No Show / Skipping / or Flying UA ticketed Flight Segment(s) Out of Order? {Archive}
Mar 4, 2019, 10:08 am
#1006
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 812
You'll get miles for all segments actually flown. Just don't do it too often. (The definition of "often" varies a lot, but a handful of times or fewer a year should be fine.)
Mar 4, 2019, 11:07 am
#1007
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,290
You can also call the day before and let them know you won't be on the final leg and they'll remove it, which will make the seat available for someone else. An agent told me they appreciate this.
Mar 4, 2019, 12:11 pm
#1008
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 734
Airlines are beginning to sue passengers who skip the last legs of their itineraries.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8407...cheap-flights/
The case was thrown out, but Lufthansa is appealing the judgement.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8407...cheap-flights/
The case was thrown out, but Lufthansa is appealing the judgement.
Mar 4, 2019, 12:21 pm
#1009
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
Airlines are beginning to sue passengers who skip the last legs of their itineraries.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8407...cheap-flights/
The case was thrown out, but Lufthansa is appealing the judgement.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8407...cheap-flights/
The case was thrown out, but Lufthansa is appealing the judgement.
Mar 4, 2019, 12:34 pm
#1010
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Anyway, unless including the last leg would somehow make the ticket a lot cheaper than stopping where you actually plan to stop United wouldn't have a basis to claim you were evading fares, so there's no worry. The only time there's a plausible concern is as in the linked Lufthansa example, where you can save a lot of money by dropping the last leg.
Mar 4, 2019, 12:56 pm
#1011
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Yes, but. OP has multi-segment, multi-continent complex itinerary. It is by no means more expensive if last segment is excluded. Even RTW fare would be be less expensive with 1 less segment. So I see no cause for airline to be concerned and no basis for any claw back effort based on this case.
OP now has a segment which they are not planning on using. While OP will almost surely not have any consequences (as long as this isn’t a frequent habit), it’s likely not consistent with the fare rules. Calling into change it to terminate in a connection city would result in a change fee, as well as any fare difference (which might be cheaper, or might not). Technically, OP should change, but most people on here likely wouldn’t bother (myself included).
Mar 4, 2019, 12:58 pm
#1012
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
Assuming that OP is still planning to get back to that last city -- e.g., if it's home -- I'd at least call and find out if there's a fare difference. The change fee could be less than buying a new ticket.
Mar 4, 2019, 1:59 pm
#1013
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
Yes, but. OP has multi-segment, multi-continent complex itinerary. It is by no means more expensive if last segment is excluded. Even RTW fare would be be less expensive with 1 less segment. So I see no cause for airline to be concerned and no basis for any claw back effort based on this case.
Mar 15, 2019, 4:51 pm
#1014
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 165
Goal is to get from AKL to BOS.
AKL-SFO-LAX ticket considerably cheaper than AKL-SFO, so I booked it. I'll have luggage, no way around that. (AKL-SFO-BOS wasn't even a consideration - crazy price).
Anyone see a reason why I can't claim my luggage at SFO, go through Customs, and then head to JetBlue terminal for my hours later SFO-BOS flight, skipping the SFO-LAX leg altogether? I'm Mosaic so have lots of options for the JetBlue flight home.
And since I'm flying business (Polaris) is there anyway to experience the SFO arrivals lounge too?
Without luggage, this would be so easy, but there's no way I can avoid checking luggage.
Worst, worst case is I fly the final SFO-LAX leg, then JetBlue LAX-BOS, but JetBlue SFO-BOS flights are pricing much lower than LAX.
Appreciate any insight.
AKL-SFO-LAX ticket considerably cheaper than AKL-SFO, so I booked it. I'll have luggage, no way around that. (AKL-SFO-BOS wasn't even a consideration - crazy price).
Anyone see a reason why I can't claim my luggage at SFO, go through Customs, and then head to JetBlue terminal for my hours later SFO-BOS flight, skipping the SFO-LAX leg altogether? I'm Mosaic so have lots of options for the JetBlue flight home.
And since I'm flying business (Polaris) is there anyway to experience the SFO arrivals lounge too?
