ATOBTTR

Hadn't considered that angle but certainly fair and there must be a plan in place. I'm sure it happens frequently that someone is arriving off an international inbound into ATL and connecting onward to any of the cities within easy driving distance of ATL (BHM, CHA, MGM, CSG, etc.) and if they have a tight layover and misconnect due to a delayed inbound or taking too long to process through immigrations and customs, they certainly can elect to terminate in ATL and find alternate ground transportation to their final destination rather than wait for the next available flight. Would DL or the ATL Airport Authorities really say "Sorry, you HAVE to check your bag onward"? I imagine they have to have some sort of logistical set-up for this type of scenario.


Well put. ^ I'm not for or against hidden city ticketing and don't really care what others do, but as you said, it's not unreasonable to point out the potential risks of hidden city ticketing when the question is posed in the forum to then allow others to decide what to based on their own weighing of those factors.

gooselee

Also, ATL-bound bags haven't been delivered to Concourse E carousels since the int'l terminal opened in 2012, and the int'l change fee hasn't been $150 for...a while.

If you believe you should make decisions based on information that was valid between 6 and 24 years ago, then go ahead and ignore the other valid information people are sharing here.

Again, FT is a place where it's useful to post about actual experiences and expectations. That's all most of us are trying to do - not sure why some people choose to take personal offense at that.

Colin

says the guy who doesn't know the difference between a past vs. present tense verb and doesn't know that Delta charges $150 for award ticket changes

gooselee

Aww.

Bless your heart.

Marylou

airportregular

All - long time lurker, first time poster here

Trying to figure out flights for a multi-continent summer trip - ATL to Belgrade, eventually Croatia -> Zambia, then back to ATL. Was on the phone w/ DM line trying to figure out Africa->ATL return flights because the website wasn't showing anything, comparing prices and miles for JNB->ATL, LOS->ATL, ACC->JFK->ATL, etc.

I was surprised when the rep, listing prices for JNB->ATL, said "it's ~2800 for the one way, but the round trip will be cheaper. Picking a random return date later it's showing as ~1600 for the round trip. So when you book you should do that". Looked through all the threads on here - Throw-Away ticketing is definitely against the CoC, but here I am w/ the Diamond Medallion rep suggesting I do it??

That got me thinking, and sure enough it's the same for ATL->BEG - round trip is much cheaper. For that I had planned on using a GUC to get some sleep on the ATL-FCO leg. So, questions:

1. Anyone have recent experience booking a round-trip international fare w/ Delta and skipping the return leg? From what I've read, doing it once or twice shouldn't be a big deal, but most recent threads were from a couple years ago. I have a large skymile balance that I don't want frozen.
2. Any additional issues doing it on the ATL-BEG trip alongside using the Global Upgrade Certificate?

Thanks in advance for any advice - normally traveling for business so I'd just book one ways, but this is personal and the savings are 2 grand+ here.

crjtraveler

I haven't had any issues and have done it maybe 3 times this year. It's just so much cheaper. I usually hold onto that ticket for as long as you can because sometimes there are schedule changes and weather waivers that will allow the return part of the ticket to be refunded. The only issue to watch out for is booking another flight on the same airline while you are supposed to be on the return trip. That new booking would then be cancelled a few hours-days later. International one ways generally force flexible YBM even if there are cheaper tickets available.

Can't speak to GUC issue since not DM yet but I wouldn't forsee a problem with it.

strickerj

This seems to be not materially different from hidden city ticketing, which I recall reading an argument about on here recently. Shall we infer from the agent’s instructions that that’s allowed now too?

RealHJ

Certainly not allowed. The agent wasn't speaking on behalf of Delta or quoting Delta policy. The agent, as an individual, was simply making a common sense suggestion. I sure hope that posting and talking about it here publicly doesn't get the helpful agent in trouble with RM now.

mizzou miles

How could it ever be traced back to a specific agent? especially when the OP didnt actually book anything? I guess they *could* review every agent's call recordings, but um, no.

RealHJ

Probably not. Still, I am a strong believer in not biting the hand that feeds you.

With DL, the hand that beats you is Delta (corporate, RM, dysfunctional and anti-customer, non-transparent policies, etc.), and the hand that occasionally feeds you is a good agent, as rare as it is nowadays.

rylan

Shouldn't be any issue with applying a GUC to just the direction/segments you want and not the other part. GUCs are only per direction anyway so it isn't unusual to request using one for part of the trip and not upgrading the other portions.

You should be fine as long as you don't make a regular habit out of doing this. And as mentioned above don't book another trip that coincides for when the return would be.

sydneyracquelle

I thought checked luggage must now always travel on the same flight as the passenger post 9/11 and if the passenger misses the flight (intentionally or not) the bags will be offloaded?

SEA-Flyer

hockeyinsider

Chicago and Toronto are significantly cheaper, even when you fly through Detroit, because there's so much competition at those airports. I skip the final DTW-YYZ or DTW-MDW segment 2-3 times a year.