Common sense suggests that the shorter the flight the more likely travelers should be able to find cheap fares, particularly cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages. Of course common sense often does not rule when it comes to the airlines. Frequently it can cost travelers twice as much to fly half as far.
One might think that a plane flying half the distance of another plane would be cheaper because less gas is used and labor costs should be less. Often travelers find that it costs more to fly direct than to take connecting flights even if the total flying time of connecting flights is considerably more than a single direct flight.
An example of this is that often it costs more to fly from Clevelands Hopkins International Airport direct to Kansas City, Mo., than a flight leaving from Pittsburgh that connects in Cleveland on the way to Kansas City. Clearly the real variable cost to the airline is greater starting from Pittsburgh, but the ticket price is less. Confused?
The reason is that certain airports do not have low priced airline competitors which often results in the airlines that operate out of such airports charging more money.
In the good old days, a passenger might have been able to purchase a ticket for a flight out of Pittsburgh and then simply board on the connecting flight out of Cleveland, thus saving money. Now airlines will void a passengers ticket if he does not fly on the first leg of his scheduled flight.
Travelers willing to fly out of their way or who live within driving distance to several airports are more likely to find cheaper fares. They just need to decide if the inconvenience of additional traveling time is worth the amount of money that can be saved.
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