Roundtrip ticket but not planning to fly back

[dasaleph 0]

As many of you know, a round-trip ticket is much cheaper than a one-way ticket (at least in many cases).

Since I received my visa recently and will move to the States to live with my wife I purchased a round-trip ticket although I am not

planning to take the flight home.

Obviously airlines don't like that (at least Delta doesn't, and that's my carrier) but as far as I read, they can't do anything about it.

No way for them to prove that one didn't actually miss the flight.

Has anyone any experience with that? Will that give me any trouble when I book another flight with Delta?

[NickD 203]

As I recall, it was something like 600 bucks for a round trip ticket and about twice that for a one way ticket, try and get an explanation from the airlines for that. So purchased two round trip tickets for my wife and daughter to come here. Ha, when they were sure they wanted to stay with me, called the airlines to cancel that return flight, but was told, sorry, with the terms of your ticket, we cannot issue you a refund, just said, oh darn, but thank you anyway. No problems since then, they can pocket that money and sell your seat to someone else.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No problem using only one or the few inbound legs of a r/t ticket. There's nothing the airline can do about you not using the return portion of the ticket. You just need to make sure that you use the ticket sequentially starting with the first leg - i.e. you cannot purchase a r/t ticket originating in the US and then try and only use the return leg(s) of that ticket w/o having used the first leg(s). That won't work.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

As many of you know, a round-trip ticket is much cheaper than a one-way ticket (at least in many cases).

Since I received my visa recently and will move to the States to live with my wife I purchased a round-trip ticket although I am not

planning to take the flight home.

Obviously airlines don't like that (at least Delta doesn't, and that's my carrier) but as far as I read, they can't do anything about it.

No way for them to prove that one didn't actually miss the flight.

Has anyone any experience with that? Will that give me any trouble when I book another flight with Delta?

People do this all the time, not a problem

[milimelo 4,481]

You may also want to call the airline to tell them you won't be using the return portion of the ticket and see if they give you credit for future travel on the same leg of the trip.

[dasaleph 0]

Thanks! I appreciate.

I will call them when in the States and tell them that I won't use the return ticket.

[TheCockyLockies 2]

You'll be fine.... i've done it. no worries at all

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Thanks! I appreciate.

I will call them when in the States and tell them that I won't use the return ticket.

Yeah. Do that after you use the first segment.

[mawilson 2,133]

Obviously airlines don't like that (at least Delta doesn't, and that's my carrier) but as far as I read, they can't do anything about it.

Why don't they like that? Sounds like a win-win.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

I know when I looked for my wife's ticket from the Philippines, the one way was a little cheaper than the round trip, but some of the airline sites said there was a charge for not using the return portion of the ticket. With all the new 'fees' the airlines are charging you may want to double check.

I know it sounds stupid to be charged for not using something, but it almost sounds stupid enough to be true!

[Marina-Del 10]

You should really really call them once you arrive in the US and see if you can reschedule your return home for another date. Usually you can reschedule it for up to one year later.

I came here to Brazil on a round trip back in Jan 2009 and had it rescheduled for 50 dollars for Dec 2009 (2 weeks ago). Obviously, I didn't use the flight as I'm still here in Brazil. But I really liked knowing that I had that ticket. They told me I could reschedule it AGAIN if I wanted for another 50 bucks. So, if something happened (God-forbid) and I had to go home, it would have only cost me that 50 dollars rescheduling fee, instead of a whole other flight home.

[dasaleph 0]

Why don't they like that? Sounds like a win-win.

I have no answer for why it is like that.

But from the Delta website:

While not an exclusive list, the following ticketing practices are prohibited:

* Back-to-back ticketing—combining multiple overlapping round-trip tickets to circumvent Saturday or other overnight stay requirements.

* Throw-away ticketing—use of discounted round-trip excursion fares for one-way travel.

* Point-beyond ticketing—use of a fare published for travel to a point beyond your actual intended destination or from a point before your actual intended origin.

Throw-away ticketing is obviously what I intend to do.

[dasaleph 0]

You should really really call them once you arrive in the US and see if you can reschedule your return home for another date. Usually you can reschedule it for up to one year later.

I came here to Brazil on a round trip back in Jan 2009 and had it rescheduled for 50 dollars for Dec 2009 (2 weeks ago). Obviously, I didn't use the flight as I'm still here in Brazil. But I really liked knowing that I had that ticket. They told me I could reschedule it AGAIN if I wanted for another 50 bucks. So, if something happened (God-forbid) and I had to go home, it would have only cost me that 50 dollars rescheduling fee, instead of a whole other flight home.

Right. $50 is not bad. Unfortunately Delta charged us (we rescheduled two of my flights back home to Germany) more. Were between $200 and $350.

But it's something to think about. On the other hand, if I simply don't take the flight back, the problem will be solved because all following trips should be round trips.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

For the heck of it, I just queried one-way and round trip tickets from FRA to ORD (I'd expect similar results for other departure / destination airports between Germany and the US) - doing a month long search starting Jan 19, 2010.

Here's what I found:

Best rate r/t = $ 586.00

Best rate o/w = $ 481.00

Check it out:

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch

[dasaleph 0]

For the heck of it, I just queried one-way and round trip tickets from FRA to ORD (I'd expect similar results for other departure / destination airports between Germany and the US) - doing a month long search starting Jan 19, 2010.

Here's what I found:

Best rate r/t = $ 586.00

Best rate o/w = $ 481.00

Check it out:

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch

Yeah, I think it depends on where you have to go. Tried it for MUC to ELP on different dates and the result is always the same:

Round trip is cheaper than a one-way ticket.

Month-long search starting at March 1, 2010 with

Cheapest ticket round-trip: $836

Cheapest ticket one-way: $1930

But thanks for the link to that flight search engine. The month-long search is really great!