Hi all

just wanted to pick the knowledge of some experienced CX members on here

I am looking at getting a one-way ticket from HND to HKG but I found that a RTN is $1000HKD cheaper (and forgoing the inbound leg).

as such, I found a dated article on here > https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...how-fee-2.html and wondered if the rules are still the same - that as long as you do the decent thing and tell CX you will not be flying the return you will not be charged in any way for not taking the flight?

The fare rules specifically state:

The decent thing to do is not to tell the airline you won�t be taking the return. You won�t be charged any more.

So if I am effectively forgoing the ticket completely and not going to ever fly it back I can just not tell CX and I won't get charged even if the cancellation fee is greater than cost of the ticket.

i mean is there any issue with telling CX you won't fly after you take the outbound leg - make something up - just so they don't hold the seat and if by chance there is someone on standby who may need the seat?

On average, an airline knows better than you do whether you�ll be taking the flight or not. There is no upside to you telling them you are not travelling, only a potential downside of being repriced. By not taking it, you perhaps got stuck in traffic. Just don�t make it a habit.

Actually, I did this with EK, booked a return, because there was a small chance, I might need a return and it was just marginally more than a one-way fare. Outbound flown and 2 days before the inbound, I emailed them to cancel the return, and requested a refund for the taxes on the non-refundable ticket. No protests and got back the taxes within a week, without having to contact them any further. No show fee would not be applicable, because I canceled the ticket and because I did not fly, I would be entitled for a refund of (some) taxes. Bottom line, the refund on taxes was higher than the difference in fare one-way vs. return.

I -think- CX would do the same.

The decent thing is to tell CX you would not fly. There are very few flights these days, and the everchanging circumstances mean that the airlines don't have as good of a way predicting how many no-shows there will be than pre-COVID-19. Your ticket allows changes with a fee. The fee will only be collected when you book the new flight. You can always just call and cancel the inbound flight after the outbound flight and tell CX once you have the new date in mind you will call back and rebook. In fact, you do have the flexibility of using the return ticket coupon if some time in the future you think it would make more sense.

In theory, when you buy the ticket, you agree with all terms and conditions including the fare rule. So if you are a no show, CX can in fact charge you the no show fee.

I am not saying CX will do that. In fact, I don't believe CX has ever done it. But given the fact that some airlines have been getting aggressive on this, it is a risk, even remote, that you will have to consider.

That is incorrect. No-show fee is charged as collect (similar to change or cancel fee) when changing ticket you no-showed for. EG ticket 4,000 each way. No show fee 2,000. You consciously miss inbound. You however 3 months later decide you want to fly inbound. If same class etc... is still available you will be able to fly inbound for 2,000-4,000+new portion of inbound fare = so potentially for 2,000 collect you could fly return. this might be less then a single inbound booked separately.

There is no legal basis to charge no-show fee in addition to non-flown leg if you are not re-using the ticket value!

It is worthless to argue what is right or wrong. The fact is an airline has already done this:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lufth...163631737.html

So be my guest if you want to risk it. This is a risk that you can't ignore.

But there is a legal basis to ban the passenger given the passenger abused the system.

it is different case for the LH who skip the last leg of the return trip of multi leg journey. In this case, it is the return journey only. Not sure why you are using this example.

There can be many reasons on why ppl can missed flight. Sickness is one good reason.
Even for the Vietnam mistake fares, I dun think CX go charge those ppl who miss the last VN leg.

The effect is the same - the ticket passenger will not travel as booked.

This is to show how far an airline is willing to go, as well as the potential risk.

I did say that CX may not do that. But it is a risk nevertheless.

The LH case in Germany is not relevant to CX.

As mentioned by nufnuf77, the no show fee is charged if you wish to keep the ticket and use it at a later date.
If you take action to change the ticket before the flight, then only a change fee and fare adjustment will be charged. If you are a no show and still wish to use that ticket, after the fight the no show fee will be added.

so what ? Does it mean that I booked ticket I must definitely travel ?

If I booked a simple return trip and I miss the 2nd trip n is not going to use it anymore, I dun think the airline is going to bill me for no show.

I can be sick. I can have a change of mind. So how is CX going to enforce it.

But for the LH case, it is of cheaper fare to fly from Oslo as multi part journey. so different situation. That guy have travelled 3/4 of the trip but purposely miss the last part n actually LH lose the case also.

OP has a CX ticket. Not EK and not LH. Thus, what some other carrier might do on some other ticket at some other time is irrelevant.

In this case, if OP is simply willing to forgo the value of the ticket, he should do nothing. CX will not and cannot pursue him for the cancellation fee, because it is inapplicable. On the other hand, if CX cancels or there is a significant delay, OP will become eligible for a full refund of the ticket to his original form of payment.

Thus, notifying CX is at best of no advantage to OP and at worst, may cost him a refund.

Don't worry about CX. It has calculated the percentage of passengers likely to no show and will overbook to deal with that (should loads even come close to requiring that).

Just wait till the day before-ish to cancel, if the flight is operating.