Question about not making a flight

[winjos]

Looking into flights for the summer (UGH the prices are high!). Here's what I was thinking:
1) Fly from NC to NV one way on Southwest (DH, Me, DD, & DS).
2) Leaving kids with sister and DH & I would fly to Mexico from Nevada using FF miles (NV to Mexico RT).
3) Flight home goes from Mexico to Atlanta to SLC to Nevada.

Here's my question: Could we skip the ATL to SLC to Nevada portion of the flight and instead drive to NC from Atlanta? Would this cause some sort of security problem? Would there be a penalty? It is almost triple the points to do a multi-city.

My brother is flying back with the kids so they are covered.

I know that in some cases it is cheaper to buy a RT ticket and only use one leg of the ticket, but I wasn't sure if you could do that anymore.

If the above was doable, then we would save about $600 in airfare costs and a 24 hour flight (there's a 12 hour layover on the way back in SLC).

Just curious.
Thanks!

 

[winterman]

There are many pitfalls to your plan. The best solution and/or consequences can be found at: www.flyertalk.com.

Check it out.

 

[ccudmore]

There was a discussion about this type of thing on this board earlier this week. I think it came down to, if you miss a flight segment, most airlines immediately cancel all other segments on the same reservation.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I think you might get away with this. But make sure I have this right

1. When you get off the plane in Atlanta you have no more flights you want to take
2. You are not going to check any luggage. (this includes luggage that might be checked at the gate). Luggage goes to your final ticketed destination

If these are true then it will probably work


In theory the airline can charge you for this. In reality unless you make a practice of it you are safe.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

winterman, your link simply leads to the main flyertalk page. If you are referring to a specific thread, could you provide a link?

Could we skip the ATL to SLC to Nevada portion of the flight and instead drive to NC from Atlanta?

Yes. As mentioned, as long as you haven't checked any luggage, just get off the plane in Atlanta and drive home from there. There won't be any consequences, despite warnings you may get here.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I did a similar thing a few yrs ago. SWA has cheap flights to FLL with a connection in MCO. It was around $50 pp less than if I booked the same flight from PHL to MCO so for $200 I was willing to risk it.

I was afraid to do the same for the flight home since I wasn't sure if I'd have to enter security through FLL or what. Turns out when you check in online, you get 2 separate boarding passes so we could have just shown the MCO-PHL bp.

 

[NJtoATL]

Don't do it. Driving here in Atlanta is not pretty or simple. I would never recommend that option. What may seem like a simple 3 hour drive and easily be doubled if you are not care. Stay on the plane!!!!!

 

[Dacky619]

I did a similar thing a few yrs ago. SWA has cheap flights to FLL with a connection in MCO. It was around $50 pp less than if I booked the same flight from PHL to MCO so for $200 I was willing to risk it.

I was afraid to do the same for the flight home since I wasn't sure if I'd have to enter security through FLL or what. Turns out when you check in online, you get 2 separate boarding passes so we could have just shown the MCO-PHL bp.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that when you didn't show up for the FLL to MCO segment, they would have canceled the MCO to Philly segment of the trip.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that when you didn't show up for the FLL to MCO segment, they would have canceled the MCO to Philly segment of the trip.

Yeah, probably. It wasn't worth taking the chance.

 

[Dacky619]

Yeah, probably. It wasn't worth taking the chance.

I know most airlines don't allow it, but I found this post in another thread on the same topic, I wonder if it is true about SW though, maybe you could have gotten away with it:

This is called Hidden City Ticketing and is against all domestic carriers' rules except for Southwest. United would have the right to cancel your DD return trip, go back and charge her for the trip she actually took or both. Of course if there is checked luggage getting off at DC is impossible.

From United's COC (http://content.united.com/ual/asset/UA_COC09Mar11.pdf):

WHERE A TICKET IS PURCHASED AND USED IN VIOLATION OF THESE
RULES OR ANY FARE RULE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HIDDEN CITIES
TICKETING, POINT BEYOND TICKETING, THROWAWAY TICKETING, BACK-TO-BACK
TICKETING, OR SPECULATIVE/ABUSIVE TICKETING), UA HAS THE RIGHT IN ITS
SOLE DISCRETION TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:
(1) INVALIDATE THE TICKET(S);
(2) CANCEL ANY REMAINING PORTION OF THE PASSENGER'S ITINERARY;
(3) CONFISCATE ANY UNUSED FLIGHT COUPONS;
(4) REFUSE TO BOARD THE PASSENGER AND TO CARRY THE PASSENGER'S
BAGGAGE, UNLESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE
FARE FOR TRANSPORTATION USED IS COLLECTED PRIOR TO BOARDING;
(5) ASSESS THE PASSENGER FOR THE ACTUAL VALUE OF THE TICKET WHICH
SHALL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE APPLICABLE TO
THE PASSENGER'S ACTUAL ITINERARY AND THE FARE ACTUALLY PAID;
(6) DELETE MILES FROM THE PASSENGER'S FREQUENT FLYER ACCOUNT;
(7) REVOKE THE PASSENGER'S ELITE STATUS, IF ANY, IN THE MILEAGE PLUS
PROGRAM, TERMINATE THE PASSENGER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE MILEAGE
PLUS PROGRAM, OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION PERMITTED BY THE MILEAGE
PLUS PROGRAM RULES;
AND/OR
(8) TAKE LEGAL ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THE PASSENGER/AGENT.