My D22 has been studying abroad this semester and I need to get her home in May (she flew out on a one-way ticket, mostly purchased through miles). Round-trip tickets are SIGNFICANTLY cheaper than one-way. Can I book her a round trip ticket and then cancel the return ticket after she gets home? Will they reprice it at the one-way fare & charge me the difference then? I’m not worried about getting a refund obviously, but don’t want to end up owing them a bunch of money. Airlines I’m looking at include United, Delta & Jet Blue (but probably United or Delta). Thanks!
They won’t charge you the additional, BUT airlines frown on this tactic, and with the current travel tensions, could place your D on a watch list. Also, if she is expecting to earn miles, she may not get any.
4 Likes
You will forfeit the ticket and mileage as you won’t complete the trip.
Today, typically flights are priced at one way levels so this pricing dynamic happens less frequently. You might check other airlines.
1 Like
I checked three airlines and all were $500-600 cheaper round trip than one way. This is significant money to us - not just the principle. I’m not worried about miles but don’t want her in any watch lists - is this a realistic fear?
No. There’s no real need to cancel the return trip - just pick the cheapest possible date and no show.
And miles are usually credited to each flight separately, not after the full return.
You could even look for alternative origination points for the return which are cheaper (eg flying from LHR to SFO with a return from New York may be cheaper than LHR to SFO return). The only constraint on these open jaws is usually that the distance between the destination of the first flight and the origination of the second is less than the length of the shorter flight, which isn’t an issue for transatlantic flights.
3 Likes
What you’re describing is called “throwaway ticketing.” Airlines don’t like it, but it’s not as problematic as “hidden city ticketing.”
If this is your daughter’s first time doing it, she’s unlikely to face any consequences—though it will likely be noted in their system. If she does it a couple more times, that’s when the airline might take action, such as canceling her frequent flyer miles or, in extreme cases, banning her from flying with them.
5 Likes
I highly doubt it.
1 Like
Kid had a RT ticket to return home from her work abroad. She was asked to stay longer. It was nearly impossible to exchange her remaining ticket, so we just let it go unused and bough another return ticket. No issues with Delta or the partner airlines.
1 Like
It’s technically against the airline contract which you agree to when you buy the tickets.
I agree that doing it once is unlikely to result in a problem but repeat offenders could be banned by that airline, lose their frequent flyer point, etc..
I would encourage you to keep looking at fares. My D is flying for work this Spring and wanted to fly in/out of two different cities. When she first checked, doing two one way tickets was crazy more expensive than roundtrip, but then she changed her day (by one day) and suddenly it was the same price.