Missing First Flight - Does Ticket Cancel?
 

I'm an AA flyer, so I'm not sure if this works the same on DL.

My niece has a RT FLL-JFK-FLL and will miss the FLL-JFK segment, but wants to use the JFK-FLL return. Will her ticket cancel if she misses the first leg (as it does on AA)?

The ticket costs just a few dollars more than the $200 change fee listed on the DL website.

Any suggestions on how best to proceed? I was thinking of changing her ticket to a one-way, but if that still incurs the change fee, it's cheaper to buy a new ticket.

Also, her ticket is on the same PNR with other family members, who will make the outbound. Will one pax missing the outbound cause issues for the others?

Thanks!

yes skipping the first leg (or any leg) will cancel any remaining segments.

With the caveat that in certain IROP situations DL can set it up that it will allow you to use the return if you didn't fly the Outbound.

What is the reason she is missing the first flight? Is it she just doesn't want to go, or is she sick, has a serious/conflicting commitment, etc.?

DL is much more reasonable than AA in working with customers who have legitimate issues come up and can not make a particular flight. It's all at the agent's discretion, though.

Best to call and let them know what is happening, ask them to separate out this one person from the rest in the reservation, and see how they can work with you. They likely won't just cancel the outbound and let you keep the return, but they could very well waive the change fee (or reduce it by 50%) and let you refare the return at today's price. That would likely be a fair compromise, again depending on the reason for the change.

Thanks. That's exactly what the agent did. I explained it was a school commitment that she couldn't miss and the agent was able to waive the change fee and I just paid the fare difference, which is perfectly reasonable.

Now there's a perfect example of understanding in customer service. Congrats on the outcome!

I am elated that DL took care of this customer.

But to anyone else reading out there - this is not a carte blanche nor to be expected. It is completely discretionary. And if they offer it at all, it is much much much more likely to be offered to a leisure traveler around the holidays, then a business traveler calling to make a change. Their bread and butter is (change) fees milked out of business travelers.