What happens if you don't show up for a flight?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AAdvantage, United
Posts: 75
What happens if you don't show up for a flight?
My wife recently bought a one-way ticket that, due to a change in schedule, she will not be able to make. The ticket cost less than the cost of a change fee, so she is going to abandon the ticket rather than move it. The airline rep (I forget the airline, think American or United) said it costs $150 to cancel a ticket (the ticket cost less than this).
What happens if she just doesn't show? We fly this airline with some regularity.
On a related note, what should one do with a cheap ticket (less than $150) they can't use, other than abandon it, when the change fee is $150?
What happens if she just doesn't show? We fly this airline with some regularity.
On a related note, what should one do with a cheap ticket (less than $150) they can't use, other than abandon it, when the change fee is $150?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: Mileage Plus, Rapid Rewards
Posts: 949
Although policies differ by airline, United generally will allow people to refund tickets if there was a schedule change of greater than 90 minutes (I wasn't sure if you meant that your wife had a change in HER schedule, or if the airline changed the schedule of when its flight would operate), or at the very least they should be willing to allow you to change the flight to another time or perhaps even another day.
If you just don't show up for a flight, at midnight the ticket will "zero out" and have no value. Since your ticket is worth less than the $150 change fee, you're fine with just "no-showing" or you can ask them to cancel your reservation (not cancel the ticket--this is different). The only reason you might want to cancel the reservation is out of courtesy to the airline, but many people no-show, so you should be fine with just doing that if you want, too. It won't cost you anything to cancel a reservation, but this is different from refunding a ticket (i.e. you won't get any money back).
If you just don't show up for a flight, at midnight the ticket will "zero out" and have no value. Since your ticket is worth less than the $150 change fee, you're fine with just "no-showing" or you can ask them to cancel your reservation (not cancel the ticket--this is different). The only reason you might want to cancel the reservation is out of courtesy to the airline, but many people no-show, so you should be fine with just doing that if you want, too. It won't cost you anything to cancel a reservation, but this is different from refunding a ticket (i.e. you won't get any money back).
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,677
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
nor do they care as its free $$$. However this is way different from not flying the last segment a/k/a Hidden City
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Miles&More Blue, SPG Silver
Posts: 3,381
You are right but in the case the OP describe I don't see any last segment Hidden City problem. There is even no problem with a return flight since it is a one-way-ticket.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I was one of many who had passport renewal problems last summer, and I became worried that I might not be able to take my flight to LHR. I went to the airport to talk to a real United customer service rep face-to-face (not wanting to hazard the overseas call center). She told me that if I was unable to take my scheduled flight due to passport problems, I should call United before midnight and explain. This would keep my ticket valid for a future trip. If I did not report my problem to United, the ticket would vaporize at midnight.
As luck would have it, my passport arrived the day AFTER my scheduled departure, but since I had notified United, I was able to rebook and get squeezed onto the last possible flight that would allow me to attend the conference that was the purpose of the trip.
As luck would have it, my passport arrived the day AFTER my scheduled departure, but since I had notified United, I was able to rebook and get squeezed onto the last possible flight that would allow me to attend the conference that was the purpose of the trip.
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: PHL
Posts: 10,060
I'm interested with this topic. I have problems previously which I bought a return trip and put a no show on the return trip. I purchased another one way trip to complete my trip. I wondered how about the opposite which I won't be able to make it on the departing part of the trip, will I be able to use the return part of the trip.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,525
I'm interested with this topic. I have problems previously which I bought a return trip and put a no show on the return trip. I purchased another one way trip to complete my trip. I wondered how about the opposite which I won't be able to make it on the departing part of the trip, will I be able to use the return part of the trip.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NL
Programs: FB M&M AA Amex HH SPG and others
Posts: 1,929
I'm interested with this topic. I have problems previously which I bought a return trip and put a no show on the return trip. I purchased another one way trip to complete my trip. I wondered how about the opposite which I won't be able to make it on the departing part of the trip, will I be able to use the return part of the trip.
So missing the first segment means a cancelled ticket.