Abort last leg of RT itinirary vs muti-city flight
Sep 24, 2018, 10:11 pm
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon->Taiwan
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Abort last leg of RT itinirary vs muti-city flight
This question is about leisure travel planning, Panama city is the city of origin of our flight, and booking business flight for two destinations: Taipei and LAX, in that order. We are US citizens, so there is no visa issue at any US ports of entry.
1. I find that booking a multi-city business class flight of PTY->TPE->LAX is higher than buying a RT PTY<->TPE plus a one-way PTY->LAX. The difference can be around $1K per head.
2. Since each way of a PTY<>TPE RT flight involves two different carriers, e.g. Avianca and a trans-pacific carrier, the latter typically flies LAX as a hub for international transit.
3. I understand that an International flight that uses a US hub of international transit requires going thru immigration and physically taking checked luggage thru custom check, re-checking the luggage in LAX for the PTY destination.
What if We just abort the LAX->PTY leg of the return flight, walk with our luggage out of LAX like the rest of the transpacific flight passengers with LAX as final destination, and save us from buying another flight after arriving PTY to go back to LAX?I gather if I cancel my booking reservation before I board in TPE, our TPE->LAX flight boarding will be denied.
Whether I cancel reservation or abandon my LAX->PTY boarding pass after I arrive at LAX seems practical, as my final destination is LAX.
Does anyone see this plan not working or know similar things are being done?
1. I find that booking a multi-city business class flight of PTY->TPE->LAX is higher than buying a RT PTY<->TPE plus a one-way PTY->LAX. The difference can be around $1K per head.
2. Since each way of a PTY<>TPE RT flight involves two different carriers, e.g. Avianca and a trans-pacific carrier, the latter typically flies LAX as a hub for international transit.
3. I understand that an International flight that uses a US hub of international transit requires going thru immigration and physically taking checked luggage thru custom check, re-checking the luggage in LAX for the PTY destination.
What if We just abort the LAX->PTY leg of the return flight, walk with our luggage out of LAX like the rest of the transpacific flight passengers with LAX as final destination, and save us from buying another flight after arriving PTY to go back to LAX?I gather if I cancel my booking reservation before I board in TPE, our TPE->LAX flight boarding will be denied.
Whether I cancel reservation or abandon my LAX->PTY boarding pass after I arrive at LAX seems practical, as my final destination is LAX.
Does anyone see this plan not working or know similar things are being done?
Last edited by phvt32; Sep 25, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Sep 25, 2018, 9:39 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2
I have a similar question. Want to leave my flight from AMS in my home DTW and not take the second to Cleveland. Cost of the flight from Amsterdam to DTW is 2300 one way. Same flight to Cleveland stopping in DTW is $658. Can they charge me afterwards for the fare to DTW that I would have paid for AMS to DTW if I abandon in DTW?
Sep 25, 2018, 2:12 pm
#3
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Sep 25, 2018, 4:26 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
This question is about leisure travel planning, Panama city is the city of origin of our flight, and booking business flight for two destinations: Taipei and LAX, in that order. We are US citizens, so there is no visa issue at any US ports of entry.
1. I find that booking a multi-city business class flight of PTY->TPE->LAX is higher than buying a RT PTY<->TPE plus a one-way PTY->LAX. The difference can be around $1K per head.
2. Since each way of a PTY<>TPE RT flight involves two different carriers, e.g. Avianca and a trans-pacific carrier, the latter typically flies LAX as a hub for international transit.
3. I understand that an International flight that uses a US hub of international transit requires going thru immigration and physically taking checked luggage thru custom check, re-checking the luggage in LAX for the PTY destination.
What if We just abort the LAX->PTY leg of the return flight, walk with our luggage out of LAX like the rest of the transpacific flight passengers with LAX as final destination, and save us from buying another flight after arriving PTY to go back to LAX?I gather if I cancel my booking reservation before I board in TPE, our TPE->LAX flight boarding will be denied.
Whether I cancel reservation or abandon my LAX->PTY boarding pass after I arrive at LAX seems practical, as my final destination is LAX.
Does anyone see this plan not working or know similar things are being done?
1. I find that booking a multi-city business class flight of PTY->TPE->LAX is higher than buying a RT PTY<->TPE plus a one-way PTY->LAX. The difference can be around $1K per head.
2. Since each way of a PTY<>TPE RT flight involves two different carriers, e.g. Avianca and a trans-pacific carrier, the latter typically flies LAX as a hub for international transit.
3. I understand that an International flight that uses a US hub of international transit requires going thru immigration and physically taking checked luggage thru custom check, re-checking the luggage in LAX for the PTY destination.
What if We just abort the LAX->PTY leg of the return flight, walk with our luggage out of LAX like the rest of the transpacific flight passengers with LAX as final destination, and save us from buying another flight after arriving PTY to go back to LAX?I gather if I cancel my booking reservation before I board in TPE, our TPE->LAX flight boarding will be denied.
Whether I cancel reservation or abandon my LAX->PTY boarding pass after I arrive at LAX seems practical, as my final destination is LAX.
Does anyone see this plan not working or know similar things are being done?
I have a similar question. Want to leave my flight from AMS in my home DTW and not take the second to Cleveland. Cost of the flight from Amsterdam to DTW is 2300 one way. Same flight to Cleveland stopping in DTW is $658. Can they charge me afterwards for the fare to DTW that I would have paid for AMS to DTW if I abandon in DTW?
Will they charge you? No, not if you do it once. Don't make a habit of it though.
Last edited by t325; Sep 25, 2018 at 4:31 pm
Sep 26, 2018, 6:52 am
#5
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Another caveat is if your luggage is misplaced/delayed, as you will have it checked through to PTY, without option to just walk away with it. Better check the price for cargo shipping x number of bags PTY-LAX for an adequate risk assessment.
Sep 26, 2018, 12:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Yeah, you can do that. What I said above still stands, the airline's obligation is to get you to CLE, not DTW. If the AMS-DTW flight gets canceled, Delta is well within their rights to reroute you, say, AMS-JFK-CLE. But since a last minute fare from JFK-DTW isn't going to cost you $1,642, you'll still save money if that happens.
Sep 28, 2018, 9:34 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
No, they're not going to charge you the real cost of AMS to DTW. Don't cancel or tell any Delta employee you're not flying DTW-CLE. Just don't show up for the flight.
Sep 28, 2018, 11:20 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2013
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That way, if they try to reroute you via different layover city to Panama, you can say that you have to go through LAX because you need to do something there.
Sep 28, 2018, 11:31 pm
#10
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If your layover exceeds 24 hours, it becomes a stopover and the cheapest fares won't be applicable.
Sep 29, 2018, 12:52 am
#11
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For the OP's case, I would only look for Panama<>TPE with overnight layover or stopover in LAX on return (provided it's cheaper than Panama-TPE-LAX), just because I'm personally risk-adverse. But others may disagree.
Oct 1, 2018, 9:27 am
#12
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Also price a regular West Coast - Taipei R/T, as there are often competitive fares that might be attractive enough to you to justify an extra positioning flight. Especially since the TPAC is in J.