Aug 13, 2018, 2:39 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
from Wikipedia's Airline booking ploys
Consolidated "Hidden City Ticketing Questions"
Throwaway ticketing is purchasing a ticket with the intent to use only a portion of the included travel. This situation may arise when a passenger wants to travel only one way, but where the discounted round-trip excursion fare is cheaper than a one-way ticket
Hidden city ticketing (HCT) is a variant of throwaway ticketing. The passenger books a ticket to a fictitious destination (the "hidden" city) with a connection at the intended destination, walks away at the connection node, and discards the remaining segment.
Throwaway Tickets , such as book RT but only use OW - any issues with UA?
Aug 1, 2017, 8:57 am
#77
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Outside of Cleveland Ohio
Programs: UA *G. DL ̶G̶O̶L̶D̶ Member, Hilton/SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 362
I am an American who now lives in China so I do not fly with UA very often anymore. I have never seen this issue discussed so I'm curious what everyone thinks about this.
I have noticed that many times booking a round-trip ticket will be significantly cheaper than one-way. Earlier this year I needed to fly AMS-LAX in June and o/w tickets were over $1k compared to only $650 r/t. I booked the r/t, flew to LAX, and canceled my return once I arrived in the US.
Next summer I need to fly HKG-IAD and saw an amazing r/t price of $530, whereas o/w is over $750. I booked the r/t and will cancel the remaining segments once I arrive in the US.
Is this something that UA would actually track? This will be my second time in 10+ years of flying with them that I would do this. Do they pay attention to how often someone cancels a ticket that's partially used? I do not receive a refund for my unused segments. I assume UA would expect most people would take the cheapest possible option, so pricing the r/t so much lower would yield this result. What does everyone think?
I have noticed that many times booking a round-trip ticket will be significantly cheaper than one-way. Earlier this year I needed to fly AMS-LAX in June and o/w tickets were over $1k compared to only $650 r/t. I booked the r/t, flew to LAX, and canceled my return once I arrived in the US.
Next summer I need to fly HKG-IAD and saw an amazing r/t price of $530, whereas o/w is over $750. I booked the r/t and will cancel the remaining segments once I arrive in the US.
Is this something that UA would actually track? This will be my second time in 10+ years of flying with them that I would do this. Do they pay attention to how often someone cancels a ticket that's partially used? I do not receive a refund for my unused segments. I assume UA would expect most people would take the cheapest possible option, so pricing the r/t so much lower would yield this result. What does everyone think?
Technically They can ding you fgor throwaway ticketing but its extremely rare and i doubt that it would stop you from being able to book in the future (though if you have a big stash of UA miles......)
Aug 1, 2017, 11:49 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
My $.02 would be to book the return as far out as possible (within the fare rules and price point) then watch for a schedule /equipment change. UA rules that a significant (>2hrs) change is basis for a refund, <2hrs you should be able to change for no charge.
Technically They can ding you fgor throwaway ticketing but its extremely rare and i doubt that it would stop you from being able to book in the future (though if you have a big stash of UA miles......)
Technically They can ding you fgor throwaway ticketing but its extremely rare and i doubt that it would stop you from being able to book in the future (though if you have a big stash of UA miles......)
Aug 1, 2017, 12:29 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,993
Be Considerate.
I do this regularly, and always call at least 2 weeks prior to the return so that UA can sell the seat to someone who might need it. I also always give a reason for the cancel e.g. "my contract has been extended and I don't know my return date yet". Whether or not they log this info, it still gives the agent a reason to be pleasant, and they usually thank me for calling.
If I know the return is a throwaway, I will book it as far out as I can so that a schedule change or flight cancellation might allow me to regain some value.
If I know the return is a throwaway, I will book it as far out as I can so that a schedule change or flight cancellation might allow me to regain some value.
Last edited by zombietooth; Aug 1, 2017 at 1:32 pm
Aug 1, 2017, 12:29 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
I would make the return for a flight far into the future (that still allowed your fare basis). Perhaps a flight with a funky connection in a routing that UA may or may not keep).
If there is a schedule change, UA may have different options for the ticket you are now unable to use.
If there is a schedule change, UA may have different options for the ticket you are now unable to use.
Aug 1, 2017, 6:26 pm
#81
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Pltm, Hyatt Diamond, spg Pltm
Posts: 356
Interestingly lately, I found that in UA domestic ticketing, there is not much difference between round trip and two one-ways. "Saturday night stay" becomes a phrase of the past.
