Using one leg of a return ticket
Discussion
Hi All,
Been roped into this one by the inlaws as they think I am good at complaining
and I also suspect I know the answer but just need some reassurance.
Sister in Law and Cousin bought a return air ticket, got to the destination by other means (their plans changed since booking it) and only wanted to use the return portion. Were told at the desk that they were not on the system for that flight and needed to buy a new (expensive) ticket.
I can't find anything on the airlines website terms and conditions stating that they have to take both portions of the ticket, but I suspect that will be the case somehow.
They claim that they were never told of any restrictions when they booked the flight and neither was the Father in Law when he called the airline to bail them out. Though to be fair, I doubt that they asked the question either.
Pointless complaining or worth a try?
Thanks.
Been roped into this one by the inlaws as they think I am good at complaining
and I also suspect I know the answer but just need some reassurance.Sister in Law and Cousin bought a return air ticket, got to the destination by other means (their plans changed since booking it) and only wanted to use the return portion. Were told at the desk that they were not on the system for that flight and needed to buy a new (expensive) ticket.
I can't find anything on the airlines website terms and conditions stating that they have to take both portions of the ticket, but I suspect that will be the case somehow.
They claim that they were never told of any restrictions when they booked the flight and neither was the Father in Law when he called the airline to bail them out. Though to be fair, I doubt that they asked the question either.
Pointless complaining or worth a try?
Thanks.
A2Z said:
Hi All,
Been roped into this one by the inlaws as they think I am good at complaining and I also suspect I know the answer but just need some reassurance.
Sister in Law and Cousin bought a return air ticket, got to the destination by other means (their plans changed since booking it) and only wanted to use the return portion. Were told at the desk that they were not on the system for that flight and needed to buy a new (expensive) ticket.
I can't find anything on the airlines website terms and conditions stating that they have to take both portions of the ticket, but I suspect that will be the case somehow.
They claim that they were never told of any restrictions when they booked the flight and neither was the Father in Law when he called the airline to bail them out. Though to be fair, I doubt that they asked the question either.
Pointless complaining or worth a try?
Thanks.
who did they book it throughBeen roped into this one by the inlaws as they think I am good at complaining
and I also suspect I know the answer but just need some reassurance.Sister in Law and Cousin bought a return air ticket, got to the destination by other means (their plans changed since booking it) and only wanted to use the return portion. Were told at the desk that they were not on the system for that flight and needed to buy a new (expensive) ticket.
I can't find anything on the airlines website terms and conditions stating that they have to take both portions of the ticket, but I suspect that will be the case somehow.
They claim that they were never told of any restrictions when they booked the flight and neither was the Father in Law when he called the airline to bail them out. Though to be fair, I doubt that they asked the question either.
Pointless complaining or worth a try?
Thanks.
they may have cancelled and resold
if you notify the airline when you miss the outbound they can usually keep the return safe!
Thanks,
Booked online direct with the airline.
Outbound wasn't missed, they got to the destination via other means and just needed to come back.
edit.
Just found this burried deep in their website
3.3.6 Please be advised that in the event you do not show up for any flight without advising us in advance, we may cancel your return or onward reservations. However, if you do advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent flight reservations.
Case closed it seems.
Booked online direct with the airline.
Outbound wasn't missed, they got to the destination via other means and just needed to come back.
edit.
Just found this burried deep in their website
3.3.6 Please be advised that in the event you do not show up for any flight without advising us in advance, we may cancel your return or onward reservations. However, if you do advise us in advance, we will not cancel your subsequent flight reservations.
Case closed it seems.
Edited by A2Z on Wednesday 2nd March 16:37
I think most airlines effectively view the outbound and inbound flight as one overall booking. If you fail to show for the outbound leg they view you as missing the overall flight. Always seemed dodgy to me but I suspect it must be covered in their T&Cs somewhere or has been tested in the courts before. I'd be interested if you find an answer.
RedWhiteMonkey said:
I think most airlines effectively view the outbound and inbound flight as one overall booking. If you fail to show for the outbound leg they view you as missing the overall flight.
Yup - I used to work for a travel agency (Well a company related in the travel field, not exactly an agency, but dealing with claims from travellers), and basically the rules are as above.I asked about this when we wanted to fly Manchester to Toronto (direct) but found that if we made Boston the final destination (same flight to Toronto then shuttle to Boston) it was £200 each cheaper. For 4 of us that was a chunky difference.
I asked about buying tickets to Boston but leaving the flight at Toronto (our luggage would come off there as we'd have to clear customs anyway) and they said that if we didn't complete the outbound journey then the return flight would be automatically cancelled.
I asked about buying tickets to Boston but leaving the flight at Toronto (our luggage would come off there as we'd have to clear customs anyway) and they said that if we didn't complete the outbound journey then the return flight would be automatically cancelled.
Standard airline term of carriage: if you don't fly all the sectors booked in the order booked, unused sectors are cancelled. You can get away with skipping the last sector (ie return flight or last flight of a multi sector ticket because there's nothing after that for the airline to cancel.
If you have paid full, non-discounted fare, this is often no different in price to two singles. In those circs, although the airlines' computer will cancel the second sector if you don't fly the first, since you will have paid the cost of a single for the second sector, you might get them to reinstate the second sector.
If you have paid full, non-discounted fare, this is often no different in price to two singles. In those circs, although the airlines' computer will cancel the second sector if you don't fly the first, since you will have paid the cost of a single for the second sector, you might get them to reinstate the second sector.
sneijder said:
They are however entitled to the tax back IIRC.
Just be aware the scumbag airlines charge an admin fee to do this. As you can probably guess the fee is normally the same as the amount of the tax refund.
Which airline was it ? If it was a trans-atlantic flight it might be worth it.
Correct, but then sneijder should know Just be aware the scumbag airlines charge an admin fee to do this. As you can probably guess the fee is normally the same as the amount of the tax refund.
Which airline was it ? If it was a trans-atlantic flight it might be worth it.
If you look at the price structure, a return can be cheaper than two singles; airlines don't want people to do this...
Also flying long haul in direct can be far, far cheaper than flying direct, especially in business: to compete with KLM going say, Schipol- Boston direct, BA will price AMS- LHR- BOS much cheaper than LHR- BOS; combine a AMS- BOS return with a separate cheapest of the cheap LHR- AMS single and do the retunn flight with hand bagage only and forget the last sector, and turn left for less!.
Also flying long haul in direct can be far, far cheaper than flying direct, especially in business: to compete with KLM going say, Schipol- Boston direct, BA will price AMS- LHR- BOS much cheaper than LHR- BOS; combine a AMS- BOS return with a separate cheapest of the cheap LHR- AMS single and do the retunn flight with hand bagage only and forget the last sector, and turn left for less!.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff