scdreamer

I am traveling to Europe in 2015 - from the US to Prague and then three weeks later returning from Vienna.

I have just enough air-miles to book business class for the flight to Prague.

When I look at one-way flights back to the US from Vienna, they are more expensive than round trip - by quite a lot.

What would happen if I booked the round trip (Vienna to US and back), and then just didn't use the return ticket to Vienna? I have a US passport, if that makes any difference.

NoFlyZone

Why don't you just book an open jaw with US to Prague and then Vienna back to the US? Should be pretty much the same price as a Prague round trip ticket.

scdreamer

Because I have miles to get to Prague, but not enough to do the round trip open jaw.

NoFlyZone

Ah, for some reason my head was in the Delta program where a one way is the same price/miles as a round trip (at least for now).

But you should have no problem skipping the return US-Vienna (passport is irrelevant). Technically it's not permitted by the airlines but they always seem to overlook single, random occurrences. The only caveat is to be sure the ticket is to your final destination in the US as that's where any checked bags will go; so no jumping off at any intermediate airport.

eliztravels2

Any likelihood you will want to/need to go back to Europe in the next year? You could book the 'return' trip many months out and then wait and see. Or what if after you are back in the US you cancel your return portion? Would you at least get fees and taxes back? (Opinions vary on this question on a recent thread).

NoFlyZone

The first part of eliztravels' advice is good but if you don't use the return portion do not cancel it. That will leave you open to their repricing the travel as a one way for which you did not pay the required fare and could try really hard to hit you up for the difference. They will simply retain the fees and taxes in the first place and if you have a FF account with that airline it could be cancelled and any remaining benefits lost and miles confiscated. So just be happy with the up front saving and forget about getting the fees and taxes back.

Cowboy1968

From Vienna you could check AirBerlin's airfares (probably with one stop). They usually charge per leg, so you can book one-ways without a penalty surcharge.

janisj

NoFlyZone's info is really important.. Do NOT notify the airline you aren't going to use the return ticket.

eliztravels2

Thanks for the clarification. You never know when this information might become relevant.

Sojourntraveller

I find it hard to accept that a one way ticket from Vienna back to the USA cannot be found that is as cheap or cheaper than a return ticket.

I agree you can just throw the return portion away without much real risk but before going down that road I would do a bit more searching for a cheap one way ticket home. In the past, buying a return and throwing away the return portion was common but since the advent of LCCs (low cost carriers) and one way pricing that many of them use, there are fewer instances where returns are cheaper than one ways.

For example, LCCs like Air Transat or Air Berlin price all their tickets one way. A return is simply the addition of two one way ticket prices. So a one way will always be cheaper than a return.

You might find the best deal with an LCC like Air Berlin. A one way Vienna to JFK today is $869 while a return is $1243.

You don't say where you are flying home to, what airlines you have looked at and what return ticket price you have found for what date. How can anyone actually know if just talking about throwing the return way is the right question to answer for you or not? I for one am not ready to ASSUME you cannot find a cheaper one way ticket.

Caliban

Get the farthest future time for the return ticket. If you decide in the future to use it, you have a ticket for the price of a change fee.

kybourbon

Check Aerlingus for one way flights also.

clevelandbrown

Airlines have one way to market their products in the US, but ofter a very different way to market their products in Europe. It is almost like they are separate companies. So a flight from Boston to Berlin and back may have a different price than a flight from Berlin to Boston and back, and one way tickets bought in the US may be expensive, while the identical ticket bought in Europe may be reasonable.

I've not tried it, but I have sometimes been tempted to shop for a ticket while I was in Europe. Most posters here seem to be American. I wonder if a European poster has any information on this? I know the airlines' web sites have a place where you identify your location, and they offer an option to change it.

clarkgriswold

Let us know what prices you've encountered and month of travel. Maybe we can help you find a good one-way fare. Check with tfitours.com for example.

While one way fares to your particular city might be high...there may be very low fares into maybe JFK or Atlanta or Los Angeles....you could book one along with a cheap domestic fare to your actual final city.

NeoPatrick

I'm waiting for the people to post here screaming about the unfairness and dishonesty of all this. When I mentioned I've booked a table for two in a restaurant when I knew it was just going to be me, some screamed bloody murder and one even said if she did anything that dishonest she'd never be able to sleep nights! God knows what those people would do booking a round trip international ticket knowing they aren't going to make the return!

Sojourntraveller

I don't see the connection NeoPatrick. Booking a return and not using it is like paying for 2 apples and only eating one. Booking a table for two is like saying, 'I'm going to pay for 2 apples' and then only paying for one.

NeoPatrick

But more importantly, sojourntraveller, there are specific penalties for doing the single trip when booking a round trip. If you are found out there IS a major penalty. In other words it is definitely WRONG to do it. But to my knowledge the single diner thing does not come with any penalties -- it's a much more minor infraction. If it were a big deal to the restaurants as the other is to airlines, then restaurants would charge a fine to do it.