multi airport not using one stage

steve1500

I have booked a multi airport flight Manchester to New York
New York to Boston return with American Airlines booked through BA

Have decided that I won't need the Boston to New York leg for the return flight.

Phoned BA on the off chance that I could get the money back for the Boston to New York leg.

They have told me that if I am not on the Boston to New York leg I will not be able to get on the NY to Manchester flight

Surely this cannot be right

Help Please

rpstdavids

It's correct, if you miss any leg of the booked flights the remaining ones will be cancelled automatically.

alanrowell

With the exception of low costs airlines like Ryanair & easyJet ALL airlines will cancel your booking if you miss a flight

steve1500

Is there a reason for them cancelling the rest of the ticket?

Especially if you tell them you don't want to use part of the ticket

Seems like a right CON.

torbrex

Rules is rules (sadly)
If need be they will quote security reasons to you but I'm afraid that you are stuck with it no matter what your argument might be.

alanrowell

steve1500 wrote: »

Is there a reason for them cancelling the rest of the ticket?

Especially if you tell them you don't want to use part of the ticket

Seems like a right CON.

It's been like that for decades. Google "hidden city ticketing".

An airline may offer a ticket from A to C via B that is cheaper than the ticket from B to C therefore to stop people buying A to C and getting on at B the airlines cancel the ticket as soon as you don't turn up at A.

They do it because between A & C there may be multiple routes operated by multiple airlines, therefore they price the ticket to undercut the opposition. On B to C it's less likely for there to be competition as B will tend to be an airline's hub therefore there is less need to offer cheap tickets

steve1500

I asked a load of people if they knew about it and none had a clue

Frightening to think if you bought a ticket from Manchester to Sydney via Heathrow and then decided you didn't want to use the Manchester to Heathrow for what ever reason

ferf1223

To be fair it's not something most people would ever even consider so not surprising that a lot of people don't know...usually only when pricing up flights and someone realises a fare is cheaper starting at a different destination and asks if they can just get on at point B and are told no...or when plans change and they want to drop a leg.

I learned about it years ago when living in Cincinnati and I wanted to fly to Vegas...it was loads cheaper to fly Indianapolis->Cincinnati->Vegas...exact same flight/plane Cincinnati->Vegas but almost $200 cheaper...for less miles flown, one less departure and landing...made no logical sense to me but supposed that airline pricings are based on supply and demand and I guess CVG->LAS was a more popular route and a direct flight...quick question to our company TA and told no, can't book from Indy and just get on at CVG so just booked the Indy option and paid for a hotel near the airport still saving nearly $150.

jacques_chirac

steve1500 wrote: »

I asked a load of people if they knew about it and none had a clue

Frightening to think if you bought a ticket from Manchester to Sydney via Heathrow and then decided you didn't want to use the Manchester to Heathrow for what ever reason

Not really 'frightening' is it? alanrowell has given an excellent explanation, it is to stop people manipulating the fares. The same happens on trains - if you book to St Pancras you can't leave the train at Luton, or board there on your return journey.

richardw

steve1500 wrote: »

.... a ticket from Manchester to Sydney via Heathrow....

That's actually a ticket from Manchester to Sydney.
A ticket from Heathrow to Sydney is different because Heathrow is a different market to Manchester, all things aren't the same.

alanrowell

steve1500 wrote: »

if you bought a ticket from Manchester to Sydney via Heathrow

Which could have been Manchester to Sydney via Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Dubai, Singapore...