Missing return flight one time?
 

Hello, the roundtrip tickets between two midwestern towns is $100 cheaper than a one-way ticket, which is all I need. If I miss a return flight one time, and I don't plan on really doing that again, do I risk any consequences with Delta?

Any best practices to let them know of an excuse day-off or just don't show up for flight?

No consequences at all. Plans change. Just cancel the return after you've flown the outbound. Since DL offers free changes you might be able to use that return down the road.

I've skipped final legs several times as needed. As long as there's no pattern for hidden city ticketing type of maneuvers you're good. But as SFO777 mentioned, maybe change the return to several months from now when you might need it?

The cheaper fares are due to them having a roundtrip booking requirement (while the one-way fare does not). If you simply cancel the return, you won't have a credit since you no longer meet the conditions under which you bought the fares. If you schedule it far enough out, there could be a schedule change or IRROP's which would still provide value to the return. Or you could change return flight to a different date with no change fee as long as it meets original fare conditions.

They'll still have a credit if cancel. Just what amount that is can't be determined till they rebook.

OP, mind if I ask what towns? I haven't seen a domestic OW ticket cost more than half a RT in ages. International sure, but domestically no.

They are not too difficult to find for departures less than 7 days out. FSD-SBN <7day advance = $519 one-way, pair of roundtrip fares (same departure) from $403. DSM-SCE <7 day advance = $593 one-way, pair of roundtrip fares (same departure) from $448.

It’s technically against the fare rules but realistically people have any number of perfectly legit reasons for missing a return flight. The usual advice, which I agree with, is that doing it once or twice is no big deal but making a regular habit is likely to get a frequent flyer account flagged for review.

Regarding legit reasons, I've never had DL say no to me for a BS reason. What I mean is this: I've missed a tone of early morning flights over the years because I slept through my alarm. Recently I did this. They rarely ask why I missed my flight when I'm at the airport. However, they did on my most recent miss and I legit told the agent in front me "I was stupid and left my house too late and missed the train I needed". But she asked as she was printing the new ticket and she just laughed. But that was because I was at the airport asking to be rebooked on the next available flight. When I've missed and just not showed up, I've never been asked before. (Maybe done that 4-5 times.)

If price is the same, I would book the RT with the return several months out. Never know what might be useful in the future.