Aug 2, 2017, 7:27 am
#82
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Outside of Cleveland Ohio
Programs: UA *G. DL ̶G̶O̶L̶D̶ Member, Hilton/SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 362
It's a general industry shift, brought on by non traditional carriers like SWA and the ULCC's like Spirit. DL, AA, and UA have all shifted their domestic fares to reflect this. Still not quite there for international unfortunately. I was just priced a $2900 one-way ORD-FRA on UA for Oct, RT on the same route was well under $1K.
Aug 2, 2017, 5:12 pm
#83
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX & EWR/JFK
Programs: Fomerly UA 1K, now Gold... next year, who knows?
Posts: 1,432
Add in reports of people who did not have the outbound ticket scan properly at the gate, resulting in the return ticket being cancelled automatically, I have gotten in the habit of booking 2 o/w tickets for most of my travel on UA.
Aug 12, 2018, 2:06 am
#84
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Ventura
Programs: Gov't Travel Aficionado, UA Plat
Posts: 288
Another thread resurrection. I’m trying to go from SFO or LAX to Guam one way. This is typically north of $1000 and return trips are just a little bit more than one way. However, a few round trips with one or two days on ground can be had for as low as about $600 (Searchable only through Google flights, book through United. If you search through United you will not find these K fares). I’ve never seen this “shorter time at destination is cheaper” pricing on any other United route. Given that the return is so soon after the outbound, it’s harder to justify (fabricate excuse for) missing the return leg. I’ve gathered from the rest of this thread that UA wouldn’t charge me extra if I missed the return, but would there be any detrement to MileagePlus account? Would it be worth trying to notify UA to retain the return ticket value (309 PQD)?
Also interested in hearing from any ExpertFlyer experts who might be able to explain this weird fare pricing anomaly.
Also interested in hearing from any ExpertFlyer experts who might be able to explain this weird fare pricing anomaly.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 13, 2018 at 2:50 pm Reason: merged into existing thread
Aug 12, 2018, 2:29 am
#85
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,446
You don't need an excuse, because you don't need to talk to anyone at UA. Just no-show or cancel online. The received wisdom is if you only do this once, it should not be an issue. No guaranties though, and you are violating the contract of carriage by booking without intent to fly.
It's not an anomaly. There are lots of routes where a RT is cheaper than a OW. Very common particularly TATL. Could find a dozen examples for you in five minutes using googleflights.
It's not an anomaly. There are lots of routes where a RT is cheaper than a OW. Very common particularly TATL. Could find a dozen examples for you in five minutes using googleflights.
Aug 12, 2018, 9:39 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Ventura
Programs: Gov't Travel Aficionado, UA Plat
Posts: 288
Just doesn’t seem like the typical fare rules, I’ve never heard of “must not stay longer than X number of days to get this price.” Unless it’s something long like 6 months.
Last edited by therossinator; Aug 12, 2018 at 9:45 am
Aug 12, 2018, 10:56 am
#88
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,446
It's really not possible to comment on the fare rules without knowing specific routing and dates so that we can pull up the fare.
Aug 12, 2018, 10:59 am
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
OP: Don’t even think about trying to recoup the excess value of the fare; you can’t. They’d re-price it using an actual GUM fare instead of a fare to HKG or PVG or wherever it is that you’re “connecting.” Keep in mind that you’ll need any applicable visas for your destination even if you’re not actually planning to go there.
There actually are maximum stay requirements in fares, but they’re usually more like 30 days or 3 months, not 1 day.
Aug 12, 2018, 12:32 pm
#90
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Another thread resurrection. I’m trying to go from SFO or LAX to Guam one way. This is typically north of $1000 and return trips are just a little bit more than one way. However, a few round trips with one or two days on ground can be had for as low as about $600 (Searchable only through Google flights, book through United. If you search through United you will not find these K fares). I’ve never seen this “shorter time at destination is cheaper” pricing on any other United route. Given that the return is so soon after the outbound, it’s harder to justify (fabricate excuse for) missing the return leg. I’ve gathered from the rest of this thread that UA wouldn’t charge me extra if I missed the return, but would there be any detrement to MileagePlus account? Would it be worth trying to notify UA to retain the return ticket value (309 PQD)?
Also interested in hearing from any ExpertFlyer experts who might be able to explain this weird fare pricing anomaly.
Also interested in hearing from any ExpertFlyer experts who might be able to explain this weird fare pricing anomaly.
But, in any event, there is no need to fabricate silly stories for UA as some suggest:
1. They've heard it all.
2. The "story" is irrelevant. Whatever risk -- close to zero -- is not changed by a "story".
3. There is no need to tell any story. When you no show for your onward/return flight, the remainder of the ticket will be cancelled. As the OW costs more than the RT, there would be a $0 credit (or even refund). Thus, no reason for you to do anything.