I've definitely come across the one-way flight costing more than a return

My guess is the airlines think one-way people are business folks (so the price doesn't matter because it's getting expensed), whereas return travelers are paying their own way

I vaguely remember London subsidising tourist flights. That would require knowing when the tourist arrived and left.

Do you have any examples of a one way direct being more expensive than a round trip, with both of them sharing the same outgoing flight?

I had this a year ago on ZRH->SFO.

One way business 6,032 Swiss francs.

Round trip business (with a return 6 months later) was 2,530 Swiss francs. So I screenshotted the horrible one-way price to go in my expense report, and then booked the round trip ticket.

> So I screenshotted the horrible one-way price to go in my expense report, and then booked the round trip ticket.

So… you committed fraud? Cool?

I’m all for sticking it to the corporate overlords, but careful how far out you stick your neck.

No, I was meant to book a one-way ticket, since I was moving offices. But I had to have evidence to show that booking round-trip was cheaper in case anyone questioned why I had purchased round-trip instead of one-way.

Try London to Washington, DC and watch your eyes pop

You might be able to find an airline where it doesn't happen, but you will definitely find airlines where it does. Just verified with Delta and British airways and Lufthansa

If you're not seeing them you're probably looking at domestic or nearby routes. Try transatlantic.

US to Europe open jaw can be weird. I've done somewhat crazy return to origin European city (typically Heathrow) to avoid. And then I've had times when it's been perfectly reasonable.

It’s not uncommon with flights to Europe. I believe within the US it doesn’t happen though.

Isn’t it a waste to book accommodation and not use it? If it is a popular place, maybe they’ll give it to walkins or something, but otherwise?

Isn't it a waste to spend more for a flight when you could get the same flight for less if you also booked an accommodation you don't plan to use?

I meant the accommodation going to waste (unused), which could be used by someone else.

But yes, in terms of money, it sure is waste to pay more for the flight.

Don’t forget they oversell flights anyway – it’s very likely someone else will use it even if you simply don’t show instead of canceling the ticket.

My home is empty nearly 70% of the time. Surely that is more wasteful than not using a dorm bed once per year