I'd be less worried about the bag and more concerned with the fact that if there are IRROPS, the airline isn't required to route you through NRT to get to BKK.

Very true. But the whole reason that BKK is even in the picture is because the fare with the connect in NRT to BKK is less than half the price. Trust me I would forego this whole fiasco if it were that easy. Me flying straight there is more expensive for some strange reason which is why I considered taking this back door.

Yes, that what hidden city ticketing is, you see AAA-BBB-CCC is cheaper than AAA-BBB, so you buy the ticket to CCC but deplane in BBB. Airlines react differently to it. If you do it once it is usually not a problem, if have a habit of doing so they will fight you.

You could also check for a return ticket to NRT instead of a one-way and only use the outbound. One-ways are always extremely expensive in international routes.

Let me restructure the nature of my general inquiry.

The IAH-LAX-NRT-BKK was really just a arbitrary itinerary that I made up which is similar to the one I have in question. The nature of my responses are true relevant to what my actual itinerary is. Since this is really taking off now and getting quite detailed I'd thought I clear some stuff up.

My actual itinerary is MSY-SFO-NRT-ICN so same basic structure. I still want to end up in NRT but ICN is the itinerary's final destination.

My original goal was to fly United 747 from SFO to NRT which a quick search revealed a $11k price tag for a nonstop global first ticket. Not settling for this price-point I searched further and found the exact same flight at the exact same time going to NRT for just over $3k. The only problem was it had me terminating in ICN

http://oi62.tinypic.com/bg19wh.jpg
one way ticket of 747 from SFO to NRT

http://oi60.tinypic.com/2evgaio.jpg
ticket of 747 to NRT but final destination ICN

Truly sorry for any confusion this has caused but you guys have been so helpful I'd thought I'd give a bit more info on my situation.

You mean do a search that has me leaving and returning to NRT or just a multi-city search with me leaving one airport and returning to NRT?

We understand what you are trying to do. This thread has been attempting to explain that what you're attempting to do would be in violation of your contract with the airline. You may get re-routed, and sent to ICN via a different route. United may also charge you the $8000 difference if they discover what you've done.

I see. I guess I am fated to pack my bags and say my prayers lest sometime between now and departure a miracle occurs. Luckily time is on my side, for now.

I really appreciate everyone's expert advice on this matter. You guys are the best:D

But you are aware that you have to board in MSY? Showing up in SFO will not work!

What do you mean? Please explain:confused:

If you book MSY-SFO-NRT with only the intention of flying SFO-NRT, your entire itinerary will be cancelled when you don't fly MSY-SFO.

If you do not board the first flight on your itinerary the airline will cancel the ticket. Or more general: If you skip any segment/flight on a itinerary the airline will cancel all following flights.

So if your ticket is MSY-SFO-NRT-ICN and you do not fly MSY-SFO, you do not even have a ticket anymore to fly SFO-NRT.

/EDIT: too slow ;)

KingKazma my advice to you would be to keep it simple. Fly the whole of the MSY-SFO-NRT-ICN on the $3k ticket saving you the $8k and then just buy and fly an ICN-NRT single sector. Just leave sufficient time (overnight perhaps) between the two tickets in case of delays. You will have no baggage concerns and no problems with hidden city ticketing.

Sorry for not being clear earlier, but I actually am flying out of MSY to SFO thats the non-problematic first leg of my journey.

That is a plan worth looking into, I do still want to remain on United good side after all;)

That plan will also protect you in case anything happens with your booked flight and UA decides that putting you on its Flight 893, nonstop SFO-ICN, is the perfect solution!

It will be something of a sacrifice, being that I have to pay for an extra flight, but its better to have peace of mind. In the grand scheme of things I'd still come out spending less than a nonstop SFO-NRT, so I'd say its money well spent.

Yeah a flight ICN-TYO probably won't be more than $300, plus perhaps a hotel for the night. Definitely cheaper in the long run compared to your alternative option you initially found.