PSA - Airlines Rule

[SuperHero]

If for whatever reason you're not going to take the outbound part of a round-trip ticket, CALL THE AIRLINE AND LET THEM KNOW YOU'RE COMING BACK!!!

I had originally booked a round-trip ticket to see my fiancee. My company asked me to go to Boston last minute for training, and I had them book a one-way ticket to Boston, and then to my fiancee's city. I figured I'd use the return part of my R-T ticket to get home.

NO GO!!!

I just got back from the airport, where they told me since I didn't take the outbound flight on my R-T trip, they cancelled it and sold my seat. They rebooked a flight and charged me an extra $300 to go home tomorrow. All this could've been avoided if I had called them to tell them, but who the hell knows these rules until it happens?

 

[tx 3 putt]

Thanks for the info.

 

[iamtigerwoods]

Yep...they cancel immediately and will give it to a standby passenger. SOP for most airlines.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

I found this out about 5 years ago after doing essentially the same thing you did. Sucks but it's understandable that an airline assumes that if you don't take your outbound that you're not going to be on the return flight (unless you call)

 

[next2naus]

this is not news to those who travel

 

[Quadry]

Happened to me and Sins, it sucked donkey balls. We both travel a lot, but have never ran into this. Only we could mess a free flight up.

 

[SuperHero]

I've probably logged 2+ months of my life on an airplane and never ran into this problem. It sucks because I wanted to catch up at the office after being in training all of last week, but I also got to spend an extra night with my fiancee so that was nice. Live and learn I suppose... now I just gotta somehow get my company to reimburse the $300.

 

[EuroHorn]

SOP. The airlines do this to also prevent people from gaming the system, i.e., buying back-to-back advanced purchase tickets and avoiding paying full fare

 

[Agent007]

Certain airlines will force you to rebook even if you are trying to cancel the first leg. They will say you have to rebook at current prices.

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