Change in schedule is causing me to consider a return flight on a different airline
 

My wife and I are booked on DL for ONT-SLC-YYZ in November. The original itinerary has us arriving on a Thursday and leaving the following Sunday. My plans have changed and now I need to change the return departure to Monday. I booked the tickets as Main Cabin Non-Refundable. In order to rebook the return leg in the same fare class on DL, I'll end up paying an additional $175 per ticket.

When I check various airfare sites for one way return tickets, I found an attractive option on UA for a price of $167 - the return flight is YYZ-DEN-PSP. YYZ-DEN is on an E175, which I would prefer to the A320/B738 since it is just my wife and I. Also, the UA itinerary has a 58 minute layover in DEN instead of a 3:10 layover in SLC. I'd be home at a much more reasonable time of 8:30 PM on UA instead of 10:55PM on DL. I work the next day.

Since I live in between ONT & PSP, I am seriously considering biting the bullet and returning via UA and forfeiting what I paid to DL for YYZ-SLC-ONT.

Pros of returning YYZ-DEN-PSP (UA):
- Schedule: Get home 2.5 hours earlier by flying UA into PSP.
- Equipment: Assuming no equipment changes, fly on an E175.
- Airfare: Save a few bucks: $167 on UA vs. $175 on DL

Is there anything I should know before potentially booking the return flight on UA? We'll be in Canada for 5 days. It sounds crazy to book a separate return flight on a different airline, but given the changes in my schedule, it seems like the best option. By flying UA return, I would leave YYZ 45 minutes earlier, and arrive into PSP ~2.5 hours earlier when compared to my original itinerary into ONT. I don't fly often and this would be my first trip on Delta.

I suppose the reason I am posting this is the need of validation... :confused:

Sounds like a great idea to me...

The only thing I would be concerned about the YYZ-DEN-PSP UA itinerary is the 58 minute connection in DEN, especially because you are on the last DEN-PSP flight for the night. If for some reason your YYZ-DEN flight get delayed, and you miss your connection, you don’t have much options. I just checked and the last DEN-ONT flight has also departed by then. UA can get you to PSP through SFO, but it will be much later at night.

Not trying to scare you, but the one thing I worry about is when it is a UA connection that is less than 1 hour and I am on the last flight for the night to my destination.

Go for it! And welcome to FT!