Two flights, only using one
Jul 12, 2010 | 10:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1
Two flights, only using one
Currently, I have two itineraries for flights that I am taking on August 10th. The first is for the second half of an itinerary that I started over the summer when I traveled to China. The second half has me going from Shanghai to Chicago, and then on to Charlotte a few hours later. Since I live in Raleigh, I decided to buy another ticket from Chicago to Raleigh/Durham that is on the second itinerary (the ticket was less than half the price of what it would have costs to change my ticket from Charlotte to Raleigh). Is it possible when I check in at Shanghai that I can tell them that I only want the flight from Shanghai to Chicago on the first itinerary and then I want to use the flight to Raleigh instead of the flight to Charlotte or will I have to re-check in when I get to Chicago to change to the flight to Raleigh? If I do have to re-check in at Chicago, will I still be considered to be traveling international so that I won't be charged for overweight bags and possible an extra one (saying that Im within the limits for the international flight I was on)?
Jul 13, 2010 | 7:10 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,453
I think I understand. You have a ticket from Shanghai to Charlotte. Your first entry in the US is Chicago. You want to throw away the Chicago to Charlotte flight and fly on another ticket Chicago to RDU.
This is called "throw away ticketing". You want to only fly a part of your original itinerary. It is usually against the rules in the ticket you bought. In your case, you can probably get away with it because it is the last flight on your ticket.
There will be some things to know.
You clear customs and immigration in Chicago. You will have to get baggage then. If you were continuing on the original ticket you would then go to the transfer desk and give your luggage back to continue on without any additional fees. You would then transfer, usually staying in a secure area, to the gate for your flight to Charlotte.
Since you are not traveling on your original ticket you will now have to go out of the secure area and check in for the flight to RDU. You will need to check bags and pay any additional fees. You will then have to go back through security and on to the new flight.
This is the most likely scenario.
Make sure and give yourself plenty of time in Chicago.
Many say do not put in any frequent flyer numbers so the airline cannot easily track what you have done.
Try and make the new flight from Chicago to RDU on a different airline than your flight from China.
This is called "throw away ticketing". You want to only fly a part of your original itinerary. It is usually against the rules in the ticket you bought. In your case, you can probably get away with it because it is the last flight on your ticket.
There will be some things to know.
You clear customs and immigration in Chicago. You will have to get baggage then. If you were continuing on the original ticket you would then go to the transfer desk and give your luggage back to continue on without any additional fees. You would then transfer, usually staying in a secure area, to the gate for your flight to Charlotte.
Since you are not traveling on your original ticket you will now have to go out of the secure area and check in for the flight to RDU. You will need to check bags and pay any additional fees. You will then have to go back through security and on to the new flight.
This is the most likely scenario.
Make sure and give yourself plenty of time in Chicago.
Many say do not put in any frequent flyer numbers so the airline cannot easily track what you have done.
Try and make the new flight from Chicago to RDU on a different airline than your flight from China.
Currently, I have two itineraries for flights that I am taking on August 10th. The first is for the second half of an itinerary that I started over the summer when I traveled to China. The second half has me going from Shanghai to Chicago, and then on to Charlotte a few hours later. Since I live in Raleigh, I decided to buy another ticket from Chicago to Raleigh/Durham that is on the second itinerary (the ticket was less than half the price of what it would have costs to change my ticket from Charlotte to Raleigh). Is it possible when I check in at Shanghai that I can tell them that I only want the flight from Shanghai to Chicago on the first itinerary and then I want to use the flight to Raleigh instead of the flight to Charlotte or will I have to re-check in when I get to Chicago to change to the flight to Raleigh? If I do have to re-check in at Chicago, will I still be considered to be traveling international so that I won't be charged for overweight bags and possible an extra one (saying that Im within the limits for the international flight I was on)?
Jul 13, 2010 | 10:48 am
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,674
Since the other tix is (US) domestic and not part of your original international tix, I believe your free luggage allowance will go by the domestic standard per airline's baggage policy. There should be no overweight issue since both international and domestic bags are capped at 50 lbs/each.
Assuming you don't have any elite status, it's fairly unlikely for you to get away with fees for the two checked bags ($25-1st bag + $35-2nd bag or something).
Make sure you have plenty of time to "re-connect" & "re-check" at ORD. You won't be protected when flying on two separate tickets when wild things happen. Good luck!