DL Segment Loophole
 

quick question - I am looking for a flight from LGA/JFK - LEX/CVG/SDF. I often check the NY airports to other cities, and then route from city B into LEX/CVG/SDF in order to gain more MQM and MQMs.

I came across a route LGA-CVG-MKE, which is significantly cheaper than LGA-CVG (direct or stopover). What are the rules on this? Can I just leave the airport in CVG? I not be credited the CVG-MKE route, correct? Does this affect any subsequent flights, even if routes are different? I will not be booking a MKE-LGA return; just this one-way outbound. I may book a multi-city trip on delta.com to save on taxes. Will leaving the airport in CVG affect the subsequent reservations on the same booking?

Skipping a segment will cause the reminder of your ticket to be cancelled. It doesn't matter whether it's open jaw, etc. You must fly every ticketed segment in order, although you should be able to skip the very last segment(s) if you don't check luggage and IROPs don't cause you to be rerouted to your official destination.

DL Segment Loophole
 

Thanks MSP! So I should book 2 separate one ways / ticket separately so that my return trip isn't cancelled?

What you are describing is Point Beyond Ticketing, and is officially prohibited by the Contract of Carriage (Rule 100 (G)(3)(C)).

When topics like this come up, the thread usually devolves into an argument between those who think you should do anything you can get away with and those who think you should follow the rules. The pragmatists observe it is unlikely that Delta will do anything to you (like cancel your SM account) beyond cancelling the remainder of your itinerary, as long you don't make a regular habit of it.

As many have said, the chance you will be "Caught" is extremely low. I believe that the airlines have the "right" to charge you the difference but I have never heard of this. Three things to consider if you do it:

1. Don't check baggage (obvious)
2. Board early so your carry on won't get check though to final destination
3. Take IROPS into consideration when scheduling..Dont want to get
re-routed to original destination

However, that being said, have you considered LGA-SDF non-stop. It is about 90 minute drive to CVG and 45 min to LEX from SDF. Fares are usually under $250 depending on day of week etc.

OP, as others have stated, this is a violation of DL's contract of carriage. If you make a habit of this DL will eventually catch on and zero out your SkyMiles account and revoke your membership. You will have no recourse if they do so.

In addition, here are things you should know if you plan to do this:

1. If you fail to board a flight for which you are ticketed, the remainder of your ticket will be canceled.

2. You cannot check luggage, because DL will only check it through to your final ticketed destination. You'd better board early enough not to be forced to gate-check a carry-on either, just in case.

3. If you get caught in any situation that delays your flight out of LGA--weather, mechanical, late inbound aircraft, crew problems or whatever--DL's only responsibility is to route you through to your final ticketed destination (in this case MKE). DL has NO obligation to route you though CVG and probably would not do so if they are already down one CVG-bound flight on the day.

Knowledge is power. Now it's your choice whether to play with fire.

1. What you propose to do violates the contract of carriage (COC) and is an interstate fraud. Whether you choose to do it or not, is a personal decision and not worth an argument on FT.

2. If you do this once or twice, nothing is likely to happen. If you do this on any kind of a regular basis, DL's systems will pick it up and, at a minimum, will cancel your SM account and perhaps refare and collect the balance due & owing.

3. If you do this, don't check bags, because they are going to the final destination.

4. If you do this and there are IRROPS, understand that DL will send you to your final destination, not necessarily through your intended destination.

5. If this is work-related travel, check with your employer. Many businesses frown on business-to-business fraud so maybe not a good idea, but that's between OP & employer.

DL Segment Loophole
 

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I do not plan on making this a habit. I'm just booking last minute.

DL Segment Loophole
 

One last question - will I be credited w the segment/ miles for just LGA-CVG, LGA-CVG-MKE, or neither?

You will get miles for the segment you actually flew.

Yes .... Delta will play by the rules and credit you with the SkyMiles you actually flew; even though you did not play by the rules and follow the restrictions on your ticket.

Bear in mind that you can't do this on the return trip at all. When you fail to board in MKE, your CVG-LGA segment will be cancelled and you will have to buy a walkup OW segment which will likely wipe out a lot more than any savings.

Contrary to what people say, I have never had my reservations cancelled for the return flight. I have had to do this several times because of business in the hub city fully expecting to have the return reservation cancelled. It has never happened. YMMV.

I don't think Delta trusts its own IT department enough to assume that, just because they have an apparent failure to board, that the passenger didn't actually fly. How many times have you had to complain about a missing mileage credit?

And, really, are we going to start the "fraud" argument again?

And this is why we don't listen to people who post legal advice on flyertalk :)