I once had a 4-legs trip from USA to Canada, and cancelled leg # 3. No problem. I took a train instead of this leg. Don't remember if they asked me to show the train ticket. But this was eons ago, in 1999.

GypsyHeart, "I have never heard of the airlines charging you more for not taking the return"

You said $50 to $100 more for not taking the return. Your numbers don't, I mean do add up!

jorr - I think GypsyHeart's post is pretty clear. If you just don't show up for the return, you won't get charge extra. But if you want to change the return flight to a future date, then you'll pay the change fee.

A four-legs trip, Faina? You mean it was on a horse?

Is this true for international trips as well ?? (such as U.S to Mexico). Could you use only one part of a RT ticket and then not use the rest (come back on another ticket or by bus, boat, etc. - basically not show up). This being aware of visas, etc.

i do not understand the airline apologists in our midst. i've booked return trips for one way travel many times. i do not care about the illogical procedures that airlines use to bilk people out of higher fares. i wish they would all go under and entrepreneuers would start anew.

Faina, please stop traveling by leg. Car, train or plane is much more comfortable.

I know someone who routinely books round trip tickets and does not use the return and has being doing so on the same airline for years. This person has even booked overlapping RT tickets with Sat night stays on each ticket to get lowest rate and then does not use the return on either ticket. Apparently it is still cheaper than a midweek RT. And yes the airline has never figured it out.

Jorr wrote "Does that make sence or am I still missing something?"

You're still missing something.

You are assuming that a one way flight is just as popular with passengers and just as easy to fill/sell. It isn't. Most people, especially vacationers, plan on returning home when the vacation is over, so they need a return flight as well. Tying up seats with one way and preventing the sale of round trips with seats both ways costs the airline revenue.

You can't skip the first leg because it cancels the rest of the ticket.

You can skip the very last leg.