What happens if I book a round trip plane ticket, but only go one way?
 

We are thinking of taking a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome, Italy in a few months. Since we'd have to get back home we only need a one way ticket back, so I checked on prices.

The one way tickets are $1400 per person. Just for the hell of it I checked on a round trip ticket going back to Rome a week later. It was $700 per person for the entire trip.

So, what happens if I book the round trip and only use the first half of it? Will they come knock on my door? Will I be banned from flying that airline again? Anyone ever do this?

You'll only get half as far...

The same thing happens if you book flights on the same day (SF to LA in the morning, LA to SF in the eve), or if you layover on a weekend.

Basically you can just change your schedule and keep the original ticket price (if you purchased a ticket that permits this). I do it all the time to save money and get home quicker (plus to avoid paying an extra night for a hotel room).

Check with a travel agent, but you may even be able to still use the unused portion of your round-trip for up to a year later (sometimes there is a charge, but it will be far less than buying a new ticket).

A cool travel agent can find all sorts of creative ways to save you money.

I rented a 2005 Dodge Charger in Vegas for $20 a day. No taxis or hassles getting anywhere (and in Vegas you don't have to pay for parking at any of the hotels).

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nothing happens... u just pay less

One thing to be aware of if you do this: Upon boarding (or attempting to board) a return flight, they WILL detain you.

from where you are getting these prices?

I would never board the return flight. I was looking at buying a round trip (Rome to Ft. Lauderdale, then Ft. Lauderdale back to Rome). I wouldn't need to go back to Rome, so I would just use the first half of my ticket.

Expedia.com, AA.com, Continental.com, I checked a few places.

Federal Air Marshals break in to your home clutching the Patriot Act and haul you to the airport where you are strapped in to the plane and made to take your flight.

nothing.
just an empty seat on your flight back.

It almost seems pleasant the way you describe it :winkwink:

We used to do this with my son because it is cheaper to buy a round trip than a one way.....nothing happens...it just gives them a seat to sell to the stand by crowd.

Thanks..

Make sure which leg of the trip you do this on though. While you are doing it in the beginning it works, but some only want to do it for the end of the trip and it fucks them over. The airline cancels your ticket if you don't check in for the first leg of your ticket.

i do that often cause it turns out cheaper, nothing happens.

Yeah, I would never do it for the first half... wouldn't make sense to.

Most of the time it is cheaper to get round trip.

If you take the FIRST leg of the trip and simply do not get on the 2nd leg, you are fine. You just lose that 2nd leg. Nobody will give you problems. You have already paid for the ticket and the airline will not care.

IF you skip the first leg, your fucked, it will cancel out the entire ticket. You can NEVER skip the first leg.