Skipping the middle leg of a 3 part flight?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,674
Skipping the middle leg of a 3 part flight?
Hello, I managed to secure a crazy ticket which will be really good for my FB Miles. Path is BHX-AMS-BRU-JFK with the first leg landing at 15h00 in AMS, and the next 2 segments in the early morning.
I have some good friends in BRU so I was contemplating going there via train/plane on the same day, skipping the middle leg, and just catching the plane again in BRU the next morning. (although I will lose some XP for that segment, but oh well....)
However, I assume it's impossible to leave my luggage checked-in for the flight if I choose to deplane? Assuming I'm even allowed to skip the segment?
Flight was booked with dodgy OTA so change with KL pretty much guaranteed to be impossible.
However I would also be prepared to buy a one way AMS-BRU on the 16h55. Assuming I do that directly with KLM, would they be able to route my luggage through this new flight, just for the middle segment?
Wondering if anyone has ever tried
Otherwise I'll just have to spend a nice evening in Amsterdam
Many Thanks
I have some good friends in BRU so I was contemplating going there via train/plane on the same day, skipping the middle leg, and just catching the plane again in BRU the next morning. (although I will lose some XP for that segment, but oh well....)
However, I assume it's impossible to leave my luggage checked-in for the flight if I choose to deplane? Assuming I'm even allowed to skip the segment?
Flight was booked with dodgy OTA so change with KL pretty much guaranteed to be impossible.
However I would also be prepared to buy a one way AMS-BRU on the 16h55. Assuming I do that directly with KLM, would they be able to route my luggage through this new flight, just for the middle segment?
Wondering if anyone has ever tried
Otherwise I'll just have to spend a nice evening in Amsterdam
Many Thanks
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This has nothing to do with your luggage. You must fly your ticket in segment order. If you no show for any segment, the remaining segments will be cancelled and retain whatever value they have under their fare rules. That will most typically be nothing.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Source (in Dutch)
A similar court case is pending in the Netherlands.
Johan
#6
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 115
A Belgian court has today declared these fare rules null and void. The court ruled that AF-KL may not cancel a ticket if a pax doesn't fly one or more of the segments. Should the airline not comply, it will have to pay damages of € 2,500.-- per day.
Source (in Dutch)
A similar court case is pending in the Netherlands.
Johan
Source (in Dutch)
A similar court case is pending in the Netherlands.
Johan
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
A Belgian court has today declared these fare rules null and void. The court ruled that AF-KL may not cancel a ticket if a pax doesn't fly one or more of the segments. Should the airline not comply, it will have to pay damages of € 2,500.-- per day.
Source (in Dutch)
A similar court case is pending in the Netherlands.
Johan
Source (in Dutch)
A similar court case is pending in the Netherlands.
Johan
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
I found the website of the court concerned, but unfortunately the judgment is not available there.
Johan
Johan
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,674
Nice unexpected update, thanks!
I'm not ballsy enough to risk it so will stick to original plan.
I never wanted to cheat the system tbh - merely to skip a leg on my own dime or even pay extra for it.
Fyi after this I contacted my "dodgy" OTA and they actually kindly contacted KLM to see if I could change the middle leg for a fee. KLM replied they would only change me to an AMS-JFK direct but not willing to change only the AMS-BRU flight.
Guess they don't really like people who book long winded xp runs... so in the end Im sticking to my guns and planning to enjoy all the lounges
I'm not ballsy enough to risk it so will stick to original plan.
I never wanted to cheat the system tbh - merely to skip a leg on my own dime or even pay extra for it.
Fyi after this I contacted my "dodgy" OTA and they actually kindly contacted KLM to see if I could change the middle leg for a fee. KLM replied they would only change me to an AMS-JFK direct but not willing to change only the AMS-BRU flight.
Guess they don't really like people who book long winded xp runs... so in the end Im sticking to my guns and planning to enjoy all the lounges
#12
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
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... especially as, with your itinerary, Belgian courts would be unlikely to have jurisdiction so you would in all likelihood have to argue your case before a UK court if you had to litigate.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Johan
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
It would appear so. However, the very last sentence in the L'Echo article states that the court has ordered AFKL to no longer enforce the no show clause. I suppose that means that until the airline changes its T&Cs and reformulates the offending clause so that it complies with the court's standards for clarity, pax cannot be penalized for skipping legs.
Johan
Johan