Don't use first flight, but use return flight (both flights on same ticket) -- on which airlines and under which circumstances is this possible?

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I found two (Austrian) articles (in German; from a not unserious newspaper): https://derstandard.at/1271377233456/Nach-versaeumten-Hinflug-Urteil-untersagt-Airlines-Storno-von-Rueckflug https://derstandard.at/1358305364054/OGH-kippt-AUA-Hin--und-Rueckflugklausel

from 2010 and 2013, respectively. If I understand them correctly, some court in Austria ruled that Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa are not allowed to prevent passsengers, who missed the first flight, to board on the return flight. (The first article says that in this case, the passengers must pay the price difference to a one way ticket, the second article says that passengers do not have to pay the price difference anymore).

What is the situation today? Are there similar rulings in other (possibly EU) countries? So my question is: Which airlines allow (and under which circumstances) to use only the return flight?

Edit: I was told that this question might be far too broad to be allowed for this site and that I should reduce it. So I want to ask this question only for EU airlines (and afterwards I will probably open a question for non-EU airlines).



Best Answer

My experience:

I travelled UK - Italy for a week's holiday in late-2015. I just missed the check-in cutoff time for my outbound flight (actually, they said I could still check-in, but not my luggage). Rather than wear the same underwear for a week, I elected to move my outbound flight to the later afternoon departure, paid the change booking fee, and then had to hang around the airport for hours. I had no problems with the return flight, which I made sure I arrived in good time for.

I suspect that if you miss the outbound flight and immediately change your flight to a later one, they will still honour the return. If however, you just don't show up, don't talk to the airline, and make your own way to the return departure point, I would expect them to have cancelled your return leg as well.




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Can I book a return flight and only use the return ticket?

No, you cannot only use the return ticket. To guarantee that the airline keeps your return ticket, you are required to travel on the first part of your trip and all the way to your final destination.

Can you link two separate flights with the same airline?

A: It depends, but the general rule is NO. Some airlines will through check baggage onto separately ticketed flights, but some won't (even if both tickets are with the same airline). Some airlines will take pity if your delay is due to them, but others don't.

Do you use the same tickets for roundtrip?

Changing A Return Flight Can Be More Expensive Domestic flights charge about $200. If, however, you are able to buy two low-priced, one-way tickets for the same trip, you can just not use the ticket that you want to change and purchase another one it'll still be cheaper than if you had to change the round-trip ticket.



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