Getting off the flight at stop over
 

Hi - I'm traveling from Vancouver to Entebbe on a one-way Aeroplan reward flight later this year. The routing goes YVR-SFO (UA), SFO-IST (TK), then IST-EBB (TK). The whole thing is in biz class.

The IST-EBB segment stops for an hour or so in Kigali before continuing on to Entebbe. I've changed my mind since the booking, and now want to go to Kigali instead of EBB.

I can call Aeroplan and make an official change of course, and pay the fee, but in that the plane I'm on is already going to Kigali, can I just leave the reservation as-is but get off in Kigali? (I won't have any checked bags).

What if I just tell them once I'm on the plane, or when I'm boarding that I want to get off? I'm guessing the answer is No, but you never know...

Thanks!

Depends. If this is a one way trip (i.e. the ticket has no return portion), and you want to get off in Kigali without any intention of continuing to Entebbe or anywhere else on that AP ticket, you can theoretically do that. You don't have the issue of your return being canceled. You have to be admissible to both Entebbe and Kigali.

Having said that, I'm not sure, logistically, how this works on a direct flight with stops. Presumably the crew/GA does a headcount, and if there's a mismatch, they have to verify who's missing (which may involve deboarding pax and reboarding them). I suppose you could tell the FA that you're not feeling to well, so you're going to get off in Kigali and will continue to Entebbe later, but they may not let you leave.. So, I dunno. Theoretically, on a one-way booking, it's possible.

One way trip, or return of a round trip/complex itinerary.

If on the way and there is a return, the return *should* (might) get cancelled.

You booked a one-way? Or are you expecting to take the return?

Might be more of an immigration/customs issue, than actually an issue for the airline itself. If a carrier drops you off in a country for which you weren't originally on the manifest, they could face fines. Then again, Rwanda might not be strict on this.

No checked bags on such an itinerary may set off alarm bells as well. Not only for the airline, but also as you attempt to gain access to the country.

The change fee is trivial in the whole scheme of things. I'd be inclined to pay it and sleep well at night unless you've gone through this sort of thing a few times and know exactly what to expect.

1. You wont be able to just 'drop' the last segment when making the change - the agent will have to remove IST-EBB, and add IST-KGL - and there will have to be availability

2. If this was booked IST-EBB-KGL, go for it, leave the plane. Are you sure people in transit even get to get off in KGL?

One might argue that the return of a round-trip is ultimately a one-way, but I guess I wasn't as clear as could be :o

KGL is where I am 30% of my time.

KGL staff won't let you deplane if you are listed as an onward PAX. It is a unique situation.

You have to make the change. EBB PAX do not deplane and names are checked on exiting the aircraft.