$2k vs. $500 on DL out of Europe
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 84
$2k vs. $500 on DL out of Europe
Hi FT,
Will Delta let me book ZHR-JFK as a round trip ticket even if I have no intention of using the return ticket?
When looking at availability out of Europe on Delta and the oneway fares are like $2k each, but if I do a round trip search they're only $500 each. Kinda figure this is too good to be true? Will Delta or immigration ask me why I have a Europe origination return ticket booked?
Or is this just a known throw away ticket and I can book this fare no problem?
Thanks!
Will Delta let me book ZHR-JFK as a round trip ticket even if I have no intention of using the return ticket?
When looking at availability out of Europe on Delta and the oneway fares are like $2k each, but if I do a round trip search they're only $500 each. Kinda figure this is too good to be true? Will Delta or immigration ask me why I have a Europe origination return ticket booked?
Or is this just a known throw away ticket and I can book this fare no problem?
Thanks!
Last edited by Mark Garretson; Aug 14, 2018 at 7:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 3,996
Any ticket can be a throw away ticket if you don't take the return leg. You have every right to book a return ticket from Europe - I'm assuming given your location that you're a US citizen, so no reason immigration would worry about you heading back to Europe. I've flown plenty of Europe origination return tickets on DL over the past few years without an issue as a US citizen.
The only thing is that DL might (at least theoretically) frown upon you repeatedly throwing away tickets, so if you're going to do this repeatedly, it might be wise to leave your frequent flier number off the reservation.
The only thing is that DL might (at least theoretically) frown upon you repeatedly throwing away tickets, so if you're going to do this repeatedly, it might be wise to leave your frequent flier number off the reservation.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Formerly at PIT, now planted near MSP.
Programs: No flights since April 2019 (Medical Issues). Lost all my status.
Posts: 1,483
Book the return leg on a date far in the future. Pick a date you have at least a 1% chance of making.
Last edited by RRDD; Aug 14, 2018 at 4:44 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Skymiles Gold
Posts: 640
Book the round trip. And like @RRDD said, maybe you can actually fly the return leg if you book it way in the future. Even a chance of changing it with a fee to another day.
All that said. I do take issue with your logic in that a one way is $500 this way. If you're going to throw away the return portion, you just paid $1000 for a one way ticket, not $500. Delta isn't going to give you the other $500 back.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,161
He said the round-trip ticket was $500.
If there happens to be a significant schedule change on JFK-ZRH (unlikely, but possible) before his return, he probably could cancel and get half the $500 back, making the one-way cost only $250.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
If not, you can reroute it into something else you want to use, use the credit on any other flight, or just have a legit reason to tell them I'm not using the ticket on the originally scheduled date because of the >60 min schedule changes.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
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Posts: 5,101
Unless, IDK, you post on a public forum with your name and proposed itinerary stating what your intentions are.
Technically this is a violation of the conditions of carriage, but in practice the chance of enforcement is pretty close to zero.
Technically this is a violation of the conditions of carriage, but in practice the chance of enforcement is pretty close to zero.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Skymiles Gold
Posts: 640
When looking at availability out of Europe on Delta and the oneway fares are like $2k each, but if I do a round trip search they're only $500 each. Kinda figure this is too good to be true? Will Delta or immigration ask me why I have a Europe origination return ticket booked?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,298
Each could also mean per person when a group is traveling together, although IMO it's implicit that airline ticket prices are normally discussed on a per person basis, unless there's some special companion offer.