Traveling only a portion of a multi-stop flight to save money?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
Traveling only a portion of a multi-stop flight to save money?
Hello,
Been lurking for a while and have a question. I am in the process of booking a flight (on Delta) from LAX to Cincinnati (CVG) for early May. A roundtrip ticket (direct flight) is approximately $575-$600.
However a roundtrip ticket (Delta) on the same dates from LAX to IND, changing planes at CVG both ways, is coming up at $260 on Delta's website. The legs to and from CVG would be the same flights as above but $300+ cheaper to continue to IND.
Can I just purchase the LAX-IND ticket, to get to Cincinnati, without taking the connecting flights to and from IND? Seems like a no-brainer but are there any issues I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Edit: I will only have a carry-on bag
Been lurking for a while and have a question. I am in the process of booking a flight (on Delta) from LAX to Cincinnati (CVG) for early May. A roundtrip ticket (direct flight) is approximately $575-$600.
However a roundtrip ticket (Delta) on the same dates from LAX to IND, changing planes at CVG both ways, is coming up at $260 on Delta's website. The legs to and from CVG would be the same flights as above but $300+ cheaper to continue to IND.
Can I just purchase the LAX-IND ticket, to get to Cincinnati, without taking the connecting flights to and from IND? Seems like a no-brainer but are there any issues I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Edit: I will only have a carry-on bag
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Gold MM; AA Gold MM; WN A-List; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold; Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 24,565
Only if you are really trying to fly LAX-CVG one-way and not roundtrip.
If you skip the CVG-IND segment and/or try to show up at CVG for the return back to LAX without boarding at IND, you will find that the remainder of your ticket has been canceled and you will have to buy a very expensive, walk-up fare to fly back to LAX.
If you skip the CVG-IND segment and/or try to show up at CVG for the return back to LAX without boarding at IND, you will find that the remainder of your ticket has been canceled and you will have to buy a very expensive, walk-up fare to fly back to LAX.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: DL estranged 1MMer and lifetime gold, F9/CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat now dust, Spirit RIP
Posts: 42,242
Used to be you could pull it off, but those days are gone by about 10 years now. You can skip the last segment but you have to show for the first. Sometimes one-way car-rentals can be a deal. For example, living in ATL, I pounced an a $28 ($100-all-in) RT fare from Charlotte to Barbados (CLT-ATL-BGI and v.v.) by getting a one-way car rent for $43 all-in (except gas) to drive to CLT. Would have been nice to get on in ATL instead, but I knew it wasn't doable.
#7




Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,479
I probably wouldn't try this...
but you could get a one-way car rental CVG-IND
and ask the airline to mark the IND-CVG return (after you fly LAX-CVG-IND) and say that you found alternate transportation to CVG.
Probably can't do this before the trip...they might force you to refare to an open jaw...but you might.
but you could get a one-way car rental CVG-IND
and ask the airline to mark the IND-CVG return (after you fly LAX-CVG-IND) and say that you found alternate transportation to CVG.
Probably can't do this before the trip...they might force you to refare to an open jaw...but you might.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: DL estranged 1MMer and lifetime gold, F9/CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat now dust, Spirit RIP
Posts: 42,242
If it's an international flight and you want to jump ship at the gateway city you usually can check it, since you'll have to pick it up to go through customs and can just hold onto it. But for all-domestic you'll have to carry-on.
#12




Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Boston, MA, US
Posts: 307
It's possible to save significant money on one way trips especially last minute.
For instance I have few times "missed" my connection in London on my BOS-LHR-DUB itinerary. It's quite easy to miss that especially with overnight layover and when the price difference is $400-$500 when comparin BOS-LHR to BOS-LHR-DUB.
Unfortunately my tickets haven't allowed for any changes, so once I mis my connection I am done
For instance I have few times "missed" my connection in London on my BOS-LHR-DUB itinerary. It's quite easy to miss that especially with overnight layover and when the price difference is $400-$500 when comparin BOS-LHR to BOS-LHR-DUB.
Unfortunately my tickets haven't allowed for any changes, so once I mis my connection I am done

