what to do when airline warned me about numerous throw-away ticketing? ($95 vs $497)
Sep 20, 2014, 3:51 pm
#736
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That's an interesting letter. It leaves the discussion open about how enforceable any action is.
I suppose that one way to look at it is that, if you want to fly AAA_BBB but buy AAA-BBB-CCC and drop BBB-CCC, the 'contract you've made with the airline is AAA-CCC, and the fact that you can get off in BB is just pure unintentional luck. By getting off in BBB and not continuing, you've signaled that you really didn't want what you bought, and should be charge for the 'correct' price for AAA-BBB.
I suppose that one way to look at it is that, if you want to fly AAA_BBB but buy AAA-BBB-CCC and drop BBB-CCC, the 'contract you've made with the airline is AAA-CCC, and the fact that you can get off in BB is just pure unintentional luck. By getting off in BBB and not continuing, you've signaled that you really didn't want what you bought, and should be charge for the 'correct' price for AAA-BBB.
Sep 20, 2014, 4:30 pm
#737
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Sep 20, 2014, 5:06 pm
#738
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Then let the flyer sue.
Sep 20, 2014, 5:10 pm
#739
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Sep 20, 2014, 5:42 pm
#740
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For the individual, you nailed the only punitive remedy a flyer is likely to face- voiding their miles. It doesn't really matter whether it's ethical or illegal (which is very different from the opposite of legal); all that matters is that UA can punish you in a way that has more meaning than the difference in fare, and you agreed ahead of time to abide by the rules that you broke.
Sep 20, 2014, 5:49 pm
#741
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This reminds me slightly of a time we booked a hotel for a "weekend" rate that was much less than 2 regular nights (though still more than one regular night). Our plans actually changed and we checked out late in the day on Saturday. I offered to pay the "one night" rate (thinking I would at least not pay the 2 cheap night rate) and they said, "oh, plans sometimes change, so we'll just charge you half of what you paid already" (!!!)
And furthermore, the hotel *could* have charged us for a late checkout (or I suppose even the 2nd day), but did not.
Which reminds me, in turn, about how awful the airlines are (in general, not Southwest, I think) as businesses that serve customers.
And furthermore, the hotel *could* have charged us for a late checkout (or I suppose even the 2nd day), but did not.
Which reminds me, in turn, about how awful the airlines are (in general, not Southwest, I think) as businesses that serve customers.
Sep 20, 2014, 5:57 pm
#742
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breach of contract is a tort? I have to admit that's news to me.
Sep 20, 2014, 6:08 pm
#743
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Any lawyers in the readership here that could shed some light? Just out of interest.
Sep 20, 2014, 6:27 pm
#744
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It's a bit of a moving target, and I think might depend on local legislation. In my understanding of Canadian law, a BOC is a tort if it wasn't due to negligence, but that could be a outdated.
Any lawyers in the readership here that could shed some light? Just out of interest.
Any lawyers in the readership here that could shed some light? Just out of interest.
Sep 20, 2014, 8:58 pm
#745
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Something I read many years ago had a better idea: Buy AAA-BBB-CCC; when you arrive in BBB, go to the airport bar and get plastered. The airline will deny you boarding from BBB-CCC (and, back then, even had to refund part of your fare). It certainly can't blame you for not taking a flight it didn't let you take.
Sep 20, 2014, 9:09 pm
#746
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American Airlines itself says the practice of hidden city ticketing is not illegal.
It says it is only an ethical issue and potential breach of contract. Nothing more.
AA has published a letter to that effect on their website.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Bookin...p&locale=de_DE
It says it is only an ethical issue and potential breach of contract. Nothing more.
AA has published a letter to that effect on their website.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Bookin...p&locale=de_DE
A breach of contract is normally not a tort (in the U.S.), but it can be under limited circumstances usually a bad faith breach of contract.
I'm curious if there has ever been a lawsuit involving a remedy pursued by an airline due to hidden city or throwaway ticketing. So far I haven't dug anything up.
Sep 20, 2014, 9:21 pm
#747
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Sep 21, 2014, 1:36 am
#748
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And, consequently, equally arbitrary and irrelevant whether or not the passenger decides to alight at point B.
Sep 21, 2014, 1:42 am
#749
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There's no ethical issue here. I purchased a service from a vendor and only partially consumed that service. No harm or loss is suffered by either party (indeed, quite the opposite).
Sep 21, 2014, 3:21 am
#750
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The price from A to B is 200. The price from A to C, via B, is 100. The fact that you can get off in B is a happy coincidence (for you). This works in a hub/spoke system. I don't want to defend these pricing policies, but there is a very real (but not immediate, or immediately obvious) loss of revenue in hidden city ticketing.