Cancelling a return leg of a round-trip flight

[TazFan]

On Southwest, I have a round-trip flight booked between IND-MCO with a non-refundable flight down and a fully refundable flight back. Is it possible to cancel the return leg without penalty AFTER COMPLETING THE FLIGHT DOWN?

Please let me know asap and thanks!
TazFan

 

[KittyKitty]

Good question to ask Southwest. If they were 2 seperate reservations, no problem. But on same reservation, usually the more restrictive rule rules!!

If you don't want the money back, you could always no show the return flight.

Of course Southwest has some great exceptions.

 

[TazFan]

Further info:

I was on the phone earlier with SW and attempted to cancel the return flight. The rep. indicated that by doing this prior to the first flight would increase the first flights fare. When I advised this increase counters my savings of the return flight with another airline, she indicated that I could complete the first flight and then cancel the return flight (since it is fully refundable). BTW, she indicated this AFTER stating to me, "I'm not sure if I am supposed to tell you this..."


If I can do this and without penalty, I can save almost $500 but I need to know if any 'Catch 22s' will surface.



Please, any further comments or suggestions?

TazFan

 

[CarolA]

Actually you can get the credit on SW. I generally call them before I miss the flight and let them know and they tell me the credit amount.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I never expected to know more about an airline's ticket pricing than one of their employees, but...
Southwest does not sell round-trip itineraries. They sell one-way trips. Passengers are free to purchase round-trip fares, but do not HAVE to in order to pay the lowest available fare.

Hypothetical examples:
MHT - MCO
Southwest $100
Delta $110
MCO - MHT
Southwest $100
Delta $120
MCO - MHT - MCO
Southwest $100 + $100 = $200
Delta $215 (price for round trip, NOT error in my math )

I've NEVER heard of Southwest's fare being higher for one-way travel, no matter at what point in the purchasing/traveling process the trip becomes one-way.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think what they mean is they would have to cancel the entire round trip and rebook a one way trip, but the one-way flight would cost more than it did when booked as a round trip.

It sounds like they might let you cancel the return if you bought a refundable ticket. At any rate if you didn't show for the return you'd get flight credit for Southwest, if you can use it.

 

[bicker]

If they do let you cancel the return and credit you half the cost of the roundtrip ticket, that would be one major difference between Southwest and most of the rest of the airlines. Most airlines consider this a form of "Throwaway Ticketing" which is explicitly prohibited by their Terms and Conditions.

 

[Rpsemont]

Since it it a fully refundable fare, you should get it back, but would you be unhappy if you got TTF instead? Granted, rules do change, but last November, we did much the same thing. I had booked RT tickets and then a cheaper flight became available for the return. SO we purchased the cheaper return flight, flew down on the original tickets and cancelled the original return after arriving in FLA. We had the TTF to use for a future flight

 

[TazFan]

Since it it a fully refundable fare, you should get it back, but would you be unhappy if you got TTF instead? Granted, rules do change, but last November, we did much the same thing. I had booked RT tickets and then a cheaper flight became available for the return. SO we purchased the cheaper return flight, flew down on the original tickets and cancelled the original return after arriving in FLA. We had the TTF to use for a future flight

Ok I'm in the dark...what is TTF?
Rpsemont, your situation sounds identical to mine. The difference is I need the refund from the cancelled SW return flight (after we fly down) in order to offset the purchase of cheaper one-way flight with another airline.

TazFan

 

[Rpsemont]

TTF = ticketless Travel Funds (SWA Credit)
If your fare is fully refundable, than they should give you a refund; and I would certainly fight for the refund. However, at the very least, you will definitely get a credit of TTF that you can use on a future flight.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Snipped

I've NEVER heard of Southwest's fare being higher for one-way travel, no matter at what point in the purchasing/traveling process the trip becomes one-way.

Ok say your confirm number is XYZ123 for that 2-oneways booked as SW does.

On that is

down $100 non-refund at time of purchase
return $300 refundable at time of purchase.

Now because you want to cancel that the XYZ123 has to be canceled and a new 123XYZ would have to be booked for just the flight down.

Down $150 as it now has sold some seats.And the $100 catagory is no longer avail.
returned credited back as it was booked refundable.

OP do like the Agent told you and you will be fine take your flight down then when you get there cancel your return flight over the phone. As it is a refundable they will credit you back not give you a Ticketless Travel Voucher.