star alliance airfares.

[aj]

have been looking at airfare in december mci-ord-bkk. 1400 us. up 550 from last year. i look for same only thru europe last year 2500 us this year 1950, 550 less than last year. is fuel cheaper now going east instead of west? or could it be they want to stick us both ways. just seems odd that it would be less east than west as it has always been the oppisite.

[cowboy]

I have noticed the same thing. RDtrip airfare on thai BKK NY-BKK is alot less than NYC-BKK-NYC. Same for many other airlines.

[CheshireTom]

is fuel cheaper now going east instead of west?

Yes, it works out cheaper as the aircraft uses less fuel flying eastabout.

 

You could try Emirates NYC-BKK via DXB ....... their website fares are pretty good and the duty free in Dubai is outstanding. The trip isn't much longer than westabout, if at all.

 

Tom

[IslandHopper]

Just a question, Tom. How can the plane be getting better fuel efficiency flying eastward when the Thai Air JFK-BKK-JFK flights both fly to the East, or at least Northeast?

Edited June 25, 2005 by IslandHopper

[CheshireTom]

IslandHopper,

 

In the northern hemisphere you will normally have a tailwind eastabout and a headwind westabout. The Thai BKK-JFK sevice effectively flies around the globe, albeit at a far northerly latitude for a significant part of the trip.

 

Tom

[short]

The Thai flight flies almost over the north pole. Therefore it is flying neither east or west for the most part. Damn nice flight. Wish I could get a connection to JFK to catch it.

 

Basically, the earth spins eastwardly. (notice that the sun rises in the east) Therefore, west to east winds are generated. (ie the air doesn't follow the rotation of the earth). Its more complicated than that so don't ask.

 

Sometimes a jet can catch a jet stream (stream of air moving eastwardly) and add another 400 knots to its ground speed.

Edited June 26, 2005 by short

[partyanimal]

So it would make sense for the plane to fly from JFK over the Atlantic but return over the Pacific, right?

 

As far as prices return flights from BKK on Thai to JFK seem most expensive on Mondays.

[MrMango]

You are assuming that flight costs are associated with actual costs such as Jet fuel - Not so - prices are set by many reasons -competitive presser, keeping market share, etc.

 

During the winter, you will see almost free flights us-Europe from JFK to London, but often double or triple the cost of getting to JFK from your home town, even though it is a fraction of the distance.

 

My conclusion - setting air fares is completely arbitraty