Why are RT tickets cheaper than One Way???

Can anyone explain this connundrum to me? In researching ticket prices for my official move over to the UK after I get my spousal visa approved, the round trip tickets on all the sites I've looked on so far are HALF the price of the one way tickets!! Does that make any sense?? I experienced this once before when I had to change my return flight back to America from the UK. It was too expensive to change the flight so I had to buy a new ticket, but it was cheaper to buy a whole new round trip ticket from the US and just use the returning flight than it was to buy a one way. I mean, I'll do it whichever way is cheapest, but it just seems silly!

It's been that way as long as I can remember.  Airlines will tell you some crap about how they have to find someone else to fly one way in order to fill the seat you didn't fill, but that's ridiculous.  If you purchase a round trip ticket where you fly the first leg in January but don't fly the return trip until December, the airline doesn't sit around wringing their hands worrying about you in the meantime.

Anyway, when I was in your shoes, I just bought a round trip ticket and never used the second half.  I felt (and still feel a bit) like I'd been taken advantage of.     Hopefully someone has figured this problem out and has a solution.

good luck,
Carl

the airline doesn't sit around wringing their hands worrying about you in the meantime.

LOL!!

Have you considered going by boat?  You can get a one way passage for around 850.00 from NYC to Southampton.  It takes about 5 days, but your meals are included and there is NO LUGGUAGE RESTRICTIONS (and no jet lag)!  I'll be utilizing the QM2 for my passage in June. 

Also, it's worth mentioning that a one way ticket from the US to the UK by plane will also entail higher level of security screening. 

It's been that way as long as I can remember.  Airlines will tell you some crap about how they have to find someone else to fly one way in order to fill the seat you didn't fill, but that's ridiculous.  If you purchase a round trip ticket where you fly the first leg in January but don't fly the return trip until December, the airline doesn't sit around wringing their hands worrying about you in the meantime.

Airlines: Oh deary, deary, dear! We've not seen hide nor hair of Carl for yea these many months since his first leg flight in January. Reckon we'll have to discontinue all flights and shut down the airline until he uses his return leg in December so we needn't have to find someone to fill his seat until then.

Carl (and the rest of us): Yeah, right.

Oh deary, deary, dear!

Hehehe! 

When I was moving over in '05 I bought a round trip ticket and made the mistake of mentioning that I wasn't coming back to the attendant at the desk, which ened up with a reply to the effect where she said "I didn't hear, that 'cause if I heard that I have to charge you for a one-way ticket" and she explained the cost difference to the effect that they charge more for one-way tickets because they're aimed to be sold to businesses which money isn't an issue, whereas round trip are aimed at the general public, who're usually tourists, etc.

When I was moving over in '05 I bought a round trip ticket and made the mistake of mentioning that I wasn't coming back to the attendant at the desk, which ened up with a reply to the effect where she said "I didn't hear, that 'cause if I heard that I have to charge you for a one-way ticket" and she explained the cost difference to the effect that they charge more for one-way tickets because they're aimed to be sold to businesses which money isn't an issue, whereas round trip are aimed at the general public, who're usually tourists, etc.

Interesting!! And shady I might add. Is that even legal?

Who knows and who would enforce it anyway?   

Absolutely legal. As is charging more for last minute seats or tickets for a stay that isn't over a saturday night for the same reason.