Cost of Cape Town flight from Dublin vs from Heathrow

Hi there,

Recently I saw a post on TripAdvisor where someone had said they purchased a Virgin Cape Town flight far cheaper from Dublin than from Heathrow, even though the Dublin flight goes via Heathrow.

I'm planning on taking my family to South Africa this Christmas so thought I would check this out. It is true. Dublin - Cape Town return via Heathrow leaving December 21st costs £1300. Heathrow - Cape Town (same flight) is £1800 return. Can anyone explain this? It seems crazy?

When multiplying this saving by 4, it seems worth it but a huge inconvenience as we have 2 young children!

Any insight into this phenomena would be much appreciated!

[mitchja]

It's basically because your flight itinerary does not originate in the UK when flying from somewhere like Dublin.

It's because flights originating from the UK have far higher taxes. If your journey starts in Dublin you'll pay Irish taxes which are much lower. The same applies to other European hubs like Amsterdam and Frankfurt so try them too in case they're even cheaper.

But remember to include the cost of the flight from the UK to wherever you choose when comparing prices. If you book a VS flight from Dublin, you must start in Dublin - you can't just miss out that leg and start in London.

So one way or another you'll have to pay UK taxes - and that apparent £500 saving will actually be quite a bit less.

There is also something known as the 'AMS trick' which is the same thing. (Also variations involving CDG and FRA too)

Because your trip theoretically originate outside of the UK then APD is not charged (assuming the connections are not more than 24 hours apart) which reduces the cost by the APD element + airlines seem to charge extra for flying from their 'home airport' (all airlines do this not just Virgin).

BUT there are risks

1. General inconvenience - not a major bar but it is for some people - only you will know how you and your family will deal with an extra flight and lots of extra waiting time etc (it will be worse on the way back) plus having to collect and re-check your luggage extra times.

2. How will you get to DUB from your home?. As this flight MUST be on a separate ticket you are at risk if the flight to DUB is delayed and you then miss the separate DUB flight to LHR. The airline staff will (may!) be sympathetic but the airline is under no obligation to protect you - put you on another flight - though if the DUB-LHR flight is delayed and you miss the onward to CPT you are protected as this will be on the same ticket.

3. Ditto on the way back. If the VS flight to LHR is delayed they will protect you and get you to DUB but as far as they are concerned they have met their obligations. They won't care if you've then missed your DUB - XXX flight as they have met their contractual obligations (which is to get you to DUB).

4. You need to factor in the cost of getting the 4 of you from XXX to DUB (and then back) plus possibly a hotel in DUB as well. There may be extra baggage charges too as the airline you use to get from XXX to DUB (and back) will more than likely have different allowances.

I'm not saying don't do this but to balance the risks and advantages and include ALL the costs in the calculations of any savings you might make - you might find that they are not as much as you first think.

I looked at doing the AMS trick for one trip but after including the separate flight from LHR to AMS, a hotel in AMS and extra baggage fees the savings were far lower than the apparent headline costs and in the end I decided it was worth it to pay the extra to fly direct from LHR.

However others on this site have done it.

Sorry and just to add to the complexity you can on your return just leave LHR and make your own way home (you don't say where you live) - if you want to do this you MUST tell them to only check your bags to LHR when your at CPT

Mmm not as appealing as it first looked once you look into it a bit more is it

[honey lamb]

Ironically, I live in Ireland and I find it is cheaper for me to go from AMS-LHR-whereverIwanttogo be it on VS or BA than to go from Dublin. That is because Aer Lingus charges a fully flexible fare to LHR. Now for you exiting from the UK that is not a problem as the fully flexible fare is cheaper than the fuel surcharge and the APD combined but for me it is cheaper to buy a fare sale ticket to AMS, given that Aer Lingus is currently the DFS of the skies and always has a sale on the go :w And I get to save on the APD both EX-Cork and Ex-Amsterdam y)

Mmm not as appealing as it first looked once you look into it a bit more is it

It does depend on the route and the fare difference and the level of risk you are prepared to accept with a more complicated itinerary.

Personally if I was on my own (or with other competent) adults I would do it but would hesitate about inflicting extra flights and airport waiting on young children.

There is a discussion about it here

It's very much a 'bigger picture' issue. Simply put, from Dublin, BA have many competitors to the World. All involving a flight change. So to attract you, they will discount their prices.

From London, it's not quite the same as BA have the competitive edge here, and will charge X for a non stop flight. The likes of KLM and Air France will offer a fare of X less 20% to entice you that putting up with a change of aircraft is worth it.

To see how it works - look at AMS-JNB non stop on KLM compared to LON-AMS-JNB wth KLM - the same forces are in play,

Remember that if you do not complete all the legs of a flight, some airlines refuse to credit you with miles/tier points. Not sure if that is changing with the new EU law.

Thank you all very much for taking time to reply to me. I had a feeling it might have something to do with taxes. Ggrrr!

I absolutely agree with all of you. Dragging a 4 year old and a 1 year old over to Dublin just to come back to London is just not worth it. But oh so frustrating when you see those far cheaper prices!!

Thank you again everyone.