Can I trick the airlines?
Nov 14th, 2006, 06:47 PM
#1
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Can I trick the airlines?
Ok, so say I want to fly into London and out of Frankfurt. Airfare to Germany on American Airlines is relatively cheap right now. SLC>FRA in May is $673, while SLC>LON is $200 more. American connects in London, so what would happen if I just got off the plane in London without finishing my flight to Frankfurt? I know they do counts and things, so they might figure out that I had gotten off, but would it have any consequences? Obviously I couldn't check any bags, but that's how I like to travel anyway. Any ideas as to whether this would be a problem?
Nov 14th, 2006, 06:59 PM
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Oops, I got a detail wrong: it's flying into Berlin that American connects through London. But it's the same concept, and something I've been wondering about. I'm thinking it shouldn't be a problem. Ideas?
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:05 PM
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Hmm, that wouldn't be good! So I guess they would have to discover it during the head count in London, right? And then, finding the wrong number of passengers, they would ask for everyone's ID or ticket?
Kind of a strange little scenario I guess, but I'm always looking for a way to save some money. Not if it means having my return flight cancelled, though!
Kind of a strange little scenario I guess, but I'm always looking for a way to save some money. Not if it means having my return flight cancelled, though!
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:35 PM
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Why would they cancel the return flight?? People miss flights all the time.
As I travel pretty often for my company, I know that the cheapest way to book a flight is sometimes to buy a "complete package" (2 way when you don't need it, or some obscure combination) in order to get a cheaper price for a particular flight leg and then not use one of the coupons. I've never seen any "consequences".
As I travel pretty often for my company, I know that the cheapest way to book a flight is sometimes to buy a "complete package" (2 way when you don't need it, or some obscure combination) in order to get a cheaper price for a particular flight leg and then not use one of the coupons. I've never seen any "consequences".
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:37 PM
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Your boarding pass is scanned before you step onto the jetway so the computer would identify who was checked-in for the flight but didn't actually board.
I can't imagine a scenario where you could do this. If you got ill in the London airport and couldn't get on the plane and begged them to not cancel your return flight (Berlin to SLC), would they cut you a break? I don't think so since I believe these are FAA guidelines and not really at the airlines' discretion -- but an airline employee (or someone who works in the industry) would be the best source for info on this. rkwan? paging rkwan?
I can't imagine a scenario where you could do this. If you got ill in the London airport and couldn't get on the plane and begged them to not cancel your return flight (Berlin to SLC), would they cut you a break? I don't think so since I believe these are FAA guidelines and not really at the airlines' discretion -- but an airline employee (or someone who works in the industry) would be the best source for info on this. rkwan? paging rkwan?
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:44 PM
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Separate bookings would have no consequences since you're usually tossing the return flight and flying separate airlines.
But if you miss a flight segment on a single itinerary, it generally cancels the rest of your segments unless a gate agent re-books your ticket. People miss flights all the time (flat tire rule) but they generally fly later that day. If the fare rules are very rigid, the remaining segments would be cancelled and you'd have to re-purchase based on current fares. Anyway, that's what I've been told...
But if you miss a flight segment on a single itinerary, it generally cancels the rest of your segments unless a gate agent re-books your ticket. People miss flights all the time (flat tire rule) but they generally fly later that day. If the fare rules are very rigid, the remaining segments would be cancelled and you'd have to re-purchase based on current fares. Anyway, that's what I've been told...
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:45 PM
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About ten years ago, my Dad flew round trip from SFO->LHR. It was nonstop and that was his intended destination. He arrived fine. On the way back, he had a ton of trouble because they had canceled his flight because they said he was not on the inbound flight (obviously he was!). I know this scenario is different, but he had to prove he was on the flight to London in order to get on his homebound flight without paying for another ticket.
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:51 PM
#11
The entire balance of the itinerary will be cancelled once you no-show for a segment. This is called a "hidden city" fare and the airlines all prohibit the practice, and they enforce it.
Here's what AA says...
<i>Purchasing a ticket to a point beyond the actual destination and getting off the aircraft at the connecting point is unethical. It is tantamount to switching price tags to obtain a lower price on goods sold at department stores. Passengers who attempt to use hidden city tickets may be denied boarding, have the remainder of their ticket confiscated and may be assessed the difference between the fare paid and the lowest applicable fare.... Both tariff rule 100AA and American's Condition of Carriage, which are incorporated into every ticket sold by American as part of our agreement to carry the passenger named on the ticket, bar hidden city ticketing. In addition, it violates the [selling travel] agencys' contract to act as an agent for American Airlines.</i>
Note "may" should be translated as "will" in most cases.
Here's what AA says...
<i>Purchasing a ticket to a point beyond the actual destination and getting off the aircraft at the connecting point is unethical. It is tantamount to switching price tags to obtain a lower price on goods sold at department stores. Passengers who attempt to use hidden city tickets may be denied boarding, have the remainder of their ticket confiscated and may be assessed the difference between the fare paid and the lowest applicable fare.... Both tariff rule 100AA and American's Condition of Carriage, which are incorporated into every ticket sold by American as part of our agreement to carry the passenger named on the ticket, bar hidden city ticketing. In addition, it violates the [selling travel] agencys' contract to act as an agent for American Airlines.</i>
Note "may" should be translated as "will" in most cases.
Nov 14th, 2006, 07:56 PM
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Perhaps in the past ok but doubt it now. You must pass customs and immigration ! They WILL look at your ticket ! Hard to explain and they WILL be suspicious ! During these times you are guilty until proven innocent ! Missed flight story ? They will likely give you a VERY limited pass and have you seen the movie Midnight Express ? Visited Bagdad once during Saddams reign without a visa and spent the night face down with an antique machine gun in my back until I was escorted on board the Scandanavian Airlines that had given me a free inaugural flight ticket. They " forgot " to tell me a visa was required. I lived to tell this story. Since you are stopping in London perhaps you will live with a story to tell too !
