I realize that the following flights are UA flights... but I've put it here in the AC forum since I'm an AP-E and it's the concept that I'm looking for clarification on.

I'm looking at booking the following routing:
TPA - BHM via CLT (segments 1,2)
BHM - GRR via ORD (segments 3,4)
GRR - TPA via ORD (segments 5,6)

My question involves skipping flight segments during the routing. I understand from reading other threads that you can't skip the first flight in a leg, as it would cancel the rest of the legs bookings... but what about skipping one in the middle?

Specifically, I'm thinking of skipping the flight from ORD to GRR (i.e. the fourth flight) and making my own way to GRR after spending some time in ORD.

If I skip this flight, will my ticket/reservation for the return from GRR-ORD-TPA still be valid?

While I have heard of a few here convincing an airline otherwise, generally no, once you no show for one segment all subsequent segments are cancelled.

for clarification, is a no show considered when you've checked in, but don't have your BP scanned as you enter the plane? or is it only if you don't check in.

is an option to check in... fly the first segment... go to the gate of the second (connecting) flight... have the boarding pass scanned in... but just don't actually walk down the jetway, just walk away?

the only hassel with this is that on this particular instance there is a 3 hour layover in ORD that I would prefer not to have to sit through just to walk away.

And leave the gate agent/FAs wondering where you are and delaying the flight for all the other pax. Not a good idea.

For what it's worth, I flew YXU-YYZ-YQB last night, with the last YYZ-YQB flight of the day arriving at midnight.
YXU-YYZ was two hours late, with a few minutes to spare to catch my connection to YYZ-YQB so I've decided to drive to YYZ instead (1h20min).
I had my boarding passes already printed, told YXU check-in about my plans. She said no problem, I'll remove you from the YXU-YYZ segment and your boarding pass for the remaining segment is still good.

So technically that is not a no show, that's why it worked in this case.

(and the YXU-YYZ flight did arrive at the gate 10 min before my flight to YQB but I have no regret as I have spent enough nights in YYZ already (and I got an hour to spool down in front of a Glenfiddich in the MLL))

No shows are people who have not checked in their flight before the gate closes. You will miss your flight and a NOSHO tag will be added to your PNR. If you leave the PNR as is, your Eticket coupons will all be listed as FORFEIT ...and this, is not good as the ticket is no longer usable, no exceptions.

Best thing for you is to call the AE desk and pay the 55 CAD change fee per person so they can replace your unwanted flight with an open jaw.

Radarbeam

I apologize, I did not fully read your post before replying.

Are these tixs booked with AE? or UA?

The answer I provided above apply if your tickets were booked with Aeroplan, If you used UA give em a call.

Skipping the 4th segment will result in the cancellation of segment 5 & 6.