Bypassing the Saturday night stay penalty?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 107
Bypassing the Saturday night stay penalty?
I've got two short trips coming up to London, and neither has a Saturday night stay. BOS-LHR-BOS in October, and then the same in January. They come out to between $2000 and $3000 each.
But I've noticed if I book BOS-LHR (outbound in October) - BOS (return in January) and separately LHR-BOS (return in October) - LHR (outbound in January), it comes out to less than $1500 in total, since each trip now has a Saturday night stay.
Am I missing something here - are there downsides to doing this?
But I've noticed if I book BOS-LHR (outbound in October) - BOS (return in January) and separately LHR-BOS (return in October) - LHR (outbound in January), it comes out to less than $1500 in total, since each trip now has a Saturday night stay.
Am I missing something here - are there downsides to doing this?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,629
this is technically illegal nested ticketing. the chance that you get called out for it is low, but the potential penalty is high...up to and including the closure of your DL account and forfeiture of your status/miles. only you can decide if it's worth the risk.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airlin...back_ticketing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airlin...back_ticketing
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,264
This is called back-to-back ticketing and is a booking practice that is forbidden by many airlines, including Delta.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...trictions.html
While it is seldom enforced, Delta reserves the right to:
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...trictions.html
While it is seldom enforced, Delta reserves the right to:
- Cancel the remainder of the itinerary and confiscate any unused flight coupons.
- Refuse to board the passenger or check baggage.
- Charge the passenger for the difference between the fare paid and the fare for the passenger's traveled itinerary.
- Refuse to board the passenger or check baggage.
- Charge the passenger for the difference between the fare paid and the fare for the passenger's traveled itinerary.
#4
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
I have always felt that THIS <above> type of remark scares people, as if they're going to be arrested, or something.
Also, actually, nested tickets are OK. <Which this is not>.
Nested is AAA--->BBB and while you're in city BBB, you travel to city CCC on a separate ticket, then return to city BBB, then back home to AAA on the first ticket.
I think the following is a better description of back-to-back ticketing.
Also, actually, nested tickets are OK. <Which this is not>.
Nested is AAA--->BBB and while you're in city BBB, you travel to city CCC on a separate ticket, then return to city BBB, then back home to AAA on the first ticket.
I think the following is a better description of back-to-back ticketing.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
I've got two short trips coming up to London, and neither has a Saturday night stay. BOS-LHR-BOS in October, and then the same in January. They come out to between $2000 and $3000 each.
But I've noticed if I book BOS-LHR (outbound in October) - BOS (return in January) and separately LHR-BOS (return in October) - LHR (outbound in January), it comes out to less than $1500 in total, since each trip now has a Saturday night stay.
Am I missing something here - are there downsides to doing this?
But I've noticed if I book BOS-LHR (outbound in October) - BOS (return in January) and separately LHR-BOS (return in October) - LHR (outbound in January), it comes out to less than $1500 in total, since each trip now has a Saturday night stay.
Am I missing something here - are there downsides to doing this?
#7
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Formerly at PIT, now planted near MSP.
Programs: No flights since April 2019 (Medical Issues). Lost all my status.
Posts: 1,483
Are there any documented cases where Delta has "penalized" a SkyMiles member for buying tickets that are freely offered for sale on their web-site?
#8
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: DL DM; Hyatt Globalist; etc
Posts: 540
People on FT talk about how against the rules this is, but as far as I can see there is no limitation on nested ticketing, just back to back ticketing? Here's a scenario that I'll be doing next month:
JFK-SFO on Tuesday on Ticket A
SFO-SEA on Friday on Ticket B
SEA-SFO on Sunday on Ticket C
2h 'layover'
SFO-JFK on Sunday on Ticket A
I did this because I am going to SF for work from Tuesday to Friday, and I wanted to vacation up to Seattle for the weekend (to see UW-UCLA!). I don't think this breaks the rules?
JFK-SFO on Tuesday on Ticket A
SFO-SEA on Friday on Ticket B
SEA-SFO on Sunday on Ticket C
2h 'layover'
SFO-JFK on Sunday on Ticket A
I did this because I am going to SF for work from Tuesday to Friday, and I wanted to vacation up to Seattle for the weekend (to see UW-UCLA!). I don't think this breaks the rules?
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,041
People on FT talk about how against the rules this is, but as far as I can see there is no limitation on nested ticketing, just back to back ticketing? Here's a scenario that I'll be doing next month:
JFK-SFO on Tuesday on Ticket A
SFO-SEA on Friday on Ticket B
SEA-SFO on Sunday on Ticket C
2h 'layover'
SFO-JFK on Sunday on Ticket A
I did this because I am going to SF for work from Tuesday to Friday, and I wanted to vacation up to Seattle for the weekend (to see UW-UCLA!). I don't think this breaks the rules?
JFK-SFO on Tuesday on Ticket A
SFO-SEA on Friday on Ticket B
SEA-SFO on Sunday on Ticket C
2h 'layover'
SFO-JFK on Sunday on Ticket A
I did this because I am going to SF for work from Tuesday to Friday, and I wanted to vacation up to Seattle for the weekend (to see UW-UCLA!). I don't think this breaks the rules?
#10
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,303
The easiest way to avoid any problems at all is to use Delta for one ticket and another airline for the other ticket. Then, even though you have back-to-back tickets, since they are on different airlines it won't be an issue. Just don't make one with DL and one with KL or VS - since they are partners, you might run into the issues mentioned above.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 410
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
Originally Posted by merriam-webster.com
illegal
Definition of illegal
:not according to or authorized by law :unlawful, illicit; also :not sanctioned by official rules
Definition of illegal
:not according to or authorized by law :unlawful, illicit; also :not sanctioned by official rules
#13
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: MUC
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver
Posts: 108
I woud say it isn´t illegal per se. You can actually do it legally, but you have to use the return flights of course. So it would make sense to check if you have to fly BOS-LHR-BOS in the near future again and plan the tickets accordingly.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: Chick-Fil-A Red, Wawa, Red Cross blood donor
Posts: 4,824
What about pricing it as follows:
one way BOS-LHR in October...then
roundtrip LHR-BOS-LHR (October-January)...then
one way LHR-BOS in January
don't think that violates anything and you still may see some of the savings.
one way BOS-LHR in October...then
roundtrip LHR-BOS-LHR (October-January)...then
one way LHR-BOS in January
don't think that violates anything and you still may see some of the savings.
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kanasas City
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 358
People on FT talk about how against the rules this is, but as far as I can see there is no limitation on nested ticketing, just back to back ticketing? Here's a scenario that I'll be doing next month:
JFK-SFO on Tuesday on Ticket A
SFO-SEA on Friday on Ticket B
SEA-SFO on Sunday on Ticket C
2h 'layover'
SFO-JFK on Sunday on Ticket A
I did this because I am going to SF for work from Tuesday to Friday, and I wanted to vacation up to Seattle for the weekend (to see UW-UCLA!). I don't think this breaks the rules?
JFK-SFO on Tuesday on Ticket A
SFO-SEA on Friday on Ticket B
SEA-SFO on Sunday on Ticket C
2h 'layover'
SFO-JFK on Sunday on Ticket A
I did this because I am going to SF for work from Tuesday to Friday, and I wanted to vacation up to Seattle for the weekend (to see UW-UCLA!). I don't think this breaks the rules?