Why is multi-city cheaper than return ticket? and transit times

[Fruitloop50]

We are looking to purchase return business class flights to the US in November this year. Prefer to depart from MEL but SYD is fine as well.

We have to be in Las Vegas on 5 November to start a coach tour, and we have a cruise that finishes in Cartagena, Colombia on 13 December.

Was going to just book MEL to LAX return, and then book individual flights from CTG back to LAX, but when I looked at a multi-city booking MEL-LAX and then CTG-MEL (with Qantas & American) it worked out cheaper ($13,740 vs $12,584).

Is that right or am I doing something wrong?

Also with the CTG-MEL flights, are the transit times too short?

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm also returning from Cartagena in December, but I'm on a Finnair RTW ticket, so the Caribbean (MIA-BGI and CTG-MIA) is a separate ticket. From what I can see, 4 hours transit in Miami would be really stretching it (its a horrid airport to arrive at international), especially if you are connecting straight on to the international afterwards

I'm on separate tickets so am breaking the journey overnight, but I think I'd do that anyway (but I'm very conservative).

 

[p--and--t]

While it seems illogical on the surface, airlines often charge less for longer journeys to different city pairs further apart than just to go a shorter distance between more popular city pairs that they can charge more for.

 

[Fruitloop50]

I'm also returning from Cartagena in December, but I'm on a Finnair RTW ticket, so the Caribbean (MIA-BGI and CTG-MIA) is a separate ticket. From what I can see, 4 hours transit in Miami would be really stretching it (its a horrid airport to arrive at international), especially if you are connecting straight on to the international afterwards

I'm on separate tickets so am breaking the journey overnight, but I think I'd do that anyway (but I'm very conservative).

We've never transited in America before. What would you recommend as the minimum transit time in Miami and also LAX?

 

[RooFlyer]

Miami I haven’t done for number of years so I wouldn’t like to say - as I said it’s got reputation for being very slow international inbound so I would say 5 to 6 hours but others who have been there recently may differ.

LAX you are inbound domestic so it shouldn’t be as much of a problem. Only a delay inbound to worry about. I’d be okay with three hours transit there.

 

[RichardMEL]

November 5th? Keep in mind that will be election day.. things may or may not be a little crazy...

 

[elanshin]

Also before you go too far, check the actual sites that are selling those fares and whether they truly exist. Google flights sometimes pulls data for the cheapest option from OTAs or aggregates which at times also magically disappear the cheapest option you see on google.

 

[Fruitloop50]

November 5th? Keep in mind that will be election day.. things may or may not be a little crazy...

Thanks. We only realised a couple of weeks ago that it was election day. Unfortunately there are no other dates for the tour we want to go on but we are still tossing up whether to book it or not.

 

[SYD]

Open jaw (or multi-city) are often good value and worth exploring for the cheapest fares for the flexible (ie you have to make own way between ports - but that could be a cruise or a tour and work in your favor).

If you can book direct with QF or AA (on the US website - go for it).

 

[Fruitloop50]

Also before you go too far, check the actual sites that are selling those fares and whether they truly exist. Google flights sometimes pulls data for the cheapest option from OTAs or aggregates which at times also magically disappear the cheapest option you see on google.

Thank you. The only booking link on google flights is for an AA website. I also checked the price on the Australian AA site and the US site and I have ended up with three different prices

Maybe I should go to a travel agent.

 

[SYD]

Thank you. The only booking link on google flights is for an AA website. I also checked the price on the Australian AA site and the US site and I have ended up with three different prices

Maybe I should go to a travel agent.

USA website should be the best.

You might hit a speed bump paying with an Oz CC. The Uber conservative will get to the payment and put the booking on hold and call up to pay. The quicker method is just enter a US address eg a Hotel you’re staying at or somewhere in El Segundo is a favourite.

 

[RichardMEL]

USA website should be the best.

You might hit a speed bump paying with an Oz CC. The Uber conservative will get to the payment and put the booking on hold and call up to pay. The quicker method is just enter a US address eg a Hotel you’re staying at or somewhere in El Segundo is a favourite.

Yup.

My workaround is to use real address, just yse the VI state code and put a 0 in front of my AU postcode for the zip. Works for me with AA and UA. Another option is to use say expedia US site, which seems more forgiving with foreign CCs (and odd time I've booked say AA through them, it's issued on 001 stock and treated as AA issued too)

Absolutely don't let the airline site redirect to AU websites/payment I agree (triggered when setting country away from US)

 

[Fruitloop50]

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions. I have been procrastinating as usual and hadn't booked anything. Today I noticed that the prices had reduced significantly ($3,000 each). That will just about cover the cost of travel insurance

I booked on the US website and used @RichardMEL's suggestion of VI and a zero in front of my post code.

We have chosen transit times ranging in length from seven hours to thirteen hours so hopefully we won't have any issues.