Any Advice for a One-Way Air Ticket?

[inkkognito]

Normally hubby and I fly roundtrip, but this December we are coming down to Orlando via car and returning via plane. I've been checking out the airfares, and they are unbelieveably expensive! Does anyone have any advice on how to find the cheapest one-way tickets? This is totally new to us, so any help would be appreciated. We leave from Chicago, and although we prefer ATA, we'll take whatever we can get that won't cost a fortune.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by inkkognito
Normally hubby and I fly roundtrip, but this December we are coming down to Orlando via car and returning via plane. I've been checking out the airfares, and they are unbelieveably expensive! Does anyone have any advice on how to find the cheapest one-way tickets? This is totally new to us, so any help would be appreciated. We leave from Chicago, and although we prefer ATA, we'll take whatever we can get that won't cost a fortune.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

Barb,
Have you tried SWA? Another thing people do is book rt, which is sometimes less expensive and don't take the return trip.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I don't know of JetBlue or Song fly out of your return airport, but they offer 1 way fares that are great!

 

[linny172]

Air Tran usuallu has pretty good one way fares. If they fly to your area.

 

[alexturner74]

JetBlue and Song do not fly near Chicago. Airtran has several flights from Chicago-Midway and Milwaukee. All connect through Atlanta.

 

[clkelley]

I would just find the cheapest RT ticket I could find from Orlando to your destination.

For example, I found on Delta leaving Orlando on December 10th to Chicago at 206.50 per person with a return on the 17th. I only picked the return date because it is a Wednesday. Just don't use the return flight.

Just make sure you have a Saturday night stay in your request.

Carol

PS, I also found 177 RT per person leaving on Dec 10 from Orlando to Chicago on Spirit Air and American Airlines through Orbitz (that is probably before taxes and fees)

 

[safetymom]

Having a one way ticket sometimes triggers extra searches at the airport so be prepared.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by clkelley
I would just find the cheapest RT ticket I could find from Orlando to your destination.)

That sounds good on the surface, because discounted roundtrip fares are often much less expensive than any one-way fares -- but it's not good advice.

Buying a roundtrip ticket with the intention of using it as a one-way ticket is called throw-away ticketing. For many roundtrip fares, throw-away ticketing is a violation of the airline's contract of carriage. They can charge you for the difference between the fare that you paid and the fare of your actual traveled itinerary. They can even refuse to let you on the plane for the initial flight, if they determine your intentions (although I don't see how they would know unless you tell them).

I know this is stupid. If you buy a 12-pack of Coke (on sale) because it's cheaper than a 6-pack of Coke (not on sale), but you only drink 6 cans, the Coca Cola Company won't try to charge you for the difference.

The better advice is to use an airline like Southwest that offers discounted one-way fares.

Here's what Delta says about throw-away ticketing: http://www.delta.com/travel/reservations/travel_Info/fares/index.jsp (see "Prohibitive Ticketing Practices.")

 

[alexturner74]

Originally posted by clkelley
For example, I found on Delta leaving Orlando on December 10th to Chicago at 206.50 per person with a return on the 17th.

PS, I also found 177 RT per person leaving on Dec 10 from Orlando to Chicago on Spirit Air and American Airlines through Orbitz (that is probably before taxes and fees)

I just found a one-way on Delta, December 10th, connecting through Atlanta for $163. I'm sure it's still not as cheap as they're looking for, but it is cheaper than the round trips you found.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by alexturner74
I just found a one-way on Delta, December 10th, connecting through Atlanta for $163. I'm sure it's still not as cheap as they're looking for, but it is cheaper than the round trips you found.

A one-way ticket for $163 sound good.

One-way on Southwest is around $200, fully refundable.

By the way, here's an interesting article about violating the airlines' rules: http://pw1.netcom.com/~rcowen/Illegal or unethical.htm

 

[Lewisc]

SW frequently runs Internet specials. One way fare should be under $100.

 

[msdis]

Pan Am does one ways that are cheap. Not sure if they are in your area.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
A one-way ticket for $163 sound good.

One-way on Southwest is around $200, fully refundable.

You don't have to pay those prices, as long as you don't mind connecting in Atlanta.

A one-way coach ticket on AirTran from Orlando to Chicago-Midway in mid-December is just $79 per person! AirTran is having a big sale from from July 31 through August 12, 2003, so don't wait too long to buy the tickets.