MIA-JNB (via LHR) cheaper than LHR-JNB (in Y)

A friend who's into 'travel hacking' just pointed this out. It sounds nuts, but it's true. Also, it's a perfectly legitimate fare, not really a 'hack'.

The embedded two LHR-JNB legs in this sample itinerary are priced more than the entire MIA-JNB four-leg ticket.

MIA-JNB (via LHR): $834 (≈ £530)
https://www.google.com/flights/#search; ... ;c=ATL,LHR

LHR-JNB (same dates): $915 (≈ £590)
https://www.google.com/flights/#search; ... BLHR0VS602

And, yes, I did check M bucket pricing on the MIA-JNB routing. Alas, it's around double at $1,600. The $834 fare is booked into an O bucket.

The fare is valid around the $800-$900 mark for much of 2015 (not Jun/Jul/Aug).

But what happens when you try and price it up on the VS (or other) website?

But what happens when you try and price it up on the VS (or other) website?

It matches! Just not for quite as wide a date range as shown on Google Flights...

See attached (with slightly different dates).

Not just with flights to JNB , it is the same with flights to India from the US .

Connecting passengers provide feed to VS flights and anyone connecting Via LHR within 24 hours dors not pay any APD . When compared to a point to point fare between LHR and JNB where APD is paid .

I dont know the figures about traffic to South Africa but VS have a lions share of traffic to DEL from both EWR and JFK even though both have direct non stop flights to DEL .

[buns]

Simples - us poor Brits have to ensure Air Passenger Duty

Hence all the threads here about going via AMS / DUB etc etc.

buns

I reckon it's got to be something more than just the APD:

MIA-LHR-JNB-LHR-MIA (distance 20,000 miles) is priced at $835 (4 pence per mile).

But those LHR-JNB-LHR legs in the middle (distance 11,000 miles) if booked separately are priced at $915 (8 pence per mile).

The $835 is also out-of-whack with other carriers ($1,200-$1,600) for the same period.