One way travel on a return ticket.

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but things change and I would like your wisdom before making a decision.

My wife and I are looking to do a Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing returning from New York this April. We plan to start this trip in Washington DC and get the train to New York prior to boarding the ship.

We will also not be taking the BA flight and choosing to use VS.

The problem is that a one way PE (W) tickets are 924 each. [V]

However a return ticket (outbound PE and return in economy using 7th May as a random date) are currently 470 each. [^]

My question is if I book a return and dont use the return leg, will I get penalised? For example refused miles/tier points or blacklisted? [B)]

Thanks in advance for your input.

Jeremy

[preiffer]

*Technically* it's against the rules, but in all reality they'll do nothing about it. After all, things do crop up while people are on holiday, and not always can they make the return flight. I'd say it's ok and at that deal, I'd be very tempted.

Just NEVER, EVER do this on the outbound when you want the return - don't fly out, your return is automatically cancelled. The way round you're referring to is 'safer' though.

You could also look at airlines like Siverjet. They do let you book one way tickets and don't over charge. A random date in April has a single to NYC at £467.50. They have a sale on at the moment too.

[Scrooge]

Just out of interest, why not use BA ?

As preiffer has said, using the outbound leg of a return ticket then not using the return leg will not cause any problems. Yes, it is against the rules, but the airlines cannot do a lot about it at the end of the day. I have done this when travelling from Menorca to Lyon [unusual route, I know]. The one way fare was close on double the return fare - so it was a no-brainer to book a return and not use the return leg.

Again, as preiffer says, NEVER try to not use the outbound leg of a return ticket if you want to use the return leg - as a 'no show' on the outbound leg = automatic cancellation of the return. I got hit in this scenario a few years back on American Airlines - I had a reward ticket booked in economy & due to good fortune / scheduling of a meeting, I ended up travelling out of the UK on a paid for business ticket on the same flight as the reward economy seat. [So I made AA a lot more $$$ on this flight]. Checked in at Heathrow for transatlantic & internal US flight [on seperate booking refs], boarding cards issued for both flights etc. When we came to board the internal flight from Chicago, our boarding cards had been cancelled as we had not flown the outbound transatlantic flight from the UK on the right booking ref [we'd used the 'paid for business seats]. Just goes to prove that irrespective of where you are originally sitting [i.e. down the back] or where you do sit [up front] if you don't travel on a return ticket in the correct order, you're shafted.

James

For what it's worth I've been booking flights for our artists on this basis for years and none of the airlines have ever complained. The only time I've ever come across a problem with this sort of scenario was with P&O when you booked a cheap day return and then didn't come back until 2 weeks later on a similar ticket.

Thank you all for your feedback.

My main reason for wanting to book VS is that we each need 3 tier points to become silver flying club members. Alright no massive perks, but it moves you up the pecking order. Also we like to fly in at least a PE cabin if we can afford to do so.

My workings are thus:

To upgrade to WT+ with Cunard would cost an additional £349 each

However by not taking the BA flight, Cunard will give a £150 discount on their cruise fare.

So actually flying VS, PE is £29 cheaper.

I have never flown BA WT+, but from the articles I have read, VS PE is a better product that WT+.

A further question for you: Washington DC or Boston for 4 nights? Both are the same price and similar distances to NY. Which would you choose?

Thanks again

Jeremy

Originally posted by jpcox1
A further question for you: Washington DC or Boston for 4 nights? Both are the same price and similar distances to NY. Which would you choose?

Boston.

Mike

[Decker]

Washington

Get the Metro out to Bethesda and eat at Blacks...