I performed an experiment on Ba.com and virgin-atlantic.com for London to Lagos return flights leaving London 1st July and returning 10th September - GBP 484. Reversing the order so that it is Lagos to London, London to Lagos and the price becomes $1,598.42 which is GBP 1,104.54. On Virgin Atlantic it is GBP 505.45 starting in London and starting in Lagos goes to $3,322 which is GBP 2,295.50. Same distance, same planes. Why are these airlines fleecing us?

I conducted the same experiment using London to Johannesburg which is actually double the flight time:

BA, London Johannesburg starting in London costs GBP 719.85, starting in Johannesburg costs 15,359.23 ZAR which is GBP 693.4694

Virgin Atlantic, London Johannesburg starting in London costs GBP 699.85, starting in Johannesburg costs ZAR 14,089.23 which is GBP 636.4139

All flights were economy and conversion was done using current rate at xe.com