V-Flyer

Rather than post on the end of my previous post re single leg high prices I thought I would post the outcome as a new item.
My 'problem' was the 'crazy' prices for a single leg from Newark to Heathrow afer a transatlantic crossing on the Cunard QM2 in October.
Eventually I realised that by cutting our NY stay from 10 days to 7 - we could return on the QM2 thus cruising both ways.
Now just consider the out come 'cost wise'
A Virgin single in economy was 750 (approx)
The Cunard fare for 6 nights cruising in an outside cabin - all meals and entertainment etc is 575.
I appreciate the previous points re airline stance to single legs and that the flight gets you home in 6 hours and the cruise takes 6 days.
But the cost comparison is still crazy.
Well I think so
Cheers
Fairphil

Lol, this is something we have thought about doing in the past, however the time constraints rule it out for now, in the future however it is something we will do, a great way to avoid the adt as well !

Do Cunard not do a special deal for the one-way flight?
Sometimes the one-way passage is almost the same as including the return flight.

Thanks Bill S
Yes Cunard will do a package to include the return flight - BUT you then have to pay Cunard prices for both legs.
Both our 'cruise elements' were booked with a discount agent.
We paid just over 2000 for the return trip for two passengers in an outside cabin.
Cunard would have charged 4500 approx for a return sea passage.
For a cruise plus flight return their price is approx 3500 to include an economy return flight.
It just does not make sense.
I suppose the fact is that VS do not see the 'grey market' as part of their target.
But the fact is that the 'grey market' are perhaps the most able to pick and choose - but not with Virgin.
It's their loss not mine
Cheers
Fairplay

I am afraid I disagree with your comment that

'I suppose the fact is that VS do not see the 'grey market' as part of their target.'

and the implication that they are charging more because someone is 'old'.

How can VS price tickets based on age (other than child fares). They don't have any information on you until you actually make the booking - too late to make any age-price adjustments.

Surely thay charge the same if you are 20, 40, 60 or 80?

VS don't know you are travelling on a cruise (does that automatically make you part of the 'grey market'?), surely lot's of people of all ages need to travel one-way.

The issue is one-way pricing, not one-way pricing for people returning from cruises.

In any case there may be several factors (other than it being one-way) as to why the fare might be high for a particular date / flight. Did you look at flying a day (or two) later?

Its also possible that several other people were looking to book the same flight/date combination you wanted at the same time you were trying to - that can have a huge difference on the prices shown, as the VS computer will think that there is increased demand and hence increases the prices.

If one way fares were cheap, we'd all be buying them so that we had ultimate flexibility with our flight dates.

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
If one way fares were cheap, we'd all be buying them so that we had ultimate flexibility with our flight dates.

Thanks,
Sarah


I had never thought of it that way Sarah [|:)] but it makes absolute sense for them to charge the full 50% of J, W or Y fare [y]. Quite the oposite from being 'crazy'.

Plus as been said in other related thread, this ploicy is common for ALL airlines so it is not as though Virgin as missing out on any air trade as implied by the OP.

Hackneyguy

But the Virgin Holidays site are offering QM2 transatlantic cruises (balcony cabin!) for 799pp without flight, 949pp with flight. Agreed, there is now no availability left for Oct. but the extra cost of the, admittedly economy, one way flight is only 150. PE available for extra.

Agreed, the cruise price is more than with a cruise discounter but the above is for balcony cabin which must be worth more than thestandard oceanview.

For many people the time available can be a problem but for those with the time, and if they would enjoy 12 days transatlantic cruising, the discounted return cruise compares very favourably to an UC Z fare

Yes because this is a virtual guarantee that you are not buying a single flight for flexibility reasons. You can't call VH and ask to buy an outbound leg and an inbound leg without buying a cruise so VS know they're not losing any revenue this way . As HG says, a masterful explanation Sarah.