Cancelling the second leg of a return fare

[petermac123]

QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

Hi All,

I have to fly MEL-LAX on 12 October on QF93

Currently a one way flight is approx $10k.

Looking at return flights;

MEL-LAX $5221 on Business Sale
LAX-MEL $8006 on Full Business

According to fare conditions for the Full Business leg;

After departure

• The refund will be the difference (if any) between the fare paid and the applicable fare for the journey travelled, less 11%.

So just seeking some clarification, the way I read it, I could cancel the return leg for $880 approx - total cost $6000 approx for the one way MEL-LAX as opposed to booking a straight one way which is 10k.

Am I right here?

Cheers,

Pete

 

[simongr]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

According to fare conditions for the Full Business leg;

After departure

• The refund will be the difference (if any) between the fare paid and the applicable fare for the journey travelled, less 11%.

QF could argue that the applicable fare was $10K being the fare applicable to a one way fare MEL-LAX.

 

[an*g-bne]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

Unfortunately not. If you booked MEL-LAX on Business Sale and LAX-MEL on Business, and then flew MEL-LAX and cancelled LAX-MEL, your fare would indeed (as you've pointed out) be reassessed based on the applicable fare for the journey flown (which would be the $10k+ one way MEL-LAX fare) plus the 11%, making it more expensive than purchasing a one way fare right from the start...

 

[williamsf1]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

If only is was that easy …

Refunds are worked out based on the applicable fare of the journey travelled….

So If one way is 10k …. And you paid 8k return ….. in theory you would owe the airline money…( however they do not chase you)

Best way is to book the return as far out as possible… then you have another flight .. If you do not use you are still ahead of the one way cost ..

You may be entitled to a refund of the tax paid on the return segment, however no fare amount would be refunded.

 

[petermac123]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

arrrghhh... stupid stupid Qantas

Thanks all for your replies....

 

[Canny man]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

I'd be really interested in knowing the answer to this as well as I've come across the same dilemma before.

Pricing oz USA seems skewed anyway. I've recently looked at a Bne las Vegas return, and found it as cheap to do BNE LAS LHR EDN LHR Sing Bne in D (not done 4)

 

[robd]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

What about booking J oneway, with return in Y (booked out as far as possible)?

 

[serfty]

So:

1 Way fare 10K+

R/t fare $5K or $8K

In similar circumstances, people have been known to book the "$5K" (or $8K) fare, and simply no-show for the return.

While the airline could reassess your fare and try to charge the difference in relation to a one-way, such simply does not appear to happen these days.

 

[smit0847]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

Buy the discounted return and drop the return leg?? If QF want to know why you can explain their genius 1-way pricing system?

 

[serfty]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

Buy the discounted return and drop the return leg?? If QF want to know why you can explain their genius 1-way pricing system?

When I indicated "no show" that's what I meant.

One does not call or otherwise contact anyone, one simply does not check in!

Qantas will happily fill the unused seat if there is demand.

 

[petermac123]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

When I indicated "no show" that's what I meant.

Yep, understood loud and clear That's what we're gonna do!

I am in shock at actually having to PAY for a fare in total - as opposed to fuel,surcharge and tax

P

 

[smit0847]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

While the airline could reassess your fare and try to charge the difference in relation to a one-way, such simply does not appear to happen these days.

That would be an absolute PR nightmare for QF if a customer booked a return trip because it was cheaper than a one-way and then dropped the return leg and then QF contacted them trying to charge them more for not taking a flight for the sole reason that their one-ways are stupidly priced. The Australian mainstream press would absolutely love to run a story like this: 'No Show? Forfeit your fare and then pay us extra money says Qantas' followed by 200 comments of 'and Qantas wonder why they're losing money'

 

[serfty]

Re: QF MEL-LAX Return Cheaper than One Way, What to do?

I guess such is a legacy from the heydays of TA's when almost all travel was booked through them.

In such events the airline would send the TA a "please Explain" or even an "additional collect", the latter being a debit against the TA's commission account. The TA would pass on the charge to the passenger.

 

[rtyuiop]

Hi folks,

I'm trying to organise a booking from Madrid to LHR (unfortunately I specifically want LHR, or easyJet would be exactly what I want!), and the only direct flights seem to be BA and IB.

Their one way fares are $900+ with a return at about $220 (and airlines wonder why people hate them!). I'm trying to figure out what the T&Cs say if I take the first flight and cancel or no-show the return - can anyone point me in the right direction for what BA would call this when I'm hunting through fare conditions?

Regards,

Danny

 

[jcsydney]

have seen some one ways MAD/LHR for 160 euro,with Iberia eg may 30th....
jc

EDIT:..just noticed its LCY not LHR

 

[rtyuiop]

Yeah, unfortunately I'm actually trying to get to LHR to connect to an Etihad flight - if I was actually trying to get to London rather than Heathrow there are good options available into LCY and LGW... Most annoying!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi folks,

I'm trying to organise a booking from Madrid to LHR (unfortunately I specifically want LHR, or easyJet would be exactly what I want!), and the only direct flights seem to be BA and IB.

Their one way fares are $900+ with a return at about $220 (and airlines wonder why people hate them!). I'm trying to figure out what the T&Cs say if I take the first flight and cancel or no-show the return - can anyone point me in the right direction for what BA would call this when I'm hunting through fare conditions?

Regards,

Danny

technically I believe contract of carriage allows the airline to recalculate the travel undertaken at the full one way fare if you cancel the return leg. And technically they can come after you to get it.

in reality - nothing will happen. If you made a habit of it you might get a warning - but a one off no one will notice.

Some people take out their FF number from such tickets so that the airline can't suspend your membership for a breach of the conditions of carriage.

 

[serfty]

technically I believe contract of carriage allows the airline to recalculate the travel undertaken at the full one way fare if you cancel the return leg. And technically they can come after you to get it.

in reality - nothing will happen. If you made a habit of it you might get a warning - but a one off no one will notice. ...

This is what has generally been the posted experience with this.

...

In similar circumstances, people have been known to book the 'cheaper' fare, and simply no-show for the return.

While the airline could reassess your fare and try to charge the difference in relation to a one-way, such simply does not appear to happen these days.

I guess such is a legacy from the heydays of TA's when almost all travel was booked through them.

In such events the airline would send the TA a "please Explain" or even an "additional collect", the latter being a debit against the TA's commission account. The TA would pass on the charge to the passenger.