My BF is flying from the UK to IND on Christmas Eve. He's arriving in ORD at 1pm and his flight to IND doesn't depart until 5:40. I suggested (weather permitting) that I pick him up at ORD and drive us home, given we'll arrive in IND a good 2 hours before his flight was due to arrive in IND.

He's flying back Jan 4, and my question is this: If he gets off the flight in ORD and doesn't fly on the leg to IND, will he end up on some "list" and end up having to submit to more security from that point on? What if he notifies American that he isn't taking the last flight?

This isn't something either of us has done before, so I didn't know what to tell him when we started discussing it.

Thanks for any advice.

GG

If he does not complete the originating itinerary, he stands a very good possibility of having his return canceled. Security (from a TSA perspective) should not care, since they only know that they are being presented a boarding pass for that airport and that day of departure when he passes through a checkpoint. He would need to talk to AA at the earliest possible time to ensure that his return would be covered, and they may charge a change fee to accomplish this action.

Okay, I've answered my own question. I just talked to American and since he'll be making the first two legs of his itinerary, his ticket won't be canceled. They suggested we call that morning when we know if I'll be picking him up and go from there.

GG

I'd get that in writing if possible. The ticket may automatically cancel when his ticket is not used on the IND flight, and require a person to reinstate it. Could be a problem.

Does he have flights after the ORD-IND segment? Does he have flights going back to the UK? If so, I would be very surprised if AA didn't cancel the rest of the segments if he doesn't show up for the ORD-IND segment.

I dont know what part of Indy you are from, but with customs and immigration delays, luggage, traffic, gas costs, travel time, construction on EVERY highway between IN and IL, possible delays on a west bound (into the wind) itin, quality of life being stuck in a car, etc...I would just let him stick with the flight to indy. You will be less tired and most likely (and I say this from experience driving that route) you will be home earlier.

I agree with the last three posts; his return ticket to the UK will be canceled when he no-shows for the ORD-IND flight. Reinstating the itinerary won't be a cakewalk.

On top of that, his 1:00 pm arrival means he'll be lucky to be at the curb at T-5, ready to hit the road, by 2:00 pm. Immigration, customs, checked bag delays, etc. That's 3:00 pm in Indy. And that assumes his LHR flight isn't delayed at all.

On a good day, you're looking at 3+ hours from ORD to Indy, and that assumes no traffic in Chicago, no delays due to construction, and no snow or ice on the way.

Here's a thought - if the stars are lined up for him that day, there's a chance (slim, of course) that he could make the 2:05 pm flight to IND. Assuming that there's an empty seat on that flight, the Eagle gate agent might very well let him on it to free up a seat on the last flight despite the usual "no-standby" attitude on international itins and with checked bags. If he can't get on that earlier flight, that leaves you several extra hours to wrap his gifts and bake cookies instead of spending the whole day in the car driving to and from ORD.

Here's a story about this weekend's midwest snow and ice storm: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071202/...s/winter_storm

MAKE A DECISION BEFOREHAND !

He may end up getting off in ORD and the luggage staying on
and or ending up in mystery land once they find out he's not
on the connector flight...

You should be able to just drop the ORD-IND adjusted by AA agent
and reissue ticket as an "Open Jaw" (Leave from Point A going to point B;
return from point C back to p;oint A)

no doubt there WILL be a fee but they might be nice to waive it...

ASK NOW. Get Confirmation of authorized change by email....

It appears (reading betwen the lines) that the ORD-IND segment is the last leg of this particular itinerary, and that the return to the UK is on a separate itinerary. With this scenario, what AA told the OP makes sense.

I like the sentiment, but you spending 8+ hours driving this roundtrip seems excessive. By the time you get back home, you're going to be exhausted, and depending on weather, traffic, airline delays, and immigration/customs, you may not have saved him much time.

If he doesn't have access to the Admirals' club, buy him a one day pass, which will likely be cheaper than your travel costs. He can take a shower, get a cocktail and relax, and when he arrives in IND, you'll both be in better spirits.

+1

I'm well aware of the travel time and challenges between IND and ORD, having traveled it quite frequently myself. There's no chance of the luggage staying on the flight, since ORD is his first touchdown in the US, therefore necessitating him taking his checked bags through customs and then re-checking them for the flight to IND.

We'll decide based on the weather when the day arrives and will check with AA before making a final decision.

Thanks again,

GG

P.S. As for the driving of 6-8 hours being excessive, well....my BF lives in the UK and I live in Indianapolis. We are lucky if we see each other once a month or every other month. Would I rather wait in Indy for him to fly here or spend 4 hours with him in the car? I'll take the car, thanks. Frankly, I'd take any time I could possibly have with him, no matter what I was doing.

GG

Ahhhh.....young love

+2