruise anyway, try to end up in a city with better fares home. After our Costa Magica crossing to Copenhagen in May '06, we took a week to get down to Frankfurt and flew back to Orlando for $177 per person on Condor (a German charter airline).

We've also flown home from Paris a couple of times after arriving at Lisbon and Barcelona.

There are web sites that have good one-way air fares to/from Europe. I can only think of http://www.travelation.com right now, but you will find more through google or just searching the cruise air board here.

We are also looking at a transatlantic cruise and are also looking at a one way air fare and it is pricey. Even the cruise line airfare is pricey, and we would like to spend a week or so in Copenhagen or Amsterdam post cruise, so any advice would be welcome. Since we would be cruising to Europe and we would need the flight back home from Europe to LAX. We would be going in April or May 2007, from Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen, or from Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam depending on which cruise we pick. We live in Los Angeles and can get our LAX to Fort Lauderdale air easily , but it is the Copenhagen or Amsterdam to LAX that breaks the bank. :) We don't fly often so I don't have any FF miles to use. Thanks for any advice. Appreciate it.

Cori

If by chance your Transatlantic cruise is beginning or ending in London (Dover, Harwich or Southampton) Expedia sells highly discounted one way tickets on Virigin Atlantic flights from a number of US gateways. For example, SF to London for $350-380 one way, taxes included.

If by chance your Transatlantic cruise is beginning or ending in London (Dover, Harwich or Southampton) Expedia sells highly discounted one way tickets on Virigin Atlantic flights from a number of US gateways. For example, SF to London for $350-380 one way, taxes included.

Hi, no the cruise ends in Copenhagen, then we were going to go to Holland and Belgium and from there home.

Thanks everyone for the good idea's and web sites, am going to check them out.

Cori

dup post

Hi, no the cruise ends in Copenhagen, then we were going to go to Holland and Belgium and from there home.

Thanks everyone for the good idea's and web sites, am going to check them out.

Cori

Europe has a great train system and lots of LCC's from place to place. Only caveat-LCC's in Europe have very low luggage limits, so you will either have to ship your luggage home or pay LOTS of dollars in excess luggage charges. Shipping your luggage home after a cruise from Europe is pretty easy. The hardest thing is finding the boxes. Postal Service in Europe is pretty efficient AND fairly inexpensive, so long as you don't use the overnight services. MUCH cheaper than paying overweight luggage charges on two or three flights. Insure your stuff heavily, let it go surface (ship) and MAKE SURE you put "personal possesions-USED CLOTHES" on the customs manifest. Should have your suitcases home just about the time you arrive home or a week later.

BEST ADVICE-book your air into/out of a European HUB. Open jaw flight out of LAX-this routing-LAX/FLL, AMS or London or Paris or Munich/LAX. Or take BEAV's suggestion and book one of the Virgin one way flights, fly to the departure hub.

You can also try-1800flyeurope.com. They have fairly reasonable one way flights.

Thanks so much , will check this all out. These boards are great , always get good answers to my questions. :)

Cori