Airplane to Chicago stopping in DCA cheaper than nonstop to DCA?

Question

Hey everyone,

I was trying to find airfares from HPN (White Plains) to DCA (Regan Airport). I noticed that it would cost $300 for a nonstop one way to DCA, but $99 if the plane "Stopped" in DCA and then "went" to Chicago. Of course, i would just not transfer to the other plane- and save $200 dollars? This does not make sense. There is nothing "stopping" me from not transferring flights? I mean obviously an airliner can't force me to get on another plane.

To see what i mean go to http://www.onetravel.com/ and put in "HPN to CHI" then "HPN to DCA" and you will see the plane that stops in DCA before transfer to another plane is 33% of the price of the plane that just goes to DCA from HPN

Answer 1

see:

http://www.cheapair.com/air/track/?fpid=...

a- use flexible dates

b- use alternative airports

http://www.hotwire.com/

http://www.cheapoair.com/

http://www.onetime.com/

http://www.orbitz.com/

http://www.ultimatefares.com/

http://www.priceline.com/

http://www.expedia.com/default.asp

http://www.bookingbuddy.com/

http://www.onetravel.com/

http://www.cfares.com/

http://www.cheapair.com/

http://www.sidestep.com/

Answer 2

Airlines price this way, in part, due to supply and demand.  Whoever set the fares on this route decided that they could justify a fare to Chicago that was cheaper than the fare to Washington, even though the Chicago fare travels through DCA to get there.

That being said, though -- there is nothing stopping you from getting off at Washington, but this will only work if you're going one way.  If you don't board the flight to Chicago, the remaining segments will be cancelled (including your return).  What you are proposing is called "hidden city ticketing" and is actually a violation of the fare rules on most airlines.  The penalty, in this instance, is not getting back to HPN on the same ticket, but an airline would also be within its rights to charge you the difference between what you paid and the one-way to DCA (the $200 you stand to save).

The odds of being caught are low, though, so I don't think you'd have anything to worry about.