Hi,

We're currently sorting out flights to Halifax from London. There's a limited choice at this time of year as it seems Air Transat only serve this route in the summer.
I've come across something weird - a round trip flight seems to be cheaper than one way. Am I missing something??

Nope. Return tickets are invariably cheaper than one way, whereever and with whomever you fly.

So could I buy a return and just use the outbound part and save a couple of hundred pounds?

I thought about that, but if I bought a return they would have added the numerous extortionate taxes in both directions so it ended up costing more.

Depends on the airline. Several North American airlines have done away with roundtrip pricing, and now simply sell 2 one ways.

Air Canada and Wesjet both do this.

It's more common with charters, because when they sell a one-way ticket there's a good chance they won't be able to sell that seat on the flight back.

Check the fine print. If you buy a return @ Eurotunnel for example, and don't use the return leg, they'll charge your registered credit/debit card for the difference between the return and one-way ticket.

Airlines may have similar clauses in the fine print.

Be very careful when considering this. I saw on Air Canada that a £1800 flight for two people did not have any cancellation charges for missing the return flight. I checked the fine print on a £900 Canadian Affair flight (again for 2) and they said you have to pay 90% of the TOTAL travel cost if you cancel a return flight. Of course people miss flights completely by accident, and you may get away with it. Personally, I wouldn't take the risk and we're buying singles.

Use skyscanner, Icelandic air are cheaper for one way flights.

Andrew

We booked Iceland air to Halifax. Goes from both Heathrow and Gatwick (LGW slightly cheaper), change at Reykjavik - 3 hours or so in the airport. There are some flights that are 11 hours in the airport but most are 3 hours.

They used to be summer only to Halifax but I think they start earlier these days. Not sure if as early as Feb though, but yes well worth running through SkyScanner.