Booking return flight; intentional outbound no-show

rpg · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:15

Need someone's help or experience on this situation if possible. I don't want to contact the airline just yet, in case they attempt to change booking to one-way which is almost 2x the price.

The issue is not a no-show on the return leg, it's a no-show on the outbound flight.

It's for two passengers with Qantas, return LHR -> SYD. So the two passengers will not show in London, but will expect to use the return leg from Sydney back to London, as they're already in Australia.

I'm worried that a no-show outbound will automatically cancel the return journey.

Jokester · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:16

You would be right to be worried.

Fuzz · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:17

Book it the other way round then... AT least you get to show up for the outward but being as they are "home" the return wont be necessary..

What a retarded thing to try in the first place and why on earth would you book it in such a way to only try and "arrive" for the RETURN journey.

Dr House · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:19

I think if you do not show up for the outbound flight the return leg will not be valid anymore.

Maybe you can try and checkin online but not get on the flight.

Destination · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:32

Check t&c, most cancel all if first leg missed

Sin_Chase · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:43

How much of a numpty do you need to be to even ATTEMPT this?

As if the airline wont notice passengers returning from an outbound flight they never caught and just think "Oh, they must have walked....Welcome aboard!"

[TW]Fox · 10 Mar 2013 at 19:11

Your entire journey - outward and reward - is invalid if you miss the first leg.

sbi5ar · 10 Mar 2013 at 19:25

Sin_Chase said:
How much of a numpty do you need to be to even ATTEMPT this?

As if the airline wont notice passengers returning from an outbound flight they never caught and just think "Oh, they must have walked....Welcome aboard!"

You say that...

You could have woken up late, missed the flight and then travelling with a different air line, but for this to work you will have to check the T&Cs.

asim18 · 10 Mar 2013 at 23:42

It's an itinerary. If you voluntarily miss the first part, you are automatically assumed not to be able to do the second part so it's cancelled immediately to free up seats.

Pestilence · 10 Mar 2013 at 23:48

They will cancel the second leg if you don't show up to the first. My company used to do it all the time to save cash, which came to an end about a year ago when somebody ended up stranded as they'd taken the first leg with a cheaper company and thus their return was cancelled by the other carrier as they weren't on board.

-westy- · 11 Mar 2013 at 00:33

Why not just book a one way flight? :confused:

Amleto · 11 Mar 2013 at 00:57

-westy- said:
Why not just book a one way flight?

read da op, bruv

Feef · 11 Mar 2013 at 07:48

-westy- said:
Why not just book a one way flight?

Not always cheaper. I'm looking for flights for me and the fiancee to head to the UK, she needs a return, I need a single for now. Checking the KLM site, departing on the same flight, it was NT$60,000 for a single for me, and NT$50,000 for her, return. Crazy, but I've come to expect that.

I can only explain that by thinking that buying her a return entitles her to cheaper tickets each way, and the two cheapest ones right now cost less than a full priced single. Still, made my head hurt.

jas72 · 11 Mar 2013 at 08:12

Yeah you need to use the 1st leg. Airlines clamped down on this years ago and won't miss the opportunity to resell your seat.

spookywillow · 11 Mar 2013 at 08:14

It's all about seats and money, The airline needs the revenue from that seat on the return journey and with no guarantee there will be a passenger to fill it if you book a one way ticket they simply charge you more (enough to cover an empty seat on the return trip)

Try and find some cancellations to save cash

Haggisman · 11 Mar 2013 at 09:49

spookywillow said:
It's all about seats and money, The airline needs the revenue from that seat on the return journey and with no guarantee there will be a passenger to fill it if you book a one way ticket they simply charge you more (enough to cover an empty seat on the return trip)

Try and find some cancellations to save cash

That still doesn't make sense.

E.g.

OP pays for a single ticket: £200 - they make £200 on the outbound and still have a spare seat on the return.

OP pays for a return ticket: £100 - they make £50 each way.

covenantuk · 11 Mar 2013 at 09:58

Haggisman said:
That still doesn't make sense.

E.g.

OP pays for a single ticket: £200 - they make £200 on the outbound and still have a spare seat on the return.

OP pays for a return ticket: £100 - they make £50 each way.

The UK return is cheaper than one way. Quite common in the case of a single flight from Australia

Haggisman · 11 Mar 2013 at 10:03

covenantuk said:
The UK return is cheaper than one way. Quite common in the case of a single flight from Australia

Yeah I'm aware of that - but spookywillow's explanation doesn't make sense in those circumstances.

jas72 · 11 Mar 2013 at 13:24

Yeah I've never understood about why one way tickets are more expensive perhaps it's some sort of administration fee or to discourage people from booking returns with a different airline discount for booking two flights....?

Orionaut · 11 Mar 2013 at 13:32

jas72 said:
Yeah I've never understood about why one way tickets are more expensive perhaps it's some sort of administration fee or to discourage people from booking returns with a different airline discount for booking two flights....?

I suspect that this is being over analysed

It is simply supply and demand. They can get away with charging this way so they do!