Originally Posted by
fassy
If you cancel the airline can call out a repricing of the original ticket to a OW fare. Theoretical they could do the same for a no-show but I have never heard of that while there have been more than enough occasions where the carrier acted on a cancellation - plus often enough there is a cancellation fee on European carriers,
There are cancellation & no-show fees which technically are deducted from the refundable amount, i.e. if you have a return ticket @ 150$ and the airline prices it as $85 outbound and $65 inbound and you have a $50 no-show fee on the inbound and are a no-show you'd technically be entitled to a refund of $15 - any already used/paid taxes and fees.
That's my understanding at least. Had a no-show on an EK ticket (outbound though) few years ago and was refunded minus the no-show fee and cancellation fees.