Airfare is not calculated based on distance or number of stops. That is a common misconception. Airfare is priced based on demand for a particular market. Supply and demand works just the same in the airline industry for tickets, as does it for normal products at a retail store. The more in demand something is, the more it costs.
If demand is higher for a flight to Charlotte, it will cost more. Typically one way flights and non stop flights are higher priced, because their is higher demand for them. Right now, demand for flights to Florida is likely low, since it is winter, thus the prices are cheaper. Watch those prices rise once summer roles around.
Also, the airlines do not calculate fares based on connections/stops. If you are going to fly from lets say Seattle to Miami, with a connection in Charlotte, the fare is calculated as a Seattle to Miami flight, and the pricing is based on the demand for that market (people trying to go from Seattle to Miami). The price just to fly from Seattle to Charlotte, not taking that second Miami flight may be higher. That is because the demand for that market (people going from Seattle to Charlotte) is higher.
It is simple economics just like in any industry. Products or services in higher demand usually cost more. In the airline industry, flights into certain higher traffic markets will usually cost more. It has absolutely nothing to do with distance or stops.
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