Booking a flight with BA to Miami £ v $

Gazzor

I'm sure this topic has cropped up before.....

Checked on BA website for Heathrow to Miami return flights, 25/7 to 8/8. Comes out at £2,830 for 4 adults !
I then changed to BA's American website. Booking the exact same flights Miami to Heathrow return, works out at $3,855. Which converts to £2083. A full £800 cheaper.
I have E mailed BA on two accasions asking why this is. I have never received a reply.
Can we get around this and pay the cheaper fare ?

monkeyspanner

The simplistic answer to this is there is less demand for BA flights in the USA therefore to improve their loading BA offer better prices in the USA. If you look at a comparison site like airline-network, there are 3 carriers listed for direct Heathrow to Miami Flughts. BA and Virgin are within £5 at £707 and £712 American Airlines is considerably cheaper although the difference is not as much as you have noted.
However the more cynical answer would be UK consumers are less demanding. In addition I wonder why two very senior BA executives are suspended whilst BA is investigated for price fixing; an investigation which will probably take many months.

student100

Generally people will pay more for a flight with their national carrier (or at least one of their own...). I found flights to the US much cheaper with American or Continental than with the British airlines for instance. I imagine it works the other way round too.

Also if you're flying from say London-Paris-New York with Air France you will pay less than a French person flying the same flight for just Paris-New York, for much the same reasons.

There is little you can do about this.

Gazzor

Now you mention Continental. As Fort Myers is the nearest airport to where I intend to stay. Did a quick search tonite. Continental do a Gatwick to Fort Myers via Newark for approx £2,500, cheaper than Miami and more convienient.
Its such a shame the flights are so expensive, as the standard of accomodation on offer, 3-4 bed villas etc, is so much better than say the Algarve or Costa del Sol at this time of the year.

WiseInvestor_2

monkeyspanner wrote:

I wonder why two very senior BA executives are suspended whilst BA is investigated for price fixing; an investigation which will probably take many months.

It is normal business practice to suspend an employee under investigation, to ensure the investigators can work unhindered. UK law presumes innocent until proven guilty. The City expects both individuals to be fully exonerated.

Regarding the price differential between US/UK - most global companies vary their prices in each market to suit the local demand, from medication to motor cars. As you can see, BA and Virgin are charging the same wheres American are charging less. However, many flyers consider US airlines to be unrealistic comparators as their service standards are hugely inferior to European carriers (albeit American's Economy seats offer slightly more leg room).