One-Way more expensive than Roundtrip?

Question

Why is a one-way ticket more expensive than a round-trip ticket? I thought they were trying to get the same amount for a round-trip so as not to lose money on the seat, but with Air France, the ticket is a little more than $1,000 USD extra. WHAT ON EARTH FOR? WIth British Airways it is a little more than a round-trip ticket.

Answer 1

It has ALWAYS been more expensive to buy one way than round trip.  Especially on airfares.  

Just the way they price them.  Something to do with an incentive for returning on their airline, I think.

Check back.  It's always been that way.

Answer 2

Round-trip tickets are often discounted.  One-way tickets are almost never discounted.  Airlines price tickets to get business travelers (who have to fly at very specific times and are willing to pay for the privilege) to pay more, and discount tickets for pleasure travelers (most of whom are willing to fly on different dates or even to different destinations to get a better deal - so you can't make them pay much more or they'll go elsewhere).  That's why they usually require advance purchases and Saturday night stays for a discount round trip.  If they had discount one-ways, that would let people get around all of the restrictions on round trips, and would defeat the airlines' whole pricing model designed to ensure that business travelers pay more and only pleasure travelers get the discounts.