I booked tickets awhile ago, from home into Houston and then flying to Austin and returning back home. However, I don't need the flight from Houston-Austin anymore but when I called American Airlines, they told me that it would cost me $500 ($200 change fee and $300 change in ticket cost) to cancel the middle flights of my multi city itinerary. My original ticket cost me less than $500.

is there anyway to avoid this since I want my flight into Houston and my flight out of Austin of my original ticket? AA rep said if I don't show up for my Houston-Austin flight, they will cancel the remaining part of my ticket.

Can I just call them the day of and tell them I missed the flight or got sick or????