Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxm.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ihuxm!nxn
From: nxn@ihuxm.UUCP (Dave Nixon)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Transatlantic Airfare Question
Message-ID: <1223@ihuxm.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Jan-85 21:23:50 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxm.1223
Posted: Thu Jan 31 21:23:50 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 10:07:15 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 21

Are there any experts on transatlantic airfares out there? Currently,
the standard advance purchase non-stop round trip fare from Chicago to
London (Heathrow) is 709 dollars (travel midweek in April).  The same
fare in the UK, but starting from London, is 379 pounds, or 425 dollars
at the current exchange rate (1.12). I understand that the carriers have
applied to raise the UK fare by 25% which would make it 531 dollars, but
that's still 178 dollars cheaper.  Unfortunately, they won't let you buy
a London-Chicago-London ticket and then fly the other way.  Is there
anything inherently more costly in travelling from Chicago first rather
than London (:-), or is this just the regulations? Are there any plans to
deregulate this route?
It's almost cheaper to fly one way in both directions. If I were travelling
regularly, it would definitely be worth flying one way Chicago-London,
and then buying successive round trip London-Chicago-London tickets even
after the 25% hike.
I know that it's possible to fly to London much more cheaply on a charter
or cut rate carrier like Peoples Express, but they all involve changing
flights, and all fly into Gatwick, which is much less convenient for me.
Any gems of wisdom out there?

Dave Nixon	AT&T Bell Laboratories	..!ihnp4!ihuxm!nxn