I just purchased my first 'back to back' ticket. One thru Orbitz and one thru Expedia. Madison to Los angeles, no Saturday night stay. I paid about 1500.00 less than booking one ticket. I get miles on both the directions I use too. This is slick. My travel agent told me to do it when I gasped at the price she had.

This is good! Screw those huge 'business' fares! I'm going to do this too you can be sure.

Back to backs are old news people. A great way to save money and be at home with the kids on weekends. Travel agents didn't (don't) want to do them because of the liability but booking on the web makes it a breeze. Use 2 different airlines. Sometimes you get better schedules too. As a small business owner I look for every opportunity.

<BR>What exactly is a back to back ticket?

Back-to-backs are really two round trips.<BR><BR>Let's say you want to go from NY to LA, but neither wish to stay over Sat nite, nor pay the higher fare when not staying over. And you plan trips more than once.<BR><BR>I buy a round trip from NYC to LA, leave NYC Mon June 10 returning Fri June 21. Then I purchase a round trip LA to NYC, departing LA Fri June 14, returning Mon June 17<BR><BR>So I get the round-trip Saturday night stayover rate, but never spend the weekend. The airlines hate it!

I don't care if the airlines hate people not paying 2000.00 for a 4 day trip accross the country, or to the next state. They invented these stupid rules to gouge business people. There is absolutely nothing they can do about us circumventing their policies and saving huge money. Hey I had an AA reservation agent even suggest it. Wonder if she still has a job?

I had a client who had been doing B to B and Hidden cities for quite a while.<BR>I told them never to interact with the airline. His wife called gripping about missing FF miles, they caught all of the illegal bookings and charged the $32,000.<BR>If you do it, do the outbound on one airline and return on another.<BR>Or use 2 different agents or 2 websites to avoid being caught.

The only problems are:

Ooops!<BR>The only problems are:<BR>1. It's dishonest.<BR>2. It's a violation of your contract.<BR>3. It results in overbooking of flights.<BR>4. It results in higher airfares for yourself and others down the line.<BR>5. It's dishonest.<BR>But, you save yourself some money and that's all that's important to you.

But it's not illegal. Many online sites encourage such practices even. The airlines also encourage such practices by keeping 'business' fares so high. On line reservations that are 'held' but not ticketed are the most responsible for over sold flights. The airlines receive money for the unused flights and sell the seats again. More realistic pricing, less internet 'dumping' of fares could solve the problem, but then we might find that liesure people won't buy tickets unless they are sold below cost.

Until airlines end their ridiculous policy of making one-way travel more expensive than return, anything's fair game IMO.<BR><BR>The airlines are colluding to screw me. Why shouldn't I defend myself???<BR><BR>Andre

Travel proffesional-<BR>And what law did the airline use to collect the $32,000? How exactly can the airline prove it's case in court?<BR>Please!!! don't start urban legends,<BR>you IDIOT!!!!

"Travel Professional" -- I think we've got your number. That had to be a fascinating lawsuit and should have made it to the papers -- otherwise, you're telling us the airlines got together and intimidated this otherwise savvy traveler so much, he coughed up $32,000 without a fuss.<BR><BR>The airlines want you to think this is illegal. But if you are booking with two different airlines -- and esp. if you call to release your return seat as if you were changing your plans and wanted to use the return half at a later date by paying them a "destination change penalty fee" in the future (which you never do, because you never rebook that leg) -- it's legal, eagle. And if you've released the seat, they may even get MORE revenue, because they can re-sell it.<BR><BR>Even if you are using the same airline to double book "enveloping" flights to cover two different round-trips to avoid that IDIOTIC Sat. night stay, they are at least getting the revenue and the seats filled.<BR><BR>I'm with everyone else who feels the airlines have set themselves up for this with their Byzantine fare structures and requirements, and until they get rid of that, they can just hum and shuffle if they don't like smart travelers figuring out how to work the system.

Just remember all your scams when you want to know why the fares are so high and your flight is oversold.<BR>Glad there are so many "savvy" travelers out there. Pretty humorous actually.

COboy, It is no surprise that you buy into the airline propaganda that b2b's cause over selling and higher fares. You probably haven't flown Southwest lately where b2b's are unnecessary...their loads are up and they have been profitable ever quarter since the first flight. Can Continental or any other 'major' say the same? How come every 'major' matches Southwest in the markets they fly? Read a tariff rule recently? Page after page of jargon that ultimately says we make the rules, we interpret the rules, you pay for the rules. Go ask for some more taxpayer dollars so you can get a pay raise and keep flying. Now, THAT would be amusing if it wern't my pocket you keep dipping into.

Poor, deluded Henry. I'm so glad that you are here to tell me how the airlines work. It's interesting that you know everything about them. NOT. A little advice though, try to become more educated on your topics that you post and quit trying to compare apples to oranges.<BR>BTW, we are getting a raise come July 1st. Bet that puts your panties in a tighter wad. Don't try to reply, it would only bunch them up more. Besides, there is nothing new that you can tell me about the aviation industry. Enjoy your seat on the tin can with your bag of peanuts and your coke and shut-up.

Your attitude COboy, and those of many of your coworkers, is one reason I don't like flying Continental. Enjoy your raise, keep trying to increase your fares. I'll spend my money elsewhere. PS I like SW too.

Gordon Bethune, CEO of Continental, stated the the airlines are 'a stupid industry run by stupid people'. I guess they hire stupid people too? It certainly isn't an industry that considers service important. Back to backs are here to stay as long as the fare policies are 'broken'.

Hey, I thought CO flew 'tin cans' and served peanuts too? It must be nice to know everythng about the airline industry except how to be pleasant and offer good service.

I don't think COboy is who he says he is. And why is it so hard to figure out that the fare structure makes no sense whatsoever from the passenger's point of view, so of course the passenger is going to try to do what does make sense?<BR><BR>If airlines don't want to lose money on the over-Saturday night bargain fares, then why not get rid of the Sat. requirement and even things up? <BR><BR>As for what's legal? It's my money and my choice which airline to fly. It should at least be my choice what day to fly. If I pay for a round-trip ticket, it's my choice whether to use two legs, one legs, or no legs of the trip. If what I paid didn't cover your costs, look at your own friggin' system!