Nov 14th, 2006, 08:56 PM
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<i>Purchasing a ticket to a point beyond the actual destination and getting off the aircraft at the connecting point is unethical. It is tantamount to</i>
ordered a prix fixe meal and not eating one of the courses.
ordered a prix fixe meal and not eating one of the courses.
Nov 14th, 2006, 11:00 PM
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I may be wrong here but....
OK, you get on a flight in the USA bound for Germany but with a stop over at London. I assume that when the steward/ess comes around with the Landing Card for non-EU citizens, you'll take one and make a false claim in that you will give your destination details as the UK but your ticket will show Germany?
This means that you will have technically entered the UK as an illegal immigrant because if caught, the UK immigration service will be very suspicious of why you just didn't buy a ticket for London direct (now, if you were Albanian or something, you could just stroll into the UK, usually with a little help from the French, and just disappear from the records with a hefty monthly payout by our kind Social Services).
Also, as others have pointed out, your return portion would have been cancelled.
Out of interest, how would you have completed your journey if the return wasn't cancellled? Would you have made it to Germany (negating the $200 saving) to start your homeward journey or just rolled up in Heathrow with a ticket from Germany? I suggest that you would be arrested on the spot and the man with the rubber gloves would pay you a visit! The good part, though, is that you would get deported - so the cancellation of the return portion wouldn't matter!
In fact, thinking of it again, you'd probably get away with it - as well as getting a nice extended visit in the cells at Heathrow.
Nice question.
OK, you get on a flight in the USA bound for Germany but with a stop over at London. I assume that when the steward/ess comes around with the Landing Card for non-EU citizens, you'll take one and make a false claim in that you will give your destination details as the UK but your ticket will show Germany?
This means that you will have technically entered the UK as an illegal immigrant because if caught, the UK immigration service will be very suspicious of why you just didn't buy a ticket for London direct (now, if you were Albanian or something, you could just stroll into the UK, usually with a little help from the French, and just disappear from the records with a hefty monthly payout by our kind Social Services).
Also, as others have pointed out, your return portion would have been cancelled.
Out of interest, how would you have completed your journey if the return wasn't cancellled? Would you have made it to Germany (negating the $200 saving) to start your homeward journey or just rolled up in Heathrow with a ticket from Germany? I suggest that you would be arrested on the spot and the man with the rubber gloves would pay you a visit! The good part, though, is that you would get deported - so the cancellation of the return portion wouldn't matter!
In fact, thinking of it again, you'd probably get away with it - as well as getting a nice extended visit in the cells at Heathrow.
Nice question.
Nov 15th, 2006, 12:02 AM
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I've no idea what American Airlines' policy is on this, but let's get rid of a couple of misconceptions here.
It's downright preposterous to fantasise you'll be illegal because you're not following some foreign airline's revenue-protection policy, and you most certainly won't be lying (or becoming ILLEGAL) when you fill in the UK landing card. UK immigration might ask to see your ticket: if they do, they'll ask about the discrepancy, and might ask a few more questions if you ring any terrorist or likely overstayer bells. Otherwise they won't give a flying four x.
American Airlines don't operate flights from Salt Lake City to Berlin. You don't just change flight numbers in London: you change plane, airline and terminal, however hard the airline may try to mislead you into thinking something else. There's no headcounting involved in all this: you have to check in for a separate flight. If you don't, the airline will immediately know: the experts above no doubt understand what then happens better than I do.
It's downright preposterous to fantasise you'll be illegal because you're not following some foreign airline's revenue-protection policy, and you most certainly won't be lying (or becoming ILLEGAL) when you fill in the UK landing card. UK immigration might ask to see your ticket: if they do, they'll ask about the discrepancy, and might ask a few more questions if you ring any terrorist or likely overstayer bells. Otherwise they won't give a flying four x.
American Airlines don't operate flights from Salt Lake City to Berlin. You don't just change flight numbers in London: you change plane, airline and terminal, however hard the airline may try to mislead you into thinking something else. There's no headcounting involved in all this: you have to check in for a separate flight. If you don't, the airline will immediately know: the experts above no doubt understand what then happens better than I do.
Nov 15th, 2006, 12:33 AM
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"May" should be translated as "will" in most cases.... I assume this is the poster's "interpretation"..right?
There is a very good reason why the word "may" is used as well as the word "unethical" rather than "illegal"....this is the loophole for the airline to enforce the policy as it sees fit.
There is a very good reason why the word "may" is used as well as the word "unethical" rather than "illegal"....this is the loophole for the airline to enforce the policy as it sees fit.
Nov 15th, 2006, 03:43 AM
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Hi C,
As noted, your plan is contrary to the Conditions of Carriage and is likely to cause your return ticket(s) to be cancelled.
Also, in the post 9/11 world, I don't think that you woould want to do anything that would make the security people concerned about you.
As noted, your plan is contrary to the Conditions of Carriage and is likely to cause your return ticket(s) to be cancelled.
Also, in the post 9/11 world, I don't think that you woould want to do anything that would make the security people concerned about you.
Nov 15th, 2006, 03:48 AM
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If it was all one ticket they would cancel your return. If you do not complete all segments your ticket is invalid. I would not risk it just to save $200. If it does not work out then you would end up paying $$$ to get home.
Also, in this day and age do you really want to do anything "weird" when flying ?
Also, in this day and age do you really want to do anything "weird" when flying ?
