GoneOffShore

We're about to get long stay visas for France (and start the process of living there permanently - we have an apartment already) and one way fares are extortionate.
Has anyone had experience of buying a round trip and then after arrival cancelling the return leg?
Are we obliged to cancel the return leg or should we just not complete the check-in process and be a no-show on the day? We want to be able to 'flip the switch' on our air travel, so that instead of going round trip from the US to France, we're buying round trips from France to the US.

guv1976

When do you hope to travel, and in what class of service?

Not all carriers have extortionate one-way fares, but yes, on many carriers, a roundtrip ticket can cost less than a one way.

Frequent-flyer miles, if you have any, can be very good for one-way international trips.

GoneOffShore

Our visa appointment is mid August, and we're looking to travel the first week of September, if all goes well. We will be flying economy out of Philadelphia to Marseille, though we could do Newark - not that we want to as we'll have 4 checked bags and are not great fans of the schlepping (we've already gone over with multiple bags as it's cheaper than shipping).
We really don't have enough frequent flyer miles to do any good. Only Blue level on BA and some on Lufthansa. So nothing that will make a difference on price.

GoneOffShore

Another question - So we just book straight economy, not refundable? I'm sure that they would be loathe to refund anything.

84fiero

Just don't check in or show up. No need to cancel.

guv1976

Be sure to check checked-baggage fees very carefully: some airlines -- including major carriers -- now offer trans-Atlantic Economy-class fares that do not even include one checked bag!

CPRich

They'd certainly refund a refundable ticket - that's the point. They'd be fine with it because refundable tickets are typically very expensive.

As airlines have actively pushed the "if you're not on the flight and don't call to cancel, you lose all the value", they're not going to go after you for "missing" the return. They'll be happy to keep the money and potentially board an additional paying/stand-by passenger.

lhrsfo

It's absolutely not a problem unless you do it regularly. But Norwegian and WOW and some others also offer very competitive one way fares which will probably be cheaper still.

gfunkdave

The two times I have booked travel on Norwegian I have gotten emails from them 2-3 weeks out informing me that my flight had been cancelled due to maintenance on the aircraft engines. I would be highly skeptical of trying them a third time.

Palal

Look into one-way fares which have become much more popular recently even with traditional airlines, just be sure to factor in luggage costs.

dulciusexasperis

No showing or being courteous enough to call and say you will be a no show, is not a problem.

However, before doing that I would want to consider more factors in regards to your wanting to 'flip' returns from France to the USA. Having been in a position of living in a European country and returning to Canada for visits, I am aware of several factors that can determine which way you handle it makes the most sense.

I used to buy a return from Toronto to Europe and set the return date an entire year out. In other words, if you depart in the first week of September 2018, make the return the first week of September 2019. Buy a ticket that can be changed for a reasonable fee or for free. If you decide to return next July(or any time before next September), you just make the change. You never know if something may happen back in the USA that will cause you to want to make that return, so why not have a ticket that provides you a form of 'insurance' in case you need it, rather than just throw the return away.

Second, whey you 'flip' to France to USA return flights, you also flip the currency you will pay in. That means you need to be aware of currency fluctuations and exchange. This matters depending on what currency your income will be derived in. If your income will continue to be in US dollars (pensions for example), then continuing to be able to pay in US dollars may be a reason to keep using annual return tickets from the USA for visits. Historically, currency differences between N. America and Europe have fluctuated by as much as 25% over periods as short as 5 years.

Depending on how you deal with this can even result in you incurring double conversion costs when moving back and forth between the two countries for visits. So in terms of flights that you might take back to the USA for visits, it might well be cheaper to maintain returns to the USA rather than returns to Europe even when you are living in Europe if your income is derived in the USA, even when flight costs for flights originating in Europe 'appear' to be cheaper than flights originating in the USA.

That's a brief and simplified issue to think about. Moving to another country and the financial implications of doing so, is quite complex and especially for an American whose country insists on taxing all US citizens income derived anywhere in the world, whether you continue to live in the USA or not. How to handle return flights is just one small part of that. Rather than seeing this is a simple 'which way to deal with return tickets' that you can ask about on a forum on air travel such as this one, you may want to ask about it on Expat Forums where people are more familiar with looking at the bigger picture of how to handle all things financial when living in another country.

Often1

1. Just book the carrier, origin, and flight you want. If it is cheaper to book a RT than a OW, book the RT. Schedule the return for some time as far out as possible, typically 355 days. Maybe you can make use of the segment or maybe not. You certainly do not know that now. Presuming that you do not make use of the return, simply no show. Do Not call and cancel, because that leads to an entire re-pricing argument which is exactly why you booked in the first place. Do not worry about courtesy as carriers overbook in anticipation of no shows and your no show is built into the predictions.

2. If there is a significant (sometimes not so significant) schedule change on that far off return segment, you will be able to change it without fee and since you may be living in France, it may become part of a trip to the US (or not).

3. Do watch bag fees. They can be quite high. Spend some time looking at what the carrier charges for your specific ticket and route. Bear in mind that oversize and overweight bags can add to the cost.

4. Do not bother with Norwegian and the like. Great if you are wandering around Europe and you are flexible. Not so great if you get to your departure airport, find out that the flight is cancelled and that the best you can get is a flight 3 days later (or a refund, leaving you to purchase a walk-up fare on some other carrier).

Gig103

I agree with Often1's entire post, but wanted to emphasize this.

Efrem

There are any number of legitimate reasons why people miss flights, whether they are return flights or any other flights. Don't make a practice of it and nobody will care.

Palal

There's no reason to call and cancel. If you don't check in, nobody will care.