What happens if I don't use a flight?

I need to book flights back to the UK for the end of October, having previously booked outgoing flights only. Did it because at the time they were cheap, but no return was availlable then.

It's now going to work out cheaper to book return flights, rahter than one way back, based on current prices.

What happens if I book return flights, using a cheap outgoing flight which I won't use, and then never check in for the outgoing flights. Presumably it won't invalidate the return flight which I will be using?

Hope this makes sense!

Hi PAL - I think it makes sense to us mere mortals, but it might not to the airline!  I once had a booking for a return trip from Glasgow to the US via Amsterdam, as it was cheaper than flying direct from Amsterdam.  When I asked if I could abandon the final flight back from Amsterdam to Glasgow I was told no, and that they would not take my luggage off the plane, even though I would have declared all this at check-in.  I had to fly on to Glasgow and then book a flight back home to Alicante!

You may find that if you don´t turn up for the first flight then they will cancel the second - best to contact the airline and ask specifically.

I can't realy see the problem in missing one part of a return flight, people do it all the time!

If it puts your mind to rest, why not check in online for outward and return and then simply use the part you require. You have afterall paid for the right to travel and it's entirely up to you if you want to exercise that right.

Hi Pal

It probably depends on the airline. I tried this once with flybe. When I didn't use the 1st flight the 2nd one was cancelled on their system.

If you use the 1st leg of a ticket there will not be a problem if you don't use the return but I would not risk trying to use a return if I had not used the outbound flight.

Maybe the concern goes back to the days when you had to re confirm your return on chartered flights, I'm sure on sheduled flights especially now that with most airlines you check in on line it shouldn't be a problem.

A couple of years back I remember missing my easyjet flight from Luton to Malaga because of a accident on the M1, the next day I managed to get a single with Ryanair from Birmingham but still took up the return flight with easy jet back to Luton - I didn't have a problem.

This message was last edited by Team GB on 10/03/2014.

You do not state which airline you are using. If you were using Ryanair, easyJet or most of the budget airlines  they are a point-to-point airlines. That is each flight is totally separate so if you were flying from say, Spain to Scotland via London you would have 1 flight to London and a totally separate flight from London to Scotland. If for any reason your first flight was delayed and you missed your 2nd flight then tough. If however you were using the likes of B.A. for both flights then if the first flight was delayed then the airline needs to rearrange your flight and usually pay for your overnight acommodation. I have been looking at flying from Spain/U.K. to U.S.A. If I  choose just 1 way the fare is between double and treble the return fare. So what I do is just use the outward flight and throw away the return! However with most (non budget) airlines if you have a return flight then if you don't use the first one you automatically lose the second (return) one.  You need to carefully read the T & C's. Another option is to use a skyscanner (best price on-line broker type site) to see if the airline you have chosen is actually the best for you regarding time, price, airports etc. etc.

I once asked an airline (Cheap job) about this. They said if I did not book in for the outbound flight the whole booking would be cancelled.

Just on the same point. A friend use to buy RHD cars in Spain drive to UK, sell them and buy LHD and sell them in Spain. Once he booked a cheap one day return using his credit card.  When he did not use the return half they surcharged the credit card for the normal one way ticket.  After that he used to buy the cheap ticket in a Travel Agents at the port using cash.

If both bookings are with the same airline don't use the single booking you have already made and simply use the new booking that includes both.

Its ok with Ryanair and Easyjet, they are point to point airlines, in effect they charge you for two single fares on a return booking.

From Ryanair website.

All Ryanair flights are fully changeable but cannot be cancelled. Passengers are therefore not required to notify us if they are unable to travel on their booked flights. Passengers who do not use their outbound flight may use their return flight.

If you don't use the outward flight on an easyjet flight they can (and have) cancelled the return.

Thanks all for your replies so far.

My existing outward flight is with Ryanair. My proposed not-to-be used outward and the important return are with Jet2. I've checked Jet2's T&C's and can't see anything that covers this.

Potential saving by booking two way flights with Jet2 rather than a single return is around £150 for 3 persons. So not insignificant!

Dilemna!

Jet 2 are not a simple point to point carrier. I suspect they will cancel your flight when you don't show for the outbound flight. If it was me I'd just contact customer services and ask the question.