Overseas Flights - cancelling internal connecting flight

watpoae

Hi all,

I recently booked trans-atlantic flights through BA, flying from Manchester.

The flights to the US are with American Airlines, however on the return journey I fly from Chicago to Heathrow, then I have a connecting flight operated by BA from Heathrow to Manchester.

However, on the day I return it's pretty likely that I'll have a meeting in London on that day so it'd be easier for me to just cancel the internal flight and pick up my bag at Heathrow instead of having to come back later in the day.

I've emailed BA this question so that I would have something in writing, however they advised me to call their contact centre. The gentleman I spoke to went away then came back and said he would advise just telling the check in lady in the US that I want to collect my bag at Heathrow as there may be a charge if I call BA prior to the flight to change it!

This seems crazy because by calling in advance they could then re-sell the ticket to some one else, thus making them more money!

Has anyone any experience on this? I'm not bothered about a refund and fine with having to pay my own rail / road journey home.. I just don't want to pay a change fee and/or my bag end up in Manchester!

Thanks all

photome

watpoae wrote: »

Hi all,

I recently booked trans-atlantic flights through BA, flying from Manchester.

The flights to the US are with American Airlines, however on the return journey I fly from Chicago to Heathrow, then I have a connecting flight operated by BA from Heathrow to Manchester.

However, on the day I return it's pretty likely that I'll have a meeting in London on that day so it'd be easier for me to just cancel the internal flight and pick up my bag at Heathrow instead of having to come back later in the day.

I've emailed BA this question so that I would have something in writing, however they advised me to call their contact centre. The gentleman I spoke to went away then came back and said he would advise just telling the check in lady in the US that I want to collect my bag at Heathrow as there may be a charge if I call BA prior to the flight to change it!

This seems crazy because by calling in advance they could then re-sell the ticket to some one else, thus making them more money!

Has anyone any experience on this? I'm not bothered about a refund and fine with having to pay my own rail / road journey home.. I just don't want to pay a change fee and/or my bag end up in Manchester!

Thanks all

There you go, thats the answer

I wouldnt worry about BA not being able to resell your ticket

Tojo_Ralph

When a ticket is booked without the intention of completing the final leg, it is, or at least used to be called "Hidden City Ticketing".

As to the consequences, reports vary, but the consensus of opinion is usually that it is a practice to be avoided with checked luggage. Try searching the phrase on Flyertalk.

As for the response from BA, "just tell staff when you check in at the airport" must be the No1 fob off in the airline industry.

MrsBunny

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

.

As for the response from BA, "just tell staff when you check in at the airport" must be the No1 fob off in the airline industry.

So true!! I have many travellers who terminate for meetings in london on return from america but they never check in any luggage.....asking to only label your bag to heathrow will alert them and they may ask you to pay to change your ticket...normally BA tickets are at least £100 change fee plus any increase in fare. As for any refunds for the Manchester segment....no chance!! Many regional add ons are free or £10/£20 more than ex London and BA will most likely charge you an Admin fee....its been a few years since I work in BA refunds. Best advice - do not check in luggage.

jpsartre

watpoae wrote: »

The gentleman I spoke to went away then came back and said he would advise just telling the check in lady in the US that I want to collect my bag at Heathrow

Most likely they will refuse to do this for you. What you're trying to do is against the terms and conditions of the ticket you bought. If you want to end your journey in LHR I suggest you either change your ticket and pay the fee or travel without checked luggage.

photome

It either looks like I am wrong or others are just trying to scare you, not sure which.

I have been trying trying to find posts where others have done exactly as suggested with no problems when flying back from the USA, i cant find them but have read them, at least i think i have

jpsartre

As long as you don't make a habit of it, you can usually skip the last leg without much consequence. The main problem for the OP is that he's travelling with checked luggage and airlines usually refuse to short-check this. So he is unlikely to be able to pick up his luggage in LHR.

watpoae

Thanks for the responses all.

My visit to the states is a holiday so I'll need to check in luggage unfortunately.

There's not a chance I'm paying £100 to NOT board a flight. That's lunacy. It's not like I want to change it for a later one or one the following day, I just want to disregard it and stay in London!

I appreciate the responses but surely they won't charge for this?!

jpsartre

Whether they will or not, it won't matter if they won't short-check your luggage. And I doubt they will do that for you.

Ticket prices are generally determined by supply and demand, not distance travelled. You'll be able to find plenty of cases where flying A-B-C is cheaper than just flying A-B. That's the main reason airlines frown upon hidden-city ticketing.

watpoae

I've just searched the flights again, making heathrow the final destination and they work out £20 cheaper.

What would people do then, wait until check in or contact them in advance once I know for certain?

Could the potential charge increase as it gets closer to the date or is it a set fee whether I cancel the internal flight now or when I know nearer the time?

Thanks all.

jpsartre

The change fee will be the same but you will need to pay the difference between the new and old fare which, on the day, is likely to be substantial. So if you're going to pay to make the change I would definitely do it sooner rather than later.

All of this is assuming a change is even possible. I don't know if BA will count the change as a change in destination, in which case they may insist on issuing a brand new ticket for you. In that case, the cost will likely depend on whether or not the ticket you bought is refundable (the cheapest tickets usually aren't). But you'll have to look at the terms and conditions of the ticket you bought or call BA to find out.