Airline Prices. Can Someone explain?

[Traveller]

The other day I was checking prices for flights from California to Cali. Nothing serious, just seeing what things costs now.
Ok,  A is a small town in California and B is a major city with an International airport, and C is Cali.
So, to take a flight from A, connecting in B, then on to C. Cost: $831
But, if you want to take just B direct to C. Cost: $881
The flight from A to B (Roundtrip) is $160.
So, Einstein tells us that $831 minus $160 does NOT equal $881.
Why is this flight $50 higher when you cut out the $160 hopper flight? And, this entire flight is using American Airlines.
Next a roundtrip airfare is $517 from Miami to Cali. One way is $436. that's only $81 difference. I bring this up because not long ago, I wanted a flight to Cabo San Lucas from LAX. Roundtrip was $284. Just for laughs, I thought about taking a one way flight and take a cruise back. The One Way flight to Cabo was $304.
Now, let's look at a domestic flight from LAX to Miami. Roundtrip is $345. One way is $199 with a connection in DFW. Not bad. But, check this out, if you want a non stop one way flight from LAX to Miami, anyone want to guess how much? $1,085. And, that is three weeks in advance. (All these flights are scheduled three weeks in advance.)Conversely, a non stop roundtrip flight is the same $345 flight offered by American Airlines.
Here's my silly logic for the $199 one way flight: If it costs around $200 in fuel to take off and my customer is on a one way voyage, why am I going to land at another airport, make my customer run to another gate OR wait three hours for the next flight to spend another $200 in fuel to carry him back up into the sky for the trip to Miami?
But by God, we will charge another $886 if he wants to go all the way to Miami in one shot. "What the Hell is this Silly B**tard thinking!?"
I know there are other considerations for the airlines when they charge this or that, but some of these prices and comparisions are just ridiculous. And, all of this was done utilizing Expedia. (I know this isn't the cheapest way to find a flight, but it gives you a round about idea of cost)
Is it just me or does this just seem like the consumer is getting screwed?  
Sorry just venting.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Airline Prices. Can Someone explain?, posted by Traveller on Jan 6, 2003

Airline pricing cannot be explained logically.  Although it's done by computer (I think) the pricing is often absurd.

Some things I have observed that may help:

- Prices vary from day to day and even hour to hour for the same trip.  You should check back and check around before you make a final decision.  Once I even got a lower rate by calling American Airlines over the Internet rates.

- If you're having trouble finding a reasonable price on the Internet a travel agent can often do it for you.  They will pad the price a little for themselves, but if you're not finding a good price you may still save money with a travel agent.

- One-way tickets are often as expensive or more than round trip.  Makes no sense.  Sometimes I've just let the return ticket expire.

- Prices tend to go up as the departure date approaches so try not to wait until the last week.

- Prices are much higher around Christmas and other holidays because more people want to travel at those times.  If you were an airline what would you do?

Steve