One way flights

[David H]

The new trick of advertising cheap single prices for flights means you are obliged to ask for the return price. I doubt many people don't come back, so the value of a 50p trip to Amsterdam is theoretically balanced by either a random phone-around for a cheap return with another company or a �100 or so return from the crooks who sold you the single. How do they get away with meaningless and misleading advertising, as, though it's quite sensible to have cheap train singles as we often stay over, come back by someone elses car, go to a 3rd place etc., most flyers need to go there and back. So advertising one way flights is simply a way to bypass honest pricing. And it' s allowed. The question is, why do they do it, how do you return, and any other information on this dubious practice.

[mikewall01]

The art of advertising is to show the product or service in the best light to attract potential customers. Personally I am glad to see someone offering cheap one-way air fares. I regularly make one-way trips to UK and mainland Europe destinations. My gripe has always been the reverse of yours. I often spend hours trying to find a reasonable priced single fare and then end up buying a return (which I don't need) because it's so much cheaper than a single. As an example I recently wanted to fly from Manchester to Gatwick (one-way). The single fare was �160 and a return was �36. On another recent trip the quoted fare from Gatwick to Minsk was �840 single or �257 return.
My advice to you is to check the details of whatever it is you intend to purchase to ascertain that it is exactly what you want because your needs will not always be the same as those of others.

[answerbonk]

You use such words as "trick, crooks, meaningless, misleading and dubious". You've got a bee in your bonnet about something. I don't understand why quoting the price of a single fare for a flight should upset you any more than a bus or train company quoting single fares for a journey. You might just as well object to companies advertising insurance policies for over 70 years old people because most of the population is younger than that.

[David H]

I have give many reasons, but to try and sum it up, anyone going on a flight nearly always wants a return fare. Single fares are invariably advertised alone, with no way of finding out how much it costs to get back. It IS dubious, as it is like selling a new car for �500 (wheels excepted). You phone up and find the wheels are �7000. Though the second example is both impossible and ridiculous, the first one isn't. It means travel companies CAN (note, I don't say DO) mislead customers by making the return back from Amsterdam a standard price only, making the total price paid for a return no more economical as buying a cheap return to start with. Until you call, you just don't have the slightest idea, and buy obliging you to call they then have the chance to hard sell you whatever else they can. Retailers have been stopped already from displaying false sale prices, but still manage to both advertise non-existent flights (illegal but difficult tp prove) and this latest trick, only common in newspapers for a year or so, in my experience. And yes, the bee in my bonnet is I am a law teacher who has taught contract law for many years up till a few years ago, and I know how many ways businesses earning millions in profits will try to earn a little more without being totally honest. How is anyone supposed to know what the return flight will be from these ads? Most will assume it's the same both ways. If it was, they wouldn't be doing it, they'd be advertising returns. Therefore, by advertising singles, they've got something to hide. I close the case for the prosecution, my Lord.

[geofbob]

I agree that the practice is dubious, as are so many of the advertising ploys of the new breed of economy, no-frills airline. What I find particularly irritating is that their "Book early for the lowest fares" exhortation is often untrue, and after you've booked early they can have a "sale", offering lower prices than you have paid. On the other hand, Ryanair, Easyjet etc have undoubtedly delivered real air fare reductions in the European sector, and have vastly increased the number of destinations to which one can easily fly.

[darth vader]

what about buying a single from (eg) Manchester to Amsterdam. Then buying a single from Amsterdam to Manchester? Or was that too obvious?.......

[David H]

I think you've missed the point, Darth, it makes no difference if you buy two singles or a return. But by advertising a cheap single fare only, it makes the 'man on the Clapham omnibus' (the legal test) expect the trip back will be just as economical. What I want to know here are peoples stories whether this is true or not as I'm not prepared to phone numerous ads I have no intention of actually using just to check up. Technically trading standards and the Office of fair trading should be doing this now, but this is Britain, after all...

[templeman]

I also fail to understand your point David H. Surely if someone is advertising something that you don't want, e.g. a single fare, then you won't bother phoning them, you'll phone someone who's offering what you do want, e.g. a return fare.
I make that suggestion because it would perhaps help you with the problem that you seem to have with companies advertising services that you don't want.
Personally, if I wanted a two way trip, I would phone the company just to see if the return leg would be a good deal.

[BenDToy]

Tend to go with the majority here. Some companies advertise singles, others returns. Why is this a problem? I generally find that the return leg is similarly priced anyway (if we are talking about the same operators). The main factor is generally the day of the week, and time of day, not the direction of travel. In the main, the price of a return would be "from" double the price of a "from" single, you just have to time the flights if you want the cheapest fare. I haven't come across the situation you suggest may occur. A 2 minute session on the web site could usually provide clear prices and even bookings. The tickets are aimed at Amsterdam etc residents as well, so it would be illogical to do what you are suggesting. Further, it is clear that the "50p trip" is not a sustainable price, so is it really unreasonable that they try to make up the shortfall in another way. Even �100 return sounds like a bargain to me. How much would it cost to go by train/car/ferry or whatever? By the way I notice that BA are pricing one way now as well, so it isn't just the "low service" operators that do this.

[BenDToy]

One further point. Why do you think that Trading Standards or the OFT would be interested in finding out the price of something which ISN'T being advertised, so by definition cannot contravene any advertising guidelines. And also to answer your implied question, my experience is that the return leg is usually just as economical as the outbound one, you just have to juggle dates and times (the laws of supply and demand). But you can use it to your advantage, if you are prepared for a little inconvenience.