buying a ticket A - B - C and stopping at B

Status
Not open for further replies.

Jeffrey O'Neill

Established Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2006
Posts
1,500
I've been checking out flights from Mexico to SFO and LA next year.

Just noticed that a united J flight MEX - SFO - LAX is cheaper than MEX - SFO (around $80 cheaper). The same is true for a Y fare.

I'd like to stop in SFO for a couple of days to catch up with some friends there.

Has anyone had issues asking the check in staff to tag their bags to only part of the way?
 
I've been checking out flights from Mexico to SFO and LA next year.

Just noticed that a united J flight MEX - SFO - LAX is cheaper than MEX - SFO (around $80 cheaper). The same is true for a Y fare.

I'd like to stop in SFO for a couple of days to catch up with some friends there.

Has anyone had issues asking the check in staff to tag their bags to only part of the way?

hidden city ticketing.

In general, there shouldn't be a problem asking an agent to 'short check' your bags to a stopping point. However, if it is a tight connection, they may refuse.

While getting off a flight early isn't illegal, most airlines frown on it and can take action against you if they wish. While it's not likely to happen for the odd one-off here or there, they are within their rights as it is a breach of their terms and conditions.

More of a concern would be irrops. UA only needs to get you to your final destination, not to any way-point. So you could find yourself flying straight to LAX regardless.
 
Another thing to remember is that you can only do this on a one-way ticket or if the missing leg is the last one on the journey.

This is because once you miss a flight on a PNR the remainder of the trips will automatically be cancelled.
 
the annoying thing is the MEX SFO flight is expensive, but if transit SFO to LAX it's cheap.

I was thinking to use an excuse along the lines of my friend is now in San Fran and we're going to drive up to LA instead of down to LAX
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Travelling from Mexico, would you need to pick up your bags in SFO as the first entry point into the US anyway and then recheck them??? Most other flights coming into the US you need to pick up your bags which makes it very doable, not sure if there is any agreement with Canada and Mexico to not need to do this eg NAFTA???
 
Travelling from Mexico, would you need to pick up your bags in SFO as the first entry point into the US anyway and then recheck them??? Most other flights coming into the US you need to pick up your bags which makes it very doable, not sure if there is any agreement with Canada and Mexico to not need to do this eg NAFTA???

Actually that's right. I remember last time flying from Puerto Vayarta I had to get my bags at PHX.

That should work out nicely for me then.
 
If you're concerned about the airlines doing something dodgy with your credit card like debiting it after, then you could always go to a Flight Centre, book MEX-SFO-LAX and pay cash.
 
Can do it once or twice, no problem but avoid doing it too often. I know someone who was blacklisted by a certain airline in the US after exploiting hidden cities too often. He didn't even had the courtesy to let the airline know he won't be boarding the last leg so I can understand why they got pissed off eventually.
 
Interestingly I am finding if I book MEX - SFO - LAX with a stopover in SFO it's cheaper than the MEX - SFO direct flight alone with united. They also give free baggage out of MEX but not sure if I'd be up for $25 for the next hop to LAX??

Scratching my head on that one.

had a similar result for NYC - YYZ - MEX on AC where the multi destination booking was cheaper than booking each leg separately.
 
hidden city ticketing.

In general, there shouldn't be a problem asking an agent to 'short check' your bags to a stopping point. However, if it is a tight connection, they may refuse.

While getting off a flight early isn't illegal, most airlines frown on it and can take action against you if they wish. While it's not likely to happen for the odd one-off here or there, they are within their rights as it is a breach of their terms and conditions.

More of a concern would be irrops. UA only needs to get you to your final destination, not to any way-point. So you could find yourself flying straight to LAX regardless.
Be aware that short checking bags is dubious. A friend was travelling Delta the other day and ask to short check (as they wanted to change their flight from B to C to be a different routing, not hidden city ticketing reasons) and was told 'TSA guidlines now prohibit us short-checking bags'. Even the supervisor pulled this line.

Of course as always, your mileage may vary.
 
Be aware that short checking bags is dubious. A friend was travelling Delta the other day and ask to short check (as they wanted to change their flight from B to C to be a different routing, not hidden city ticketing reasons) and was told 'TSA guidlines now prohibit us short-checking bags'. Even the supervisor pulled this line.

