Question on "nested" ticket
May 16, 2009 | 4:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Boxter, MD
Posts: 247
Question on "nested" ticket
A while ago I bought a EWR-LAX ticket departing on a Saturday and returning on the following Wednesday. Several weeks later I found out that I have to be back in EWR on Monday for a meeting. Since the change fee was going to cost almost as much as the ticket (and because of the double EQMs), instead of changing my return date I simply bought another ticket LAX-EWR departing on Sunday and returning on Tuesday. Seemed like a great solution to me.
But then recently someone mentioned that this may be against the rules and CO could potentially cancel both tickets? Is this true, and if so at what point will I know if I'm going to have a problem?
But then recently someone mentioned that this may be against the rules and CO could potentially cancel both tickets? Is this true, and if so at what point will I know if I'm going to have a problem?
May 16, 2009 | 4:19 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
I wouldn't stress too much about this, although its technically against the rules, its done all the time.
May 16, 2009 | 5:24 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Boxter, MD
Posts: 247
Thanks. One more question:
I have a relatively tight connection in IAH to the last flight of the day to LAX, and then I depart from LAX back to EWR on an early morning flight. So if I have any delay issues that might make me miss the connection in IAH (and so no more flights to LAX that night), I suppose I shouldn't say anything to an agent about making my flight the next morning? (And/or say to an agent at LAX " I missed my flight because CO got me here late!")
I have a relatively tight connection in IAH to the last flight of the day to LAX, and then I depart from LAX back to EWR on an early morning flight. So if I have any delay issues that might make me miss the connection in IAH (and so no more flights to LAX that night), I suppose I shouldn't say anything to an agent about making my flight the next morning? (And/or say to an agent at LAX " I missed my flight because CO got me here late!")
May 16, 2009 | 6:40 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SAT
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 3,682
I strongly suggest you cancel the old reservation. You will not be charged the fee until you rebook. In your case, don't rebook if the fee is as high as the actual ticket.
May 16, 2009 | 6:54 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Israel
Programs: CO OnePass Platinum
Posts: 44
Should be no problem, two weeks ago I did a similar thing (nested SFO-IAH-SEA-IAH-SFO inside a large TLV-EWR-SFO-IAH-DEN-CLE-ORD-EWR-TLV ticket). Absolutley no problems (aside from funny looks when GAs realized I was flying SFO to SEA through IAH :-)).
May 16, 2009 | 6:56 am
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
The OP will probably be fine, but it is worth being aware that there is a risk being taken. The alternative is to fly a partner carrier and credit to CO (no DEQMs), just fly a different carrier or to consciously take the risk.
May 16, 2009 | 7:00 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
This is called end-on-end ticketing since you're going somewhere else on your nested ticket.
The OP's situation may be back-to-back ticketing since he's going back to his original point of departure.
The way to determine this is to see whether the new ticket assists him in violating the minimum stay requirements of the original ticket. If the original ticket had a 3-day min stay, and his new ticket helps him to break that, then he may be violating the rules. If, however, all his old ticket had was a Saturday night stay requirement, he's probably ok.
May 16, 2009 | 7:07 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Israel
Programs: CO OnePass Platinum
Posts: 44
This is NOT the same thing.
This is called end-on-end ticketing since you're going somewhere else on your nested ticket.
The OP's situation may be back-to-back ticketing since he's going back to his original point of departure.
The way to determine this is to see whether the new ticket assists him in violating the minimum stay requirements of the original ticket. If the original ticket had a 3-day min stay, and his new ticket helps him to break that, then he may be violating the rules. If, however, all his old ticket had was a Saturday night stay requirement, he's probably ok.
This is called end-on-end ticketing since you're going somewhere else on your nested ticket.
The OP's situation may be back-to-back ticketing since he's going back to his original point of departure.
The way to determine this is to see whether the new ticket assists him in violating the minimum stay requirements of the original ticket. If the original ticket had a 3-day min stay, and his new ticket helps him to break that, then he may be violating the rules. If, however, all his old ticket had was a Saturday night stay requirement, he's probably ok.
May 16, 2009 | 7:59 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 609
kinda OT, but is an interesting question: if one did EWR-LAX with tix that had a min requirement, but then that person booked LAX-LGA (via IAH), would that be breaking the rules? I could see that as a workaround (flying into a different but nearby airport)
May 16, 2009 | 8:44 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,658
I understand that ALL flights eligible for OP mileage accrual receive DEQM. Low fare-class tickets not booked on co.com still receive DEQM based on the lower 50% EQM x 2, which would give 100% EQM (rather than 200% EQM).
May 16, 2009 | 8:55 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
Nope - has to be CO metal (or coex, co connection or air mike) for DEQM.