Avoiding the second leg of an international flight - different rates for a return ticket?
Possible Duplicate:
Do you have to take the second leg of a flight?
I am in the process of booking a flight from LAX - ZUR. I found a flight for approx. 1100 USD. However, if I book that flight and then continue, after a 5 hour layover, onward to SVO, The flight is approx. half of the initial price, and the first leg of the second flight is the exact same flight as the first booking. Assuming I travel light and do not check any baggage, are there any potential issues with this? Seems like a hell of a way to save a good chunk of change.
Best Answer
Are you a Russian citizen, or have a Russian Visa? If not, do not even attempt to do this.
When checking in for your initial flight the airport will most likely check that you are have the relevant paperwork to enter the countries on your trip. In this case, that will include checking that you have a visa to enter Russia, and/or an onward ticket from Russia within a short period of time (if you are just transiting).
Presuming you don't have either of these, you will most likely not be allowed board even your first flight to Zurich.
"Hidden-city" ticketing as this is called can save money, but is frequently risky, especially for International trips. In this case, it's not worth the risk that you will not be allowed to fly at all.
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Can I skip the first leg of my flight and start my journey from the second airport?
If you skip the first leg on a ticket you will be classified as a no-show and all sub-subsequent flights are cancelled. So the answer is: no you cannot skip the first leg. If you are willing to pay then contact the airline and change your ticket or just use the money you are willing to pay for a hotel at the airport.Can I skip the first leg of a return flight?
Can I skip the first leg of my flight? No, you cannot skip the first leg of any itinerary. As stated above, after you've skipped a flight, all remaining flight legs on your itinerary will be canceled by the airline. It may seem silly, but this is a common mistake many infrequent travelers make.Can you travel internationally with a one-way ticket?
They don't want to risk having to fly you back if there's an issue. You can travel internationally on one-way tickets many times and not get asked anything, then one day you can be denied boarding. The reality is that a lot depends on the airline's policies, where you are trying to fly, and if you are unlucky that day.HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights
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Answer 2
As @littleadv points out, your question might have been answered elsewhere.
However, your deduction is sound. If you don't check in luggage, there are no real repercussions. You could be kind and cancel the second leg after you've arrived in ZUR, to avoid other travelers having to wait for someone who won't show up. :)
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