Throw away ticketing

[GeezerCouple]

Yes; they're generally violations of the contract of carriage. Here's Delta's summary page for example. Note they call it "point beyond" ticketing instead of "hidden city," but it's the same thing.

 

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/planning-a-trip/booking-information/fare-classes-and-tickets/ticket-rules-restrictions.html

 

Thanks.

 

It's been discussed enough (here and elsewhere) that I figured there had to be real rules, but I hadn't ever seen them.

(Nor had I looked for any, I admit. :o )

 

Is anyone aware of *any* time there have been any sanctions for doing this?

I suppose that overall, it's not done very much, except perhaps by a few frequent users (?).

[Twickenham]

Is anyone aware of *any* time there have been any sanctions for doing this?

I suppose that overall, it's not done very much, except perhaps by a few frequent users (?).

 

Apparently, there's a whole website devoted to finding such deals. A very interesting blog here: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/21491531/why-airlines-hate-hidden-city-ticketing-and-maybe-you-should-too/

[Globaliser]

Is anyone aware of *any* time there have been any sanctions for doing this?

It's a hotly debated topic on some of the frequent flyer forums.

 

The one I read most often does have some evidence of action being taken by British Airways, although seldom against individuals doing only one or two.

 

The most high-profile recent action was taken against a travel agent which BA seems to have considered was complicit in a pattern of such behaviour; IIRC BA charged the agent something like £250,000 in lost fares and the agent almost went under.

 

Occasionally people report having their frequent flyer accounts put into audit for (supposedly) no good reason, and there are suspicions that this is sometimes done because of repeated use of hidden-city tickets. But there are other potential explanations: for example, an audit might well take place of a suspected trader in frequent flyer tickets.

 

And once in a blue moon, someone is honest about BA's complaint against them.

 

Nevertheless, you have to allow for the fact that someone who's doing something wrong and knows that they're doing something wrong is very unlikely to own up in public that they've been caught and punished/sanctioned. Posters on internet forums are more likely to trumpet (truthfully or not) that they've been clever and beaten the system and no ill has ever befallen them.

 

There is one anecdote, though, which is told from time to time in the course of these discussions, recounted by someone whose claimed personal history might have put them in a position to know about it. The story is that AA decided to take action against people doing this through DFW. So AA managers began to meet some of the inbound flights when they knew that a suspect was on board. They would identify them as they disembarked, and explain that they had noticed that the passenger seemed repeatedly to have real difficulty finding their way to the gate for their onward flight to wherever. So they (the AA managers) were there to escort them to the gate for their next flight. Of course, if the passenger had changed their mind and no longer wished to travel to wherever, they (the AA managers) were equally happy to escort them to the AA ticket desk where the ticket could be re-priced, they could pay the difference and then be on their way out of DFW airport.

 

Never mind the legalities of this: If you do it to someone once or twice, the deterrent effect for the future is likely to be huge. Only people with the thickest skins and the biggest appetites for continued confrontation would carry on doing this. And even then, they would be liable to lose all of their accrued frequent flyer benefits.

[frugaltravel]

I thought I read you couldn't short-check? How would that work anyway? The airlines would know for sure you weren't planning on taking your last leg.

 

Short checking your bag probably would not work, but when I do this on an international itinerary, I make a layover in the intermediate city (SFO in your case) of overnight but less than 24 hours. On international itineraries, a layover under 24 hours prices out the same as a same-day connection (except in some cases for a few extra dollars in taxes). This would be wise in your case for several reasons. Then your luggage would be checked through to SFO not YVR. Also, if there was an IROP, you could insist being flown to SFO not YVR since that would be your destination for that day.

[oceanmom]

Very frustrated that a one-way Business ticket on Delta this summer is just over $9,000 and the same flight as part of a round trip ticket is just under $3,500. Ridiculous-- they've lost my purchase of 3 Business tickets.:mad:

[6rugrats]

Very frustrated that a one-way Business ticket on Delta this summer is just over $9,000 and the same flight as part of a round trip ticket is just under $3,500. Ridiculous-- they've lost my purchase of 3 Business tickets.:mad:

 

Why not just buy roundtrips and not take the return?

[oceanmom]

Why not just buy roundtrips and not take the return?

 

Well, from reading the restrictions on the airline's webpage, that's a no-no. I'd be tempted to do so, but would like to maintain good relations with one of the big carriers. Now looking at buying the extra miles needed for the flights. Might as well use up the miles we've already accrued.

[6rugrats]

Well, from reading the restrictions on the airline's webpage, that's a no-no. I'd be tempted to do so, but would like to maintain good relations with one of the big carriers. Now looking at buying the extra miles needed for the flights. Might as well use up the miles we've already accrued.

 

People get sick, don't get to the airport on time, etc. and miss their flights every day. If you don't do this on a very frequent basis, nothing's going to happen.

[Gardyloo]

Now looking at buying the extra miles needed for the flights. Might as well use up the miles we've already accrued.

Exactly. As an example, even if you went with American's "AAnytime*" award, which guarantees you a seat on virtually any flight, the business class one-way "cost" in miles is 110,000 between North America and Europe. Even if you have to pay 2c per mile to buy all 110,000, that's still $2200 for a one-way business class ticket. And if you have some miles already in hand, less.

 

*As opposed to their "SAAver" awards which cost 57,500 miles but are very limited in availability.

 

I also urge checking this board on Flyertalk regularly - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premium-fare-deals-740/ . People report on good premium cabin deals - legitimate ones, not fly-by-night or mileage broker scams - all the time. Brush up on your carrier and airport codes to make things easier.

Edited January 27, 2017 by Gardyloo

[buggins0402]

Well, from reading the restrictions on the airline's webpage, that's a no-no. I'd be tempted to do so, but would like to maintain good relations with one of the big carriers. Now looking at buying the extra miles needed for the flights. Might as well use up the miles we've already accrued.

 

Unfortunately Delta doesn't have many sales for points purchase. American seems to run the sales the most and United from time to time.

 

When checking for low mile flights back, you might want to check other airports in the vicinity. For example, if you need a return from Barcelona, consider Madrid if it has some "saver" mile tickets. Trains are a great way to get around Europe and it can add a city to your itinerary that you might not see while cruising.

[fbgd]

Very frustrated that a one-way Business ticket on Delta this summer is just over $9,000 and the same flight as part of a round trip ticket is just under $3,500. Ridiculous-- they've lost my purchase of 3 Business tickets.:mad:

 

But who are you going to go with? All the majors price the same way for longhauls.

[oceanmom]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. This is why I like Cruise Critic.