Revealed: Why You Should Always Book Your Return Flight With a Different Airline

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Revealed: Why You Should Always Book Your Return Flight With a Different Airline
By Julie Gilbert/ Travel/ British Airways/ Mirror/ mirror.co.uk

"Passengers are at risk of falling foul of a little known clause which revolves around tickets being 'used in sequence'.

Next time you book a trip, it may be worthwhile booking your outbound and return flights with different airlines.

While booking with the same airline can be cheaper and more convenient, travellers risk falling foul of a little known clause in the terms and conditions of some carriers.

If a passenger is unlucky enough to miss an outbound flight with one of these airlines, their return flight may also be cancelled.

The problem revolves around tickets being 'used in sequence', the Daily Record reports ...."

Flight delays (Image: Getty Images)



Richard

 

[Talent312]

Perhaps the couple could'a avoided this by talking to a CSR when the flight was missed.
Blithely assuming that there will be no consequences is what gets peep in trouble.
.

 

[bogey21]

Back in my heavy travel days when I was working I had 3 million miles with Delta, over 1 million with American and who knows how many segments (their old system) on Southwest.

Very often I would make my outbound flight with one carrier and my return flight with another carrier for the reason suggested. Alternatively if I used one airline for both outbound and inbound, I would book each leg separately to give me two records in the Airline's system to avoid the problem being discussed.

George

 

[rickandcindy23]

That's great advice. I never thought of it before. I really love SW and book only one-way flights because we have the companion pass currently, and if I need to rebook for a better price, we have to cancel the entire itinerary. I learned that lesson the hard way with our upcoming trip because I booked RT and saw a better deal for one leg, but customer service told me the entire itinerary has to be cancelled with the companion already added. I learn everything the hard way, never the easy way.

 

[Luanne]

That's great advice. I never thought of it before. I really love SW and book only one-way flights because we have the companion pass currently, and if I need to rebook for a better price, we have to cancel the entire itinerary. I learned that lesson the hard way with our upcoming trip because I booked RT and saw a better deal for one leg, but customer service told me the entire itinerary has to be cancelled with the companion already added. I learn everything the hard way, never the easy way.

I never knew that. Maybe it's because I don't get the companion passes. I know if you book a round trip with points, or by paying for it, you can rebook just one leg to get a better price.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks, Rich for sharing this very important information.

 

[x3 skier]

Seems a helluva lot simpler to get to the airport on time or call if some disaster prevents that.

Cheers

 

[VacationForever]

There was once my husband drove to the airport where I was having a layover to surprise me and I did not tell the airline to cancel the 2nd leg. When I got ready to return, my flight was cancelled because I did not take the 2nd leg of the flight coming in. They got it restored (and with a bad seat) and got me sweating bullets.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I have book flights for the last several years WHERE i get one ticket for each inbound or outbound flight.

If I have connecting flights THAT day, I make sure I start the day early and if I change flights (because of volunteering to be bumped for future flight value), I don't have to worry about a "goof up" for my return flights.

 

[am1]

If both needs to be changed two change fees. If you cancel the trio altogether two cancellation fees. Most be a slow news day.

 

[DebBrown]

I would never book connecting flights separately. The airline is more likely to help you reroute if they can see your entire itinerary. As far as outbound and returns, there are still plenty of routes where it is cheaper to buy the round trip ticket. My kids live in Montana and only United has direct flights there. A one way ticket costs as much as a round trip.

