Photo by Christian Junker on Flickr / CC2.0

A direct flight to a major European city leaving on a Friday evening, returning on a Saturday in October, on a premium airline with high demand! And you wonder why economy ticket is NT$73000. Doh!!!

Photo by Christian Junker | Photography | Flickr License

Well, it’s like saying: you can have cheap, quality or fast. But you can never have all 3 at the same time. With TX, you get cheap, convenient or direct. It’s VERY rare to get all three, except if it’s a short flight but by then other factors are influencing the price: extreme competition or regulation.

OP was pricing a premium airline on a FRIDAY on a DIRECT flight to a MAJOR city on a long haul flight. LOL! And they are ‘shocked’… I’m like… So… what’s new!

First up, Taiwanese will jump on the first flight after a week work… they don’t want to waste any time, as if you can waste time. This means Friday flights are always expensive from Taiwan. Always.

Second, because of the Ukraine war and sanctions on Russia, flights to Europe either fly via 2nd airport: KLM, AF, China Airlines, etc. or there are very few outside of tourist season. Direct flights used to fly over China & Russia & Ukraine. But not any longer. It’s typically via South Korea or Bangkok these days. In addition to the stopover, the flight times are longer whatever you choose.

Third, Eva Air is premium domestic airline with a good reputation. It also has significant ‘brand cachet’ so premium fares are attractive to those who love ‘brands’.

So why the pikachu face when you check the airfares? Didya never fly before?