Can you purposely miss a connection to make your flight cheaper?
I want to fly from Albuquerque to Atlanta (just one way). There is only one direct flight and it's $600. I can book a one-way ticket to Nashville though and I would be on the same Delta flight because it first connects in Atlanta before going onto Nashville. That ticket is only $128. If I carry on then just get off in Atlanta, can they go back and charge me the difference for missing my "connecting" flight from Atlanta to Nashville?
Air Travel - 4 Answers
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1 :
This is called throwaway ticketing. It is not allowed by the airlines, but can be done without repercussions if you do not make a habit of it. That is to say, you should be able to get away with it this one time. It helps that you're doing a one way ticket. If you skip a leg in the middle of a round trip itinerary, the rest of your reservation is also canceled. And no, it is very highly unlikely (like, it won't happen if you don't ask, don't tell) they will charge you the fare difference.
2 :
if it's a one way? sure! if it was a round trip, they would cancel all your onward reservations. Just remember, you can't check a bag, because the bag has to be checked to your "official" destination
3 :
I'm not sure from your question if the ABQ-BNA flight is a direct with a stop in ATL or if it is two aircraft (change of planes). So here are my answers for both examples: If it is a direct ABQ-BNA with a stop in ATL: You can, but you shouldn't. When they go to depart Atlanta for Nashville, their count will be off because you boarded in Albuquerque and should still be on the plane. That throws them into 9/11 mode of trying to find you, checking to see if you left something on the plane, etc. It will delay the flight, and you really don't want to do that since they have your ID info. If it is an ABQ-BNA with a change in ATL: No problem. When you don't show for the second flight, they won't sweat it. P.S. Yes, they really do go into panic mode if the count is off. I was on a plane where that happened.
4 :
Double check Delta's policy. In my years with a few different airlines, I've never heard of any airline charging a passenger for missing a flight period. They'll charge if you miss your flight and have to change it, but just to miss it and nothing else, there's no charge. As long as you pay the ticket price, I don't see anyone caring about you making your flight or not. You may want to give a courtesy notice in Atlanta to an agent, make something up like, "Hi, I have family here and there's been an issue I have to go deal with." Nothing too specific, they don't need great detail, just let them know so they don't waste time, and possibly delay the flight looking for you or anything. I've had people get off at a halfway point before, it's no big deal. I would just tell them the rules and charges they may have to pay if they want to use their flight again etc etc, note their record. But if you're going one-way, getting of at ATL and being done with it, you shouldn't have a problem. EDIT: Patricia is absolutely right about the plane change or not. If it's a continued flight with the same plane, they may freak, give the airline notice, talk to a gate agent or whoever you can find.
