Value of unused segment????
 

A few months ago, I bought a one way SAN-SMF ticket (with a connection in LAX). I ended up getting off at LAX without using the onward connection. Is there any value to the unused LAX-SMF segment? I know that the fare of the ticket did not include a stopover (and that the one way SAN-LAX was more than the one way SAN-SMF).


[This message has been edited by zrs70 (edited 05-31-2001).]

No value.

Hobson may not be correct. The day you try to use the ticket UA will price a ticket from SAN-LAX and LAX-SMF. If your ticket costs more that the combined 1 ways and you were on a Y/B/M fare, you will be able to apply the remainder of the value of ticket to another ticket. For example I often fly SNA-LAX to ? (for fun lets say LAS). If I get off at LAX on the way home I have an LAX-SNA coupon left. On that route it's usually worth $50 or so towards another ticket because SNA-LAS Y fare is often $400+ but from LAX it's much less.

Clear as mud?

2 more points.

1. If the fares have gone down since you bought the ticket you are going to make otu better.

2. There is no limit on the number of different unused segments off of multiple PNR 's that you can use to apply to the value of a new ticket. That is the cool part. Save enough of them and you have free ticket.

But I thought zrs70 stated that the original ticket did not include a stopover and that a direct ticket terminating in LAX would have been more expensive. in theory, didn't he break some airline fare rule? if so, wouldn't it be smarter not to bring this to UA's attention by asking for credit?

It's called hidden city.

My apologies for not giving more explanation of my quick answer. The hidden city is why I stated the remaining coupon had "no value". Just try to exchange it for a later flight! I don't think you'll be successful

Twice I was able to do this when I was flying through, with a connection in a non-hub city, but I misconnected and they let me use that second coupon at a later date. Once it was easy, no problem. The other time it was really difficult with various agents questioning the validity of the flight coupon. These situations were different from the scenario being asked about because the total cost of my tickets from A to B to C was GREATER than the cost of the flight from point A to B.

I actually had my flights structured as such:

SAN-LAX (last flight of day)
LAX-SMF (first flight of next day
Total: $119

Counts as a through connection, but agent warned me, "If you oversleep, or don't make that flight for any reason, your credit card will be charged the full SAN-SMF Y fare of $250!"

Anyway, here's how the story ends with me. Instead of playing this risky game that violates rules, I had them attatch my SAN-LAX leg to a future one way LAX-YVR leg (which cost $300). The SAN-LAX flight added $150 to the onward travel, even though the YVR trip is a few weeks away.

Then I thought, "hmmm, I wonder how many more legs I can attatch." I was able to also get PHX-LAX-SAN onto the YVR ticket at no extra cost!