[Goldenfish]

Hi there,

A friend and I are going to Guatemala, he's going from NYC, I am going from Mexico, and we both are returning to NYC.
As the price of return flight was just 20$ more than one-way, we booked 2 return tickets to ensure we'll be in the same plane (there were just 2 seats remaining).
Today, I just checked that paying the return ticket, I could just use part of it. NO! If I don't board on the NYC>Guate flight, my Guate>NYC will be cancelled!
I am so upset I didn't know! We're stupid! But I don't understand why they care?! If I pay for the whole trip, why do they care that I use just a part of it?

• I asked if I could change the name to sell it, no.
• Can I just cancel the NYC>Guatemala part? No
• Can I cancel this ticket and rebuy a Guate>NYC with the refund? No
• Can I chage it to a return ticket from Guate to NYC so I don't mind if I don't show up for the return? No

The only option I have is to rebook (the price is double now) and I'll get a voucher of the value of my flight less 150$... That I can use only on flight going from US...
Has someone ever been in this situation before? Any idea?

Thanks a lot...
Sophie

[Goldenfish]

Not sure I'm getting your answer :s
I'm sorry if my English is bad, if that's what you're refering too ...
Or maybe everyone knows that story exept me?

[cortney]

its not you its the poster himself..he has problems.

[Goldenfish]

Ok thanks for letting me know!
I see that you're working in an Airline Company, do you think I have any chance?
I read they are making exeptions sometimes ...
http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-cr...#comment-39353

Well, in my case, the problem is not that my mum is sick but just that I'm stupid

[jimworcs]

You can sometimes find a sympathetic service rep, but they are few and far between. The particular circumstances you outline will fall under the category of "should have read the T&C's". Sadly, this unfair rule is a result of the bizarre and byzantine pricing policy of the airlines. It is often cheaper to fly indirectly, therefore the airlines block tickets which don't use the whole routing..

[Goldenfish]

I wouldn't say unfair, it's just fair, I should have known.
I'mjust asking how they do when you miss your flight ...
I may try to use the cancelation assurance we paid for, we'll see ...

[jimworcs]

When you fail to show, the computer will record this and the rest of your itenerary will be automatically cancelled. This sometimes happens even when you missed your flight due to problems with airline. This site is full of horror stories!! Good luck!!

[ChrisH]

You can try showing up to the particular airport and telling them that you did take the entire trip and don't understand how or why it would show you as a "no show". You may at least get on a standby list. Don't cause scene, but if you get the right agent, they may be willing to help. It does happen sometimes that people's reservations are cancelled even when they did take the flight because their boarding pass doesn't scan properly.

As per the airlines do this. They basically all do it. It is to avoid people purchasing a two way ticket, because it is cheaper, but only wanting to take the return portion or just fly certain segments of the tickets.

[gbook56]

Yeah? So what if they purchase a round trip ticket and only use part of it?

How does it cost an airline more money if people do that? Right now we're facing a similar situation. My daughter is in Seville, Spain, as part of a college program. We didn't know, however, when we set up her original reservation as Dallas to Seville and back that the group will already be in Madrid on the day of her return flight. But do you think we can just cancel the Seville to Madrid portion of the flight? No, of course not. Or rather, we can if we pay $250 for the change PLUS $1000 additional for today's Madrid to Dallas fare.

Why do we let the airlines do this? I mean, basically for giving them a seat back, you pay $1250 dollars! Now she's going to have to get from Madrid to Seville, so she can make the first leg of her flight -- and she was already worried about making her connection.

So what if they all do it. That's no excuse. If they "all" do it, why don't we just pick an airline not to fly (or book on) for the next month or so? I mean ALL of us. And see what happens.

[screennamie]

I realize this thread is a year old. However, If you go to the closest airport that AA serves/flys out of usually theres a counter/ticketing agent there.

I would talk to that agent VERY NICELY and simply asking them to remove the first leg of the trip from your intinerary. Then the computer shouldn't put you down as a no show for flying the rest of your trip. And while your at the counter you could probably check in for the rest of your trip.

Then after the trip has been flown call the reservations number for any given airline and get a refund of the unused portion of your ticket.

Just my two cents o.0

[6point3]

Originally Posted by screennamie

I realize this thread is a year old. However, If you go to the closest airport that AA serves/flys out of usually theres a counter/ticketing agent there.

I would talk to that agent VERY NICELY and simply asking them to remove the first leg of the trip from your intinerary. Then the computer shouldn't put you down as a no show for flying the rest of your trip. And while your at the counter you could probably check in for the rest of your trip.

Then after the trip has been flown call the reservations number for any given airline and get a refund of the unused portion of your ticket.

Just my two cents o.0

well ,well, well !
Not so fast , here !
If it was only that easy.

I had that problem a year ago.
I had a ticket from L.A. to Warsaw via (Germany) and back to L.A.
Going through Frankfurt and returning through Düsseldorf
I booked it, because it was cheaper than a round trip ticket to Frankfurt.
Knowing full well that I was not using the last leg, I tried to check in at LAX to Frankfurt only.
THESE people at the "Continental A." counter were insisting to / or tried to extract some ridiculous amount right there and then (I think they wanted an extra $1500).
I refused. Leaving off the last leg would not change anything , but save them money as the last part was not being used.....
Check me in through Warsaw then I said, (and we'll see).
All this made me miss my flight.
Now at the gate they change my ticket to go through Newark instead of Houston as originally ticketed.
In Newark I told the friendly people at the Lufthansa counter to cancel the last leg and flag my checked bag to be put out in Frankfurt, no harm done , right ?
All good.
Now here it comes.
Anticipating a problem i went to the counter in Dusseldorf a day early to check in, but they would not let me.
They held me hostage, that If I did not check in in Warsaw the whole itinerary would be cancelled.
NO MENTION whatsoever that the first part could be cancelled.
And this was at the Lufthansa counter acting as Continental Agents as they had flights sold out of Dusseldorf, but no ticket counter nor agents there.
On the phone Continental was trying to shine through (to the Lufthansa agents) an additional $1500 charge (sound familiar ?).
They however didn't go along with that, but still extorted 305 Euros, then about $350 from me.
Never again, Continental or United.
Well maybe United , I will still write a letter to them...

ANd SUE, IF UNSUCCESSFUL. !!