Without luggage, this would be so easy, but there's no way I can avoid checking luggage.
Worst, worst case is I fly the final SFO-LAX leg, then JetBlue LAX-BOS, but JetBlue SFO-BOS flights are pricing much lower than LAX.
Appreciate any insight.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:01 pm
#1015
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Mar 15, 2019, 5:17 pm
#1017
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,413
AKL-SFO-LAX ticket considerably cheaper than AKL-SFO, so I booked it. I'll have luggage, no way around that. (AKL-SFO-BOS wasn't even a consideration - crazy price).
Anyone see a reason why I can't claim my luggage at SFO, go through Customs, and then head to JetBlue terminal for my hours later SFO-BOS flight, skipping the SFO-LAX leg altogether? I'm Mosaic so have lots of options for the JetBlue flight home.
And since I'm flying business (Polaris) is there anyway to experience the SFO arrivals lounge too?
Anyone see a reason why I can't claim my luggage at SFO, go through Customs, and then head to JetBlue terminal for my hours later SFO-BOS flight, skipping the SFO-LAX leg altogether? I'm Mosaic so have lots of options for the JetBlue flight home.
And since I'm flying business (Polaris) is there anyway to experience the SFO arrivals lounge too?
Note that what you are doing is a violation of the Contract of Carriage and so, if UA cared to notice, they could try to sue you. However, doing it as a one-off, with SFO-BOS on B6, is extremely unlikely to draw their attention. Just a note to keep your head down.
Mar 15, 2019, 11:15 pm
#1018
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 165
You should be able to do this. You reclaim your baggage at customs; just keep it with you instead of rechecking it. You should have access to the Arrivals lounge (landside) or the Polaris Lounge (airside) assuming your AKL-SFO segment is on UA metal, but I would only access the lounge if it's before you get offloaded from SFO-LAX.
Note that what you are doing is a violation of the Contract of Carriage and so, if UA cared to notice, they could try to sue you. However, doing it as a one-off, with SFO-BOS on B6, is extremely unlikely to draw their attention. Just a note to keep your head down.
Note that what you are doing is a violation of the Contract of Carriage and so, if UA cared to notice, they could try to sue you. However, doing it as a one-off, with SFO-BOS on B6, is extremely unlikely to draw their attention. Just a note to keep your head down.
Apr 2, 2019, 3:43 pm
#1019
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: AA/UAL/DEL
Posts: 10
Can I skip a flight on a mult-city Itinerary?
Sorry I searched, I'm sure the answer is in here but could not find it.
I'm booking the below in business class. There is no way I will make the LHR-ZRH segment. When I change it to the same flight the next day or even a later flight the whole itinerary doubles on google flights and United site.
The LHR-ZRH segment I can make is bookable separately for $120. Would UAL cancel the rest of my itinerary if I skip that LHR-ZRH segment? Thanks.
SFO-LHR United
LHR-ZRH Swiss
ZRH-TLV Swiss
TLV-SFO United
I'm booking the below in business class. There is no way I will make the LHR-ZRH segment. When I change it to the same flight the next day or even a later flight the whole itinerary doubles on google flights and United site.
The LHR-ZRH segment I can make is bookable separately for $120. Would UAL cancel the rest of my itinerary if I skip that LHR-ZRH segment? Thanks.
SFO-LHR United
LHR-ZRH Swiss
ZRH-TLV Swiss
TLV-SFO United
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 2, 2019 at 5:42 pm Reason: Merged into consolidated thread
Apr 2, 2019, 3:53 pm
#1020
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
If it's simply a connection at LHR, and it's bookable, then you'll be protected as required. If you have a stopover, and you're saying you can't actually make the flight that you're planning to book, then you're gambling, at best. You might be able to invoke some version of flat-tire with a sympathetic agent and get yourself rebooked onto a later flight, but it's not guaranteed and I wouldn't personally take that risk. If you do, definitely don't just skip the flight - that'd be a no show, and you won't be coming home.
This leaves aside the the ethics question around knowingly booking a flight you won't make in order to save $$ -- that's an individual decision.
This leaves aside the the ethics question around knowingly booking a flight you won't make in order to save $$ -- that's an individual decision.