Flight price help

Question

So trying to book a flight from london to Seoul with a stop in Beijing via Air China. If I take a 24hr stopover no change in price. I do a 48hr stopover price increases by £100. Why? This only happened this week and wasn’t like this last week. I.e. no price change if I did a stop over more than 24hrs. Is this normal for Air China? Will they revert to the same pricing? Just doesn’t make sense to pay an additional £100 for an extra night when it was coming all included in the price last week

Answer

Airline pricing, including for Air China, is dynamic and can change frequently based on demand, seat availability, and fare rules. The increase you’re seeing when selecting a 48-hour stopover compared to a 24-hour stopover is not unusual, although it can seem inconsistent, especially if last week the price was the same regardless of stopover length.

Here are the key reasons why the price may increase for a longer stopover:

Fare rules and booking classes: Many airlines have different fare rules for layovers under 24 hours versus over 24 hours. A stopover longer than 24 hours may be treated as a “stopover” instead of a “transit,” which can place you in a higher fare category.
Inventory and seat availability: Air China may have limited seats in the cheaper fare bucket for longer stopovers, and once that inventory is gone, the system prices the next available bucket, which is higher.
Dynamic pricing fluctuations: Airline fares can change daily or even multiple times per day depending on booking patterns, demand, and algorithmic adjustments.
External factors: Currency fluctuations, taxes, and surcharges can also affect the displayed price, especially if the airline updates fees for longer stopovers.

Some practical advice:

Check the price multiple times over a few days if your travel dates are flexible, as fare changes are common.
If your stopover is not essential, booking a single 24-hour layover may save you money.
Consider contacting Air China directly to ask about the fare difference; sometimes the airline can clarify fare rules or offer alternate options.
Use fare comparison tools or third-party booking platforms to see if similar fares are available elsewhere.

In short, the £100 increase is likely due to fare rules and seat inventory for longer stopovers, and such changes are normal in airline pricing. There is no guarantee the price will revert to last week’s rate, but monitoring fares over several days may help you find a better deal.

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