The Anti-Bargain Search: World's Most Expensive Plane Routes

You’ll pay dearly to fly these routes, but you can see them here for free. Click on the map to see a larger version. (Graphic: Cortney Cassidy)

Most rational people want to find the cheapest plane routes possible when planning a vacation. For example, if Chicago is cheaper to visit than Vegas and we’re equally open to seeing both, why not go with the budget-friendly choice?

We at Yahoo Travel decided to put reason aside for a moment and ask a different question: in case we win the lottery or found the next Uber, what are the most expensive economy-class plane routes in the world, and the U.S.?

We wanted the most recent information, so we sought out the Airline Reporting Corporation, a company that last year tracked $86 billion worth of ticket transactions from 191 airlines and 9,400 travel agencies. They put together a custom report using only ticket data from 2014, and the results are a comprehensive look at the most budget-busting flights you can take, by airport.

Jakarta makes for a pricey departure city, with three spots in the top 10. (Photo: Thinkstock)

The methodology for this report includes the following: these costs are based on round-trip, economy-class tickets – first and business class are left out. These include non-stop, direct, and connecting flights. The report excludes any outlier tickets of over $50,000 and less than $50, and to include only flights with competitive service, they must be served by at least three airlines for the majority of the trip.

First, here are the most expensive plane routes in the world. While the countries involved may not surprise you (Japan, Indonesia, the U.S.), some of the routes might.

For example, if you live in Houston, prepare to pay through the nose to visit Maracaibo, Venezuela. Also, flying from London to New York is far more expensive when departing from London City Airport (LCY) than Heathrow:

1. Jakarta, Indonesia (CGK) to Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB)
Price: $9,242
Total miles:  10,620

2. Tokyo, Japan (NRT) to Papeete, French Polynesia  (PPT)
Price: $6,681
Total miles: 11,720

3. Hiroshima, Japan (HIJ) to Rome, Italy (FCO)
Price: $5,713
Total miles: 11,900

4. Nagoya, Japan (NGO) to Silao, Mexico (BJX)
Price: $5,447
Total miles: 13,960

5. Jakarta (CGK) to New York (JFK)
Price: $4,905
Total miles 20,000

6. Tokyo, Japan (NRT) to Silao, Mexico (BJX)
Price: $4,735
Total miles: 13,600

7. London, England (LCY) to New York (JFK)
Price: $4,710
Total miles: 3,460

8. Tokyo, Japan (NRT) to Lexington, Kentucky (KKY)
Price: $4,423
Total miles: 12,060

9. Jakarta, Indonesia (CGK) to Houston, Texas (IAH)
Price: $4,320
Total miles: 20,400

10. Maracaibo, Venezuela (MAR) to Houston, Texas (IAH)
Price: $4,080
Total miles: 4,060 miles

Related: The 10 Most Expensive Hotel Suites in the World

Flying into Kahului Airport on Maui is a costly view indeed. (Photo: Thinkstock)

And what are the most expensive routes in the U.S.? The simple answer is, if you want to spend as much as possible on airfare, fly to Hawaii often. The only route in the top 10 that doesn’t include the Aloha State is the obviously high-roller Houston-to-Bismarck getaway. Here they are:

1. Huntsville, Alabama (HSV) to Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL)
Price: $1,225
Total miles: 8,700

2. Providence, Rhode Island (PVD) to Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL)
Price: $1,201
Total miles: 10,140

3. Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR) to Kahului, Maui, Hawaii (OGG)
Price: $1,194
Total miles: 8,580

4. Charleston, South Carolina (CHS) to Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL)
Price: $1,191
Total miles: 9,500

5. Tulsa, Oklahoma (TUL) to Kahului, Hawaii (OGG)
Price: $1,190
Total miles: 7,520

6. Houston, Texas (IAH) to Bismarck, North Dakota (BIS)
Price: $1,189
Total miles: 2,400

7. Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Kahului, Hawaii (OGG)
Price: $1,189
Total miles: 9,480

8. Cleveland, Ohio (CLE) to Kahului, Hawaii (OGG)
Price: $1,182
Total miles: 8,980

9. Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Kailua-Kona (KOA)
Price: $1,175
Total miles: 9,540

10. Hartford, Connecticut (BDL) to Kahului, Hawaii (OGG)
Price: $1,174
Total miles: 9,900

Related: From Bora Bora to the Bahamas, How to Afford the Most Expensive Islands in the World

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