Not using the last segment of a return journey
Discussion
Let's say I'm flying A-B-C return, with B being a stopover city.
If on the way back I decide to exit at B and not fly the last segment (B-A), would a airline like BA penalise me in any way? Any repercussions on subsequent flights on the same airline (bearing in mind I have some status)?
Would I be able to retrieve my hold luggage, bearing in mind I would have a ~7 hour stopover at B?
If on the way back I decide to exit at B and not fly the last segment (B-A), would a airline like BA penalise me in any way? Any repercussions on subsequent flights on the same airline (bearing in mind I have some status)?
Would I be able to retrieve my hold luggage, bearing in mind I would have a ~7 hour stopover at B?
Not an issue at all if you are doing this irregularly. This is how i book the majority of my flights on BA as it works out much cheaper than a point to point. The only issue you could have is luggage unless the point B stopover is more than 12 hours.
so far BA have credited all flown miles to my avios acc, not penalised me and not flagged up any concerns.
so far BA have credited all flown miles to my avios acc, not penalised me and not flagged up any concerns.
I’ve never done it before so hopefully BA will be lenient. Also I’m Silver and flying club all the way so they can f
k themselves if they don’t like it 
I land early at LHR T5 and supposed to leave 10 hours later from T3 (the segment I want to skip).
Any tips for best time/way to make my swift exit, and to try and retrieve luggage?
k themselves if they don’t like it I land early at LHR T5 and supposed to leave 10 hours later from T3 (the segment I want to skip).
Any tips for best time/way to make my swift exit, and to try and retrieve luggage?
I haven't done this myself as I wanted the tier points on my BA account to get me to Bronze, however I took a "holiday" - ex EU Club Europe flight from Berlin to London in Aug 2015, London to Hong Kong in Club World Jan 2016, Hong Kong to London in Club World Feb 2016, London to Berlin in Club Europe April 2016.
The bigger question is whether they’ll let you short check your luggage or not. Most times you won’t be able to, and insisting on it they might reprice your trip.the way most savvy people do this is by making the last airport a departure either from LGW or LCY instead of LHR that way they have to give your luggage back.
Won’t be a problem, unless you make a habit of it, though your travel agent could get penalised so I wouldn’t do it with a work agent etc just a direct ba booking
Won’t be a problem, unless you make a habit of it, though your travel agent could get penalised so I wouldn’t do it with a work agent etc just a direct ba booking
anonymous said:
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They don’t penalize at all, I’ve done this loads of times. People don’t make flights all the time, tickets get cancelled all the time. It’s not a big deal. You will be penalized if you want to reactivate the ticket or change it, by way of having to pay a no show fee.matrignano said:
I'd rather not alert them of my intentions, in case what I want to do is frowned upon!
Chances are your luggage will be checked through to your final destination, so you'd need to let them know and yes, this is BA, they will charge you for a change even though you're not actually changing anything.Thanks. I'll give it a shot.
So how do I go about it once I disembark from the plane?
Head for passport control/exit instead of the connections area?
Who/where can I ask if I can get my luggage back?
Otherwise I'll have to travel light and just carry on 2x cabin bags, so no need to check any luggage.
So how do I go about it once I disembark from the plane?
Head for passport control/exit instead of the connections area?
Who/where can I ask if I can get my luggage back?
Otherwise I'll have to travel light and just carry on 2x cabin bags, so no need to check any luggage.
WyrleyD said:
If your luggage is checked through to the final destination you will not be able to access it at your transfer point. The luggage is containerised according to final destination and I can't see them messing about trying to find your luggage.
Airlines offload passenger bags all the time when they don't turn up at the gate.Yes you can (I do it regularly), and you shouldn't encounter any issues.
Ignore flight connections and just head for passport control.
Your biggest issue is short checking luggage - they are wise to this and do not like doing it, which is why most people who do this regularly build in either an overnight connection, or an airport change to avoid it.
You will have to go to the counter inside T5 baggage hall and request your bag (keep the receipt given at check in!) and they will bring it to you... but they will take their time doing so. I waited 2hours for it once.
It is significantly easier gaming the system with stuff like this with carry on only!
Ignore flight connections and just head for passport control.
Your biggest issue is short checking luggage - they are wise to this and do not like doing it, which is why most people who do this regularly build in either an overnight connection, or an airport change to avoid it.
You will have to go to the counter inside T5 baggage hall and request your bag (keep the receipt given at check in!) and they will bring it to you... but they will take their time doing so. I waited 2hours for it once.
It is significantly easier gaming the system with stuff like this with carry on only!
matrignano said:
Any tips for best time/way to make my swift exit, and to try and retrieve luggage?
You just need to make your intentions clear when you check in. You've paid for the flight so they've got your money so whether there's a bum in the seat or not is not the issue. They will then check your bag through to T5 only and adjust the manifest for the last leg accordingly.
Where things get messy is when you simply don't show up. If there's a bag on board, flights get delayed and airlines get fined and this is where you may end up with a penalty.
So, at check-in, just say your plans have changed! Quite simple......but watch the coding on the bag tags to make sure the last destination is marked LHR.
Thanks for all the advice.
Will either try to fly the return leg with carry on, or ask that the bags are delivered at check out at LHR.
I'm spending Christmas with family (location A), then going on holidays to location C. My only flight option is with a stopover at location B, London, which is where I live.
Hence why it would be convenient for me to exit at B...
Will either try to fly the return leg with carry on, or ask that the bags are delivered at check out at LHR.
I'm spending Christmas with family (location A), then going on holidays to location C. My only flight option is with a stopover at location B, London, which is where I live.
Hence why it would be convenient for me to exit at B...
brickwall said:
Not a problem. Just ask for your luggage to be checked through to the interim (not final) destination - make up a spurious excuse that you need to access it if you need anything to.
Yeah that is the problem...they are wise to it. They do make some exceptions and have greater flexibility for gold/premier cards, but for most, they will probably be refused and it will be checked through to final destination. Long layover increases chances of them doing it, as does flying from say, somewhere hot to cold (giving the excuse you need to change your luggage).Regardless, as I said, even if they refuse at your origin, go through immigration in T5 and straight to the desk in the baggage hall and ask for it there. You WILL get it, but may have to wait a while.
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