Strange Southwest question...

[ruadisneyfan2]

I've flown SW into MCO many times but never had a connecting flight with them. When you check in online, does it let you print both boarding passes together?
Now for the strange question- Has anyone booked a connecting flight and deliberately skipped the 2nd leg? When I look up flights to MCO, it's $79 each way which isn't bad but when I look up flights to Fort Lauderdale, they're only $49, some non-stop, some connect in MCO or TPA.
I'm thinking, why not just book the $49 fare that connects at MCO, then skip the 2nd leg? It's over $200 savings + taxes.
I'm not sure that it would work for the return flight but if I have a boarding pass in hand at MCO or TPA, could they deny us boarding?
I really wouldn't mind driving to FLL except dh won't be with us, just me and 2 kids.
WWYD?

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I don't know how it works, but I know several years ago (pre 9/11) my best friend was going to London for school. It was cheaper for her to buy a round trip ticket from London than the one from here. So on her first one she just didn't get on the flight coming from London to US (obviously since she was here) and took the "return" to get there. I would think you could do it. How is it any different than missing your connection?

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I really don't know what would happen. I would be worried on the return flight that they would give my seat on BOTH planes to someone going from Tampa to NJ.

But I was interested in the way down. One problem DH and I (we discussed this before) talked about was luggage. If you skipped the second leg, they would still move your luggage to the plane going to Tampa, wouldn't they? And that would suck.

Hopefully one of the frequent fliers around here may have some tips on this. Seems like they would have the flight from NJ to Orlando cheaper than the one continuing to Tampa, but I don't pretend to understand how airline pricing works.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

Oh I didn't think about luggage. I guess if you only had a carry on??

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

BTW-They have the same out of Buffalo. The Nonstop flight we usually book actually is the first leg to connect to Ft Lauderdale.

But for us, that flight is priced higher than the nonstop BUF-MCO.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

BTW-They have the same out of Buffalo. The Nonstop flight we usually book actually is the first leg to connect to Ft Lauderdale.

But for us, that flight is priced higher than the nonstop BUF-MCO.

Yes, this is too (by $63 for 3 tix) but overall still cheaper than a non-stop into MCO. I think it's due to the Facility User fees or something like that. Everytime you take off and land, you have to pay the airport too. It's what makes a $49 fare cost $70.

Oh I didn't think about luggage. I guess if you only had a carry on??

wow, I hadn't thought of luggage but probably could get by with all carryons. It's only a 3 nt. getaway and I have some credits to use up.

ugh, I think maybe I should sleep on it.
Does anyone know of any other issues we've overlooked? Thanks for all of your input!

 

[my3squeals]

but I called SWA with the very same ??About 2 weeks ago. Ft Lauderdale to Nashville with a stop at MCO was about $30 cheaper than the flight alone from MCO to BNA Flight (did not check flight down for same $$ savings although I bet it was at the time) anyway I am not sure that the lady I spoke with understood my question completely, but she seemed to think I wouldn't be able to get thru security and to the gate with a boarding pass for another airport alothough the plane I wanted on was at MCO Make sense? I don't know if you get 2 separate boading passes when you have to change planes, we have always flown non stop but the lady on the phone left me with the impression my boarding passes would not be accurate thus not allowing me thru. Does anyone with experince of changing planes know if this true. Do you get just one boarding pass? How would checked luggage handle it? would they accept your luggage for a flight not originating there? A thought for on the way down and hopping off a stop early at MCO, if you are using DME your luggage is tagged bright yellow, It would be a gamble but maybe they would just pull it anyway. I hear they pull by those tags.....
Anyway I woud like to know if there is a trick to it because I looked at it from every angle and the $30 ticket (x5) = BIG SAVINGS for us......

 

[CarolA]

SW is a little different then most airlines.

I "believe" that you can get off in MCO and they won't cancel the rest of your plans. .... BUT if your flight home starts in FLL and you don't get on the rest of your flights that day are cancelled. In other words you can get past security with the boarding pass you printed off on line, but you aren't getting on the plane.


This is called hidden city ticketing and the terms and conditions in the airline's fine print forbid it. They can and do penalize you by doing things like taking all your frequent flyer miles, trying to bill you for a one way ticket (they have your credit card number) etc...

And your luggage is going to FLL. The yellow tag is NOT stopping it at MCO since the airline sorts the luggage plane side. If your ticket says FLL it gets hauled right to the next flight, the DME folks won't ever see it! So you HAVE to carry on!