Of course as always, your mileage may vary.

so I called my USA friend (who happens to be a Delta elite).

He advised the non-short-checking of bags is covered by Delta's conditions of carriage.

Delta will not allow collection of baggage at an intermediate point if the next flight is a delta flight, and the connection is less than four hours.

He doesn't think there is a TSA rule, it is Delta's: http://www.delta.com/content/dam/delta-www/pdfs/legal/contract_of_carriage_dom.pdf

(Specifically, Rule 190, Part E, 2(a). )

I guess other US carriers might have a similar rule?
 
so I called my USA friend (who happens to be a Delta elite).

He advised the non-short-checking of bags is covered by Delta's conditions of carriage.

Delta will not allow collection of baggage at an intermediate point if the next flight is a delta flight, and the connection is less than four hours.

He doesn't think there is a TSA rule, it is Delta's: http://www.delta.com/content/dam/delta-www/pdfs/legal/contract_of_carriage_dom.pdf

(Specifically, Rule 190, Part E, 2(a). )

I guess other US carriers might have a similar rule?
It was not to another DL flight, and was over 4 hours.

I suspect it was Delta having a case of the 'can't be bothered's' to be honest. It's not the first time i've seen an airline quote TSA guidelines in a case where they just can't be bothered.
 
United have a cheap flight MEX - SFO - LAX that gets me to SFo in the late afternoon

What I'd like to do is make the layover overnight so I could catch up with a friend there, then get a morning flight to LAX

The united website doesn't give me that option.

Does anyone know of a way to achieve this, or am I best calling united to see if an agent can help me out.

This itinerary is even cheaper than flying to LAX only.

--------------------

just did a dummy booking using the multi destination option and was able to achieve what I wanted.

Doesn't make sense to me why this flight is nearly $200 cheaper than just flying SFO direct, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth :)
 
Last edited:
just did a dummy booking using the multi destination option and was able to achieve what I wanted.

Doesn't make sense to me why this flight is nearly $200 cheaper than just flying SFO direct, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth :)

Yield management basically... also more compatition flying from MEX to LA, most people wouldnt bother flying LAX to SFO so cheaper flights to attract people, also adding a stopover in LAX would add probably a 3 hour stopover? a lot of people would happily pay $200 to save 3 hours and go direct. Also this is a domestic flight rather than international SFO could have higher taxes thans LAX possibly? (dont know if they do just a possible reason)

as you found out multi city or a travel agent for breaking up the trips like you have done
 
Old thread but I wanted to see if anyone had recent experience. I have a return leg booked with VA for two pax same PNR. The return is departing A arriving B (home port of both pax) and then onward to C. Obviously one pax has to go to C to collect the bags. Is there any reason why one pax can't just get off at B and go home? They will clear customs at B (SYD) and would be otherwise expected to transit to domestic for the connection to C.
 
If you are clearing customs at B, then you will have the bags as well. Why give them back?

Either both should go to C, or neither. Perhaps you "forgot" that you were supposed to continue, as you thought you were home?
 
If you are clearing customs at B, then you will have the bags as well. Why give them back?

Either both should go to C, or neither. Perhaps you "forgot" that you were supposed to continue, as you thought you were home?

Exactly. I misread the question in my original answer, but yes, if bags are coming out at B then both pax can walk away at that point.
 
Exactly. I misread the question in my original answer, but yes, if bags are coming out at B then both pax can walk away at that point.

Yes stupid of me - of course we will have our bags. Hmmm. Would it be possible that for not completing the journey VA would refuse to credit SCs and points I wonder?
 
Yes stupid of me - of course we will have our bags. Hmmm. Would it be possible that for not completing the journey VA would refuse to credit SCs and points I wonder?

That is a (small) risk. Also if the fare to 'B' is higher than 'C' they could seek the balance of the fare.

If this is a one-off it's probably unlikely VA is going to mind too much. If you were making a habit of it then they might take action such as claiming the fare difference (if any) or withhold points/SCs etc. BA is doing this now with fares ex EU which are often substantially cheaper than departures ex London.
 
If you're clearing customer in Sydney I've at least let them know at the transfer desk after you exit you can't continue, apologise but don't give a reason.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..
Back
Top