Skip first segment flight
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: SK G
Posts: 81
Skip first segment flight
I know this is a old classic one but i thought i might as well ask
Need to go to shanghai, found super cheap fares with KLM from London for 509$ and whilst i was searching i found fares with SAS from london connecting in CPH for 779$ which aint bad, here's the thing being based out of CPH, is there any chance in hell i can jump on board in CPH and skip the london flights and still pay for it?
Is it possible to check in for the london flight at CPH airport, and try and get boarding passes for the journey and then just skip the LON part?
(need to go wed/thur to mon/tue)
Need to go to shanghai, found super cheap fares with KLM from London for 509$ and whilst i was searching i found fares with SAS from london connecting in CPH for 779$ which aint bad, here's the thing being based out of CPH, is there any chance in hell i can jump on board in CPH and skip the london flights and still pay for it?
Is it possible to check in for the london flight at CPH airport, and try and get boarding passes for the journey and then just skip the LON part?
(need to go wed/thur to mon/tue)
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Finland
Programs: too many to list
Posts: 709
Originally Posted by mocean
i know that's the standard proccedure any way of possibly getting around this?
#6
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
Originally Posted by mocean
i know that's the standard proccedure any way of possibly getting around this?
get a multi segment trip. Start and end in your own city.
Or use an inexpensive budget flight to/from the other airport.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the skies of the world
Programs: SAS Gold, FB Gold, BA Gold, EY Silver
Posts: 3,167
You could always buy a cheap one-way ticket CPH-LHR, start your trip in London, and then skip the last segment (CPH-LHR) on your return.
Of course it makes no difference if you travel CPH-LHR or not at the end, just tell the check-in staff in PVG to only check you and your luggage to CPH.
You can not skip the first segment and start your trip in CPH.
The reason why most airlines have this rule is exactly to prevent what you want to do.
The competition out of London is extremely fierce with probably 2-3 airlines flying nonstop and loads of other airlines selling tickets via their hubs in Europe and Asia.
That's why prices are so much lower ex-LHR, while in CPH there hardly is no competition and SAS can charge higher prices.
Of course it makes no difference if you travel CPH-LHR or not at the end, just tell the check-in staff in PVG to only check you and your luggage to CPH.
You can not skip the first segment and start your trip in CPH.
The reason why most airlines have this rule is exactly to prevent what you want to do.
The competition out of London is extremely fierce with probably 2-3 airlines flying nonstop and loads of other airlines selling tickets via their hubs in Europe and Asia.
That's why prices are so much lower ex-LHR, while in CPH there hardly is no competition and SAS can charge higher prices.
#8


Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: STE+, used to be with TK but left due to their corruption and political ties
Posts: 4,533
It can happen though. I know someone who managed to do this on the famous China tickets, by calling in ahead. That was full fare (well, supposed to be at least) C though..
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-PP, HL-DM, MR-LTP, HY-LTG
Posts: 26,017
Originally Posted by mocean
i know that's the standard proccedure any way of possibly getting around this?
#11
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
As has been discussed on several notorious threads on FT, you should NEVER skip the first leg. Only the last leg is OK although technicall the airline could even come back at you there (although there have been no reports of this ever happening).
Actions of certain FT'ers a while back doing exactly what you wish to do resulted in several airfares by several *A carriers being removed from a certain route.
You have been warned!
Actions of certain FT'ers a while back doing exactly what you wish to do resulted in several airfares by several *A carriers being removed from a certain route.
You have been warned!
#13
Senior Moderator & Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BOS & BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX SEN, SK EBG
Posts: 3,472
However, in this case it is the system that automatically cancels the rest of the trip if you no-show on the first leg. I don't think "But the call-center said it is okay" is likely to work as an excuse when being denied boarding in CPH. Definitely not a situation I'd like to find myself in. This is very dangerous advice I would personally would not trust. However, if OP is brave enough to try do please let us know how it went.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 12,781
Don't do that because in case of SOL you won't get a dime from SAS and you are totally on your own.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,557
If your itinerary is all within Europe, then the legs are generally seen as one way tickets. And yes, you can get SK to remove the first leg, I have done this with Plus fares and even gotten a refund for the first leg. However, don't be a no show, you need to manage it in advance. Once your ticket include a long haul (as here) this does not work, and you have to fly the first leg to not get the ticket cancelled.

