does a stopover = cancelled ticket?
 

We found a cheap ticket from Rome to Tampa that stops in Atlanta. We'd like to stay in Atlanta and NOT take the leg from Atlanta to Tampa. (We still want to fly out of Tampa at the end of our trip.)

So...since we have to get off the plane and claim our luggage in Atlanta, can we just stay OFF the plane in Atlanta, or will our return ticket automatically be cancelled? Can we say we have a family/medical emergency? :confused:

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Unfortunately, a no-show for your ATL-TPA leg would almost certainly mean your TPA-ATL ticket would be canceled. And if it is on the same itinerary or airline as your Rome-Atlanta flight, the return to Rome would be canceled as well. Further, has been noted in a thread or two here that you can't bet on an airline allowing you to change a restricted, nonrefundable ticket even for a real medical emergency.

Thanks...that's what we were afraid of. We did talk to the airline (Delta) and were told that the ticket wouldn't be cancelled, but that when we shoed up in Tampa we would be charged the full price fare...something in excess of $3000.

if it helps: you could try to force a layover for less than 24 hours - this would not be considered a stopover and allows you to spend a night in atl. not sure if they will lloww this though.