SW - Getting off plane early

[Mickey's Minion]

Never mind. Got my answer.

Seems we may have a few families stuck without return trips

 

[dudspizza]

Never mind. Got my answer.

Seems we may have a few families stuck without return trips

Gotta love posts like this....... sure would be nice what the question was.

I am guessing OP was wondering if they could get off when the airplane makes a scheduled stop, essentially not finishing the flight... which in turn would void any return ticket......

Anyone else want to play along?

 

[crashbb]

Gotta love posts like this....... sure would be nice what the question was.

I am guessing OP was wondering if they could get off when the airplane makes a scheduled stop, essentially not finishing the flight... which in turn would void any return ticket......

Anyone else want to play along?

Basically (I read the original post).

However, I *thought* that SW was the only (one of the only?) airline that actually didn't care about hidden city tickets. If so, no one is going to be left without a return flight.

 

[DebbieB]

Basically (I read the original post).

However, I *thought* that SW was the only (one of the only?) airline that actually didn't care about hidden city tickets. If so, no one is going to be left without a return flight.

You could also book 2 one ways so that your return is not connected to your outbound. I'm sure SW cares about hidden city ticketing, they would be losing money if people started using it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yep, that's right; SWA *is* the only airline that won't cancel your entire itinerary if you do a hidden-city booking; however, that really isn't what this is, at least not on the return itinerary. It is only a hidden-city if the leg you miss if the second one. If the leg you miss is the first one, you are just a no-show.

SWA, alone among US carriers, will not cancel your return reservation when you don't show up for the second leg of the outbound flight. However, they will cancel the second leg of the return itinerary when you don't show up for the first leg of it, because then you will be considered a no-show. You *could* try calling SWA right about the time the first leg is taking off and telling them that you decided to drive to the layover airport instead; they might not cancel it in that case if you get to them in time, but there is no guarantee.

If the family had booked a one-way flight from (imaginary cities) Ajax to Bonny to Clove, but gotten off at Bonny on a one-way, no problem, provided that they had no checked baggage, and the return ticket was separately booked as something like Bonny to Ajax to Devo, getting off at Ajax.

To the OP, I suggest that your problem parties call the airline and try to split their RT reservations into two separate one-ways (they usually can do this if asked.) Then go online and cancel the return itinerary, and then use the credit to book a return flight on which they will not be skipping the first leg!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Gotta love posts like this....... sure would be nice what the question was.

I am guessing OP was wondering if they could get off when the airplane makes a scheduled stop, essentially not finishing the flight... which in turn would void any return ticket......

Anyone else want to play along?

Exactly. We are traveling with a group - about 600 people - early next year (kid's sporting event). Each family has to make their own travel arrangements. so naturally, there are a bunch of stories floating around on how to maximize savings.

Background. We are flying from one major airport (A) to another major airport (B). Currently, Southwest's one way ticket for that leg is $136.00. However, the flight continues on to a small airport. To buy the entire flight
City A-----> stop over at City B-------> City C
is substantially cheaper. Yesterday, there was a DING for only $56.00 one way for the entire A-B-C, in essence creating an $80.00 discount for the one way trip if you buy the whole thing, but deplane at city B rather than the booked city C.

Several families have stated that they always buy the one way Southwest ticket from City A to City C, but deplane at City B, where we need to be. Even without a Ding, it is still a substantially cheaper way to go.

In my original post, I thought they were buying round trips, but it was later clarified, as Debbie suggested, (e-mails between parents were flying yesterday due to the ding) that they were buying the one way from cities A-B-C and then using a separate reservation for the more expensive B-A return trip. They claim that because it was a one way ticket, their return ticket (which is the more expensive B-A) would not be affected.

As for luggage, they use carry on due to it being a quick weekend turnaround.

This sounded very, very suspect to me, so I wanted to ask the oh-so-very knowledgeable people here if Southwest really can't touch their return tickets since they are separate reservations. But I did have to ask as with 6 people in our group flying, $80.00 per person would have been a nice chunk of change to save.

I was also concerned that due to what happened the other day, Southwest might all of a sudden become a bit more concerned about who gets off a plane where and that carry on might be limited further.

But now reading some of your responses, perhaps it is worth waiting for the next DING (they are quite common) and go this route.

 

[DebbieB]

One thing I would be concerned with is if there is a mechanical or weather delay with the first flight. Say it's A to B to C and you want to get off at B, they may rebook you A to D to C. In their minds, they just want to get you to C.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

One thing I would be concerned with is if there is a mechanical or weather delay with the first flight. Say it's A to B to C and you want to get off at B, they may rebook you A to D to C. In their minds, they just want to get you to C.

They will still have to get people to B as they are also selling just the A-B portion.

Flight A-B is flight number "39", as is the flight A-B-C. Going to city C is a continuing flight.

So, if I buy flight "39" from just A to B, I pay $136. If one buys flight "39", but have it continue on to "C", one pays about 50% less.

But you are correct that if they need to reroute the plane D and then splitting it up, using different planes for passengers booked to B and passengers booked to C, I would have a problem convincing Southwest I really wanted to be rerouted to B instead of C. Good point.

 

[Brer Chump]

I thought that when a question was asked about leaving a plane early, the word parachute is usually in the answer.