Hello, good folks of this forum. I’m curious about what changed in the travel market regarding roundtrip versus one way tickets. It’s possible that my perception is off, but as I remember it, it used to be generally true that booking a roundtrip would get you a better fare compared to one way. The same went for including a Saturday night stay. This doesn’t seem to apply anymore for domestic US flights, though it might still be true for international ones. Now when I book, there’s often no difference, and sometimes two one-way tickets end up being cheaper than a roundtrip, without even mixing carriers. Also, Saturday nights don’t seem to matter anymore, although flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday might still be cheaper.
Twenty years ago, I flew a lot for work, more than 100 flights in some years. I would even fly back for just one night due to my wife’s health issue. That’s when I discovered nested flights, which used to work effectively for getting that Saturday night stay. Currently, I’m living apart from my wife (it’s fine; we both prefer it this way), and last year I again flew over 100 times, yet I rarely booked roundtrips. Part of it is that I often need to adjust plans at work, and dealing with individual flights is simpler than having to change a leg of a roundtrip ticket.
I thought you all might have insights about this. If I’m mistaken in my observations, feel free to tell me. But if I’m right, what do you think happened?
The landscape changed because restrictions were becoming too much for travelers who want flexibility in a fast-changing world. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) offered more options and a la carte pricing, gaining ground against legacy airlines. Legacy carriers then adjusted their pricing strategies, allowing for flights to be priced by segment rather than requiring roundtrips. Additionally, ticketing costs decreased due to technology, enabling customers to book and modify their own tickets with ease.
There have been significant drops in travel demand during the past 25 years: post-9/11, during the 2007-08 financial crisis, and through the 2020 pandemic. Many restrictions, along with hefty change fees, were dropped during these tough times in a bid to encourage more travel, making it hard to reinstate them later. First class is cheaper now, and back then it was rarely paid for by passengers, but now a good percentage of first class seats are sold.
@Finch
I mostly agree with these points, but airline meals had already started disappearing even in the 90s (aside from long flights). And honestly, the food was pretty bad.
Hart said: @Finch
I mostly agree with these points, but airline meals had already started disappearing even in the 90s (aside from long flights). And honestly, the food was pretty bad.
I recall getting a proper meal in economy on a Delta flight around 2000 as part of a promotion But, catering in economy effectively vanished around and after 9/11 due to security reason. First class regained it before economy did, which now tends to have just small, expensive snacks. The airlines were cutting costs back then.
@Finch
If Omaha steaks were being served by US airlines in the 90s, then it was truly terrible. My experience with airline food, especially on United, was quite awful compared to other countries.
It’s simple: dynamic pricing based on anticipated and actual demand Airlines monitor which days they’ll sell all their seats and raise prices, while they lower them on days likely to remain unsold. Thanks to technology, prices can now fluctuate based on algorithms.
I’ve stopped booking roundtrip flights completely There’s no clear advantage anymore and plenty of disadvantages. I decided to change after finding it tricky to book a roundtrip with points on JetBlue, as their website advised to break it into separate legs due to potential changes.
@Hart
That’s true for domestic flights in the US However, international flights still tend to be cheaper when booked as round trips or multi-city with a return to the original location.
Brady said: @Hart
That’s true for domestic flights in the US However, international flights still tend to be cheaper when booked as round trips or multi-city with a return to the original location.
Brady said: @Hart
That’s true for domestic flights in the US However, international flights still tend to be cheaper when booked as round trips or multi-city with a return to the original location.
I agree. We’re heading to Spain soon, flying premium on Delta. It was less expensive to book a flight into BAR and out of MAD than to book roundtrip in and out of either location.
@Cameron
My flight from DEN to MAD and BCN back to DEN was just $50 more than my daughter’s BCN to DEN ticket last summer! Always check multiple options.
Previously, a lot of flights were business-related, so airlines charged more for not including a Saturday night stay and created business class to earn more. Business passengers usually bought one-way tickets. Leisure travelers typically booked weekend flights for a discount. Deregulation resulted in lower prices, allowing more leisure travel and changes in pricing and schedules.
It’s true that ticket prices have shifted One-way tickets are gaining popularity and can sometimes be cheaper as airlines seem to prioritize flexibility more recently.