Now on just about ANY other airline when you get off in MCO and don't catch the flight to FLL ALL of the rest of your flights are cancelled so this really is not a good idea.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

double post, sorry

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I assumed you get 2 separate boarding passes but don't know for sure. I won't be taking ME so that's not a problem but good point for others in the same situation.
I wouldn't mind just plunking down in FLL just to put my toes in the sand and feel some sunshine but we've been in Florida in Jan and Feb x 2 in other years and had very cold weather- coats, mittens, hoods up, etc. I don't even know what else there is to do besides beach. Hotels down there are very expensive so if it ends up being cold it would be a lot of $ for not so much fun. At least in Orlando there's plenty to do even if it's chilly.

I don't think going down would be the problem but going home might. To buy a nonstop MCO-PHL is about $60 more for all 3 of us. Normally I wouldn't flinch but just trying to keep this a budget trip as we were just there 12 nts. in Nov. Dh thinks I'm nuts to spend $1000 just to use up a $100 credit.
Well, I guess I am but I know I'm not alone.

 

[my3squeals]

Honestly if I was going to do it, I would feel safer doing it on the way down, and carry on all luggage. Trying to "slip back" on at a different airport with boarding passes for another airprot with the possibility of your flight being cancelled is jsut too musch risk. So book going down one way and coming home the correct way.....
You are still saving $$$

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Honestly if I was going to do it, I would feel safer doing it on the way down, and carry on all luggage. Trying to "slip back" on at a different airport with boarding passes for another airprot with the possibility of your flight being cancelled is jsut too musch risk. So book going down one way and coming home the correct way.....
You are still saving $$$

Yes, I'm thinking this too. It's too much headache to take a chance.

 

[DMRick]

If we actually have to get off the plane and onto another, we get two boarding passes (which mean we get the second one in advance of the 24 hours). If we are just touching down, and taking on more passengers, we stay on the plane and only get one boarding pass.

 

[Brer Chump]

As stated above this is known as "hidden city ticketing". See here for a good explanation This is forbidden in most cases but according to Southwest's "Customer Service Commitment", it states

"With respect to all of our fares, Southwest Airlines does not prohibit or penalize what is commonly known as “hidden city” ticketing, nor does it prohibit or penalize what is commonly known as “back to back” ticketing. “Hidden city” and “back to back” reservations and tickets are authorized for travel on Southwest Airlines. It is important to note that your luggage will be checked to the final destination as shown in your reservation record. Should you choose to deplane at a stopover or connection point, you will be responsible for making arrangements to have your luggage delivered to you. Southwest will not entertain a lost or delayed baggage claim or interim expenses in this circumstance."

So it looks like as long as you carry-on only you should be OK. I would copy there Service Commitment just in case its needed.

 

[sweetmonkey]

On SW, you essentially buy two one-way tickets. If you can get away with only taking carry-on luggage, buy the cheeper fare going (FTL), coming back pay the higher price from MCO. Then you have split the difference and you can board with no problem.

I have flown with SW many times. If you deboard it is OK, at stopover they do a head count for this purpose (according to the flight attendant I asked) so that they can fill the second leg with any standbys. I fly from AUS to OKC and stop in DAL regularly. She said that sometimes people buy flights from Houston through (but not as a final destination) DAL so that they can take advantage of the cheaper flight from DAL (their hub).

Another thought is paying a few extra dollors to ship a box to your hotel beforehand. It might cost you 15-20 bucks but for several people that could save you in the long run. . .

I hope that helps!

Beth

 

[CarolA]

As stated above this is known as "hidden city ticketing". See here for a good explanation This is forbidden in most cases but according to Southwest's "Customer Service Commitment", it states

"With respect to all of our fares, Southwest Airlines does not prohibit or penalize what is commonly known as “hidden city” ticketing, nor does it prohibit or penalize what is commonly known as “back to back” ticketing. “Hidden city” and “back to back” reservations and tickets are authorized for travel on Southwest Airlines. It is important to note that your luggage will be checked to the final destination as shown in your reservation record. Should you choose to deplane at a stopover or connection point, you will be responsible for making arrangements to have your luggage delivered to you. Southwest will not entertain a lost or delayed baggage claim or interim expenses in this circumstance."

So it looks like as long as you carry-on only you should be OK. I would copy there Service Commitment just in case its needed.

And this is UNIQUE in the airline industry. Don't try this on Delta, USAir etc.... On a roundtrip ticket you will find you have NO flights home. If you do it too often you may find that a "charge" suddenly appears on your credit card. A "upgrade" fee to a one way between your home town and MCO!