Skipping a segment?
Sep 26, 2003 | 9:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 110
Skipping a segment?
I would like to fly to YYZ from LON in late Jan/early FEB and have found a fare to NYC via YYZ for Ł160ish much cheaper than the direct LHR-YYZ. Could I just skip the NYC segment and incur no penalties?
Sep 26, 2003 | 9:48 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 89
Is this a direct flight or does it change planes in YYX?
Do you intend to check baggage?
Are you a Canadian citizen (carry a Canadian passport)?
Is this a one way or return ticket?
The answers to these questions will influence the answer to your question. Of course, strictly speakingm, these "hidden city" itinerary are against tariff rules.
Do you intend to check baggage?
Are you a Canadian citizen (carry a Canadian passport)?
Is this a one way or return ticket?
The answers to these questions will influence the answer to your question. Of course, strictly speakingm, these "hidden city" itinerary are against tariff rules.
Sep 26, 2003 | 9:56 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 110
I don't hold a canadian passport and I do intend to check baggage however if this would mean i couldn't stay in YYZ i could probably squeeze all my stuff into my carry on. I'm fairly sure a change of planes is needed in YYZ. And I'll be flying return.
Sorry if this is a bit of a newbie question. Thanks for the help.
Sep 26, 2003 | 9:59 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 287
Technically, you can't do that. If you miss a leg of your flight, they will automatically cancel your returning flight. I flew from YYZ to SNA through SFO and at the last minute decided to stop at SFO and visit SF for a week. I called to ask if I can end the flight at SFO but still use the returning flight from SNA to YYZ but AC said that's not possible. I got the manager on the phone but no avail.
So I decided to fly all the way to SNA and fly back to SFO. I purchased a SouthWest flight from SNA to SFO. That would've been an ugly route. YYZ->SFO->SNA->SFO. I went to the airport all ready to endure the flight. I asked noce more at checkin if he could end the flight at SFO for me and he said no problem and I was on my way to SFO. As soon as I got through the security, I called up southwest and got my refund. Southwest is great for their return policies. And the return flight was still valid.
So our routing ended up being YYZ->SFO and SNA->DEN->YYZ for return. So just ask at the checkin nicely and they may honour your request. Don't bother calling AC because I tried for hours with many CSR's and managers to no avail. Good luck!
By the way, they took away my screwdriver on that flight. I thought it'd be ok because it has a dull point. I flew with it many times prior. And I don't know how they expect you to check it in if I'm already checked in, passed the customs, etc.
No big deal.
So I decided to fly all the way to SNA and fly back to SFO. I purchased a SouthWest flight from SNA to SFO. That would've been an ugly route. YYZ->SFO->SNA->SFO. I went to the airport all ready to endure the flight. I asked noce more at checkin if he could end the flight at SFO for me and he said no problem and I was on my way to SFO. As soon as I got through the security, I called up southwest and got my refund. Southwest is great for their return policies. And the return flight was still valid.
So our routing ended up being YYZ->SFO and SNA->DEN->YYZ for return. So just ask at the checkin nicely and they may honour your request. Don't bother calling AC because I tried for hours with many CSR's and managers to no avail. Good luck!
By the way, they took away my screwdriver on that flight. I thought it'd be ok because it has a dull point. I flew with it many times prior. And I don't know how they expect you to check it in if I'm already checked in, passed the customs, etc.
No big deal.
Sep 26, 2003 | 10:23 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,845
Not as good idea.
Usually, with an itinearary such as AAA-BBB-CCC then return you could miss the BBB-AAA final leg without much problems. However, going AAA-BBB skip BBB-CCC you will not be able to do BBB-AAA since you missed the first leg of your trip.
Usually, with an itinearary such as AAA-BBB-CCC then return you could miss the BBB-AAA final leg without much problems. However, going AAA-BBB skip BBB-CCC you will not be able to do BBB-AAA since you missed the first leg of your trip.
Sep 26, 2003 | 11:26 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 89
Since 1) you intend to make this a round trip 2) you probably will check baggage and
3) it is international (making security tighter) and (last and least) 4)it is against the rules*, my advice is not to make this a "hidden city" itinerary.
* I say least because it is like charging you less for an ice cream and cookie than an ice cream alone - but if you buy an ice cream and cookie, forcing you to eat the cookie. I can't see how it is unethical to buy a ice cream and cookie but refusing to eat the cookie (regardless of what the rules are).
3) it is international (making security tighter) and (last and least) 4)it is against the rules*, my advice is not to make this a "hidden city" itinerary.
* I say least because it is like charging you less for an ice cream and cookie than an ice cream alone - but if you buy an ice cream and cookie, forcing you to eat the cookie. I can't see how it is unethical to buy a ice cream and cookie but refusing to eat the cookie (regardless of what the rules are).
Sep 26, 2003 | 10:05 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 453
This hidden city stuff has significant applicability for US domestic routes.
For example, I tried to fly an employee on a one hour flight from Atlanta to Charlotte. Fare: $800+ CDN. Aeroplan points don't work -- the flights on United airlines are actually on US Airway metal, so the only way to use points are convoluted and long routings.
Option to consider: Hidden City ticketing. Fly ATL-RDU (Raleigh Durham) via, you guessed it, Charlotte CLT, the fare is $161 CDN one way. Fly CLT -- Chicago/Midway via Atlanta, one way, fare is about $200 CDN. These fares are inevitably available when discount carriers are on the city pair routes. So we have the flexibility of one-way tickets for less than half the price of the 'standard return' business trip.
Never mind, the employee said. "Just rent me the car and I'll drive. I'll get there in about the same time as a non-stop flight." Thankfully, my employees understand it is never wise to waste the company's money on vastly overpriced 'conventional' airline tickets!
[This message has been edited by marbuck (edited 09-26-2003).]
For example, I tried to fly an employee on a one hour flight from Atlanta to Charlotte. Fare: $800+ CDN. Aeroplan points don't work -- the flights on United airlines are actually on US Airway metal, so the only way to use points are convoluted and long routings.
Option to consider: Hidden City ticketing. Fly ATL-RDU (Raleigh Durham) via, you guessed it, Charlotte CLT, the fare is $161 CDN one way. Fly CLT -- Chicago/Midway via Atlanta, one way, fare is about $200 CDN. These fares are inevitably available when discount carriers are on the city pair routes. So we have the flexibility of one-way tickets for less than half the price of the 'standard return' business trip.
Never mind, the employee said. "Just rent me the car and I'll drive. I'll get there in about the same time as a non-stop flight." Thankfully, my employees understand it is never wise to waste the company's money on vastly overpriced 'conventional' airline tickets!
[This message has been edited by marbuck (edited 09-26-2003).]