Skipping first leg to make the connection
 

Earlier this week, I was scheduled to fly DTW-YYZ-YVR. My DTW was delayed at least 4 times, it was scheduled to depart at 2:45PM and didn't get out until 9:30PM. Question is, If I would have skipped the DTW-YYZ leg and just driven to YYZ after the first delay, would my ticket me invalid. I had several friends that were driving and I had a chance to catch a ride after the first delay which would have gotten me to YYZ with plenty of time to catch a connection. Instead, I missed every alternate connection with every delay notice and of course when I finally reached YYZ, it was too late as there were no more flights to YVR and AC rebooked me to the next day and I had to stay over night in YYZ.

I know normally skipping the first leg would void your ticket but what about a case like this?

Technically it's supposed to void it (from my understanding)

BUT

Many MANY times I have seen the checkin Agents at YQF tell someone to drive to YYC when they are doing YQF - YYC - Something else, and they have been allowed on.

note: this happens because at this super super super small airport (maybe 200sq feet after security and 100 sq feet pre security) the 45 minute rule still applies, and many pax don't show up early enough and the gate agent refuses to sign them in and tells them to drive to YYC - seen it dozens and dozens of times.

In that situation, if you get them on board, they should be able to cancel the first leg without voiding the remainder. Just don't do it on your own without them knowing and implementing.

Many moons ago I was ticketed to fly YUL-YYZ-HNL and then had a meeting scheduled in Rochester, NY, the morning of my planned travels. CP (at the time) was able to allow me to fly from YYZ instead of YUL, as there is no way I would have made it back to YUL in time.

I'm almost certain that with a plausible explanation this sort of thing can be at the agent's discretion, even if technically not permitted otherwise.

It shouldn't be a problem in IRROPs so long as you talk to an agent at the origin airport and have your ticket changed before driving to the connecting airport.

Or call reservations. The point is that they need to change your ticket.

I don't think anyone is going to have an issue removing the first segment once it's delayed.

Absolutely agree. It's possible in irops situations. I've only done it once when our YQR-YYC leg was cancelled on a YQR-YYC-LHR flight due to a bird strike on approach (an actual visible from the terminal chunk of the leading edge of the plane was missing!). We were rebooked to YYC on AC but we would have missed our connection. We walked over to Westjet and bought two one ways on their impending departure and then back to the AC counter and told them what we were doing. It was very easy.

You may want to consider purchasing On My Way next time.

OMW should be able to re-route you DTW-ORD-YVR or DTW-MSP-YVR or DTW-SLC-YVR on a combination of AA, UA, AC or DL, or other itinerary subject to availability.

DTW-ORD on either AA or UA.

You could have driven to Windsor and caught a flight to YYZ from there.

I have done that a number of times when DTW goes crazy

edit: just make sure the ticket change is done before you leave the airport....just in case

I've only had to do this once, many years ago, flying YYZ-YUL-LHR. I had built in a day-long layover in YUL to see some friends. YYZ was snowbound and many flights were delayed or cancelled. A friend was driving to Montreal anyway so I asked him for a lift and he collected me at YYZ (interesting drive by the way). I asked the agent to protect the rest of the itinerary, which she did and gave me a printout of the notes she had made. No problems getting on the flight in YUL.