Originally Posted by
Starman
This surprises me. If I understand your explanation, this implies that one could use cheap S/T fares that were intended to be roundtrip sale only for one-way trips, by (assuming they are combinable with Y) buying S/T outbound and Y for return, then refunding the unused Y, effectively having bought a one-way S/T. I don't think you can get away with this. The rule you've quoted discusses the size of the penalty/change fee - but are you also suggesting that refundability and advance-purchase remain unrestricted if one uses S outbound as originally ticketed, and then wants to change/refund the Y return?
As I understand it, many domestic fares have no roundtrip requirement and, therefore, this could work. International fares almost always do require a roundtrip (and a Saturday night stay) so it would not work.
Personally, I wait to book until I'm reasonably sure my dates won't change and then buy the cheapest. On the rare occasion that my dates do change (twice in three years of being a 1K) I simply eat the change fees / upfares or whatever they throw at me. I find that to be far cheaper overall than paying significantly more for flexibility which I generally don't use.