Returns cheaper than singles

ADC_3

Browsing ba.com recently for a flight from inverness back to england I noticed that single flights were generally about £210 but return flights were cheaper by about 33%. So if you are stuck with a premium cost airline cos no cheap airlines fly where you want to go try booking a return rather than a single. Then throw away the parts you don't need and save money.

Inverness to manchester single - £210, return £154.
Belfast to Manchester single - £112, return £78

You may have to try a few return dates to see which flights are cheapest but being as you're never going to use it it doesn't matter

HolyCow

I found this when trying to book a flight from Orlando to Manchester for my daughter. The only thing to beware of is that the part of the flight you discard must be the return leg as if no one turns up for the outward flight the return is automatically cancelled. I tried to argue that if I informed the airline that she would not be travelling out, only back, then they should keep the seat for her but they wouldn't have it. I had to book a return from Orlando to Manchester rather than the other way round (even though Manchester to Orlando return was cheaper). Still, it was cheaper than a single!!

alanrowell

Cheap return tickets are generally restricted to that flight & you can't get a refund.

Single tickets for the full cost airlines tend to be fully transferable and you can get a refund.

ADC_3

it's still cheaper than a single

Baz_Bee_2

You also need to be careful as some carriers T & C's say that if you book a return and only use one leg of it and the single fare is more expensive, then they reserve the right to take the difference off the card you used for payment of the booking.

Mr_Warren_2

Correct, they reserve the right to charge you for a single if you dont make the return. My advise is to cancel your Credit Card before the return date. They wont be able to get back to you.

MarkyMarkD

I don't think that advice is helpful, MrW. Even if you close a credit card account, they will still allow merchants to charge transactions to that account if they were authorised by you prior to the account's closure. And the credit card will continue to pursue you for the settlement of the debt.

Mr_Warren_2

Dont tend to agree with you. If we expand the discussion, the same happens for the Channel Tunnel. If you book a 24h return crossing, the deal is much cheaper than if you book returning in 2 weeks time. Many time in the past I have booked my 24h crossing out of the UK and done the same out of France (booking from the french website).

Although Eurotunnel warns you of higher costs etc. if you do not comply with the rule, they have never taken money retrospectively.

They would not have a leg to stand on in court.

So back to BA, the cancelling of the card is just a security measure. If BA charge you retrospectively, and admitting you have cancelled your card, the bank or Credit Card company will ask you if that transaction is/was approved. The answer is no of course.

BA cannot proove that you have not made your trip back. You can say that you choose another way to get back to your original destination bus, a lift from a friend etc.

The court would not look at this additional charge with a good eye.

The_Lambton_Worm

As of the new terror legislation, which became law last year i think, it is an offence to book return travel and only use one leg of that ticket.

In other words if you book a return ticket and then cancel one leg of the journey, you're in breach of contract and are governed by the T&Cs of the ticket.

If you fail to tell the carrier you're in breach of the above law and are liable to be arrested and charged with the possibility of facing a hefty fine and a prison sentence.

In both cases, you pay.

The_Lambton_Worm

Mr_Warren wrote:

BA cannot proove that you have not made your trip back. You can say that you choose another way to get back to your original destination bus, a lift from a friend etc.

You have a time restricted, unused return ticket. That sort of gives them a clue.

Baz_Bee_2

Notwithstanding what I posted above, I too consider that if you were charged for a single journey on a return ticket it may breach the Unfair Contract Terms legislation. ASfterall, if you went on the outward journey and then had to return home urgently, for say an family emergency, before you could use the return portion I do not trhink the Courts would support the taking of additional funds fromyour card.


Indeed, I would suspect that Court's would expect the travel provider to ascertain the situation before taking any action to recover additional charges, and the liklihood of them doing that is very remote.