BA Fares: Single costs MUCH more than Return

withabix

What happens if I don't take the return leg of a return flight?

BA currently want to sell me a single from Stornoway to Glasgow for £152.

However, booking the SAME flight from Stornoway as part of a return results in a TOTAL price for the return journey of £94, ie £47 each way.

So, if I buy a single, it is effectively THREE TIMES the price of one leg of the return journey price.

IF I ONLY TRAVEL ON THE OUTWARD LEG, CAN BA BILL ME IF I 'MISS' THE RETURN LEG???

I'm only trying to save £60...

amf

iainkirk wrote:

IF I ONLY TRAVEL ON THE OUTWARD LEG, CAN BA BILL ME IF I 'MISS' THE RETURN LEG???

Was it your fault the taxi got a puncture on the way to GLA? You should have no problems whatsoever. Different matter if you missed the outward flight - your return would automatically be cancelled and you would be very fortunate to avoid paying for the inbound sector.

coffeeandfags

Nothing will happen if you dont board the return flight.
Last year we went to Orlando but booked flights from Aberdeen to Gatwick return. Now silly me counted 14 days from the day we left and forgot that the UK is effectivley a day ahead of USA......oops!
I phoned BA and explained what id done but they refused to change my flight......only a new flight, which the lady explained would be cheaper if a booked a whole new return flight rather than a single.
We ended up booking a single with BMI which was around £300 cheaper than the BA single!

All they do is resell your seat if you dont turn up, and they dont care if no-one shows up coz they have the money for the seat regardless!

Coffeeandfags

jaimeo

Ive done the same LGW to BOD (bordeaux). Wanted to come home earlier, BA would not change it so i went with BMI.

Why would they bill you if you have paid for the ticket?

Did i get lucky?

J

withabix

Then why is a single 63% more than a return and 3 times that of half a return???

Maybe that's why the Stornoway flights are half empty all the time!

alanrowell

iainkirk wrote:

Then why is a single 63% more than a return and 3 times that of half a return???

Maybe that's why the Stornoway flights are half empty all the time!

Because the single ticket will have few, if any, restrictions on it and can be used on that route anytime - you can even get a full refund.

The return ticket will generally be restricted to those flights and you can't change them without paying a lot more and you don't get refunds either.

nelly_2

Happened to me with that lot too.

I phoned them and said whats the score with this? and the lad said they lose out if they dont get me on the return leg, which by the way he couldnt explain in any way shape or form. My reply was well youve lost out totaly because im going some other airline. Makes no sense to me a payed seat verses an empty seat 1 way or return has got to be better financialy.

la_contrabandier

its quite simply a rip-off, the low cost airlines dont do it

another problem because of people buying seats on planes they dont use, is that BA overbook flights because they belive some will not turn up for every flight

what happens if your flight is overbooked, first come first served?

use low cost airlines every time, prices with BA will drop and single fare rip-offs will be a thing of the past

pin

It's just not BA who does this, remember train companies also do this.

Mind you the sound of restricted non-refundable, cheap single is interesting though.

amf

la_contrabandier wrote:

another problem because of people buying seats on planes they dont use, is that BA overbook flights because they belive some will not turn up for every flight

what happens if your flight is overbooked, first come first served?

use low cost airlines every time, prices with BA will drop and single fare rip-offs will be a thing of the past

If your flight is overbooked the likelihood is that the flight will take off with spare seats....that is the reality. If, and this is unlikely, more passengers turn up than are seats available the airline will look for VDBs (voluntarily denied boarding) to go on the next flight. If there are not enough VDBs it is first come first served with a generous compensation level for those bumped.....http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_046/l_04620040217en00010007.pdf.

Also note that certain non locos....bmi for instance....offer fares on a per sector basis.

brodev

I know that ferries are not planes but I once booked a day return Portsmouth/Le Harve for 2 people and a car for £40. The single was over £100 dearer. I did not use the return and nothing more happened. I think that it is an urban myth that the cos. chrge you for a single if you dont use the return