Originally Posted by
erik123
If you don't fly the return you forfeit the service and any value it may represent (there is a value associated to the return as per the fare rules).
Flying only one-way of a cheap r/t is not the same as buying a one-way - as the fare conditions will differ completely. E.g. check date change and cancel fees for a cheap r/t vs a o/w and you will see these are not the same product.
It states exactly in the fare rules what will happen when you don't make the return flight - you lose it and any remaining value.
In short - you do accept the fare rules when opting for a cheap r/t.
This is the way it should be.
However, this conversation is about not flying the return leg and the audacity of airlines who claim that they are entitled to charge you extra because you did not fly back!
Position that some such as NickB and Orbitmic support.
And yes indeed, your argument adds weight to mine : cheap r/t means inflexible fare conditions. If you do not want to buy a fully flexible o/w, you buy a cheap r/t. No right for the airline to charge you for a full fare o/w because you did not fly the r/t leg!
This is not the same product. A full fare o/w was flexible and you did not fly a flexible first leg. So the airline has no right to charge you for a flexible o/w when you flew an inflexible first leg
This is what I would argue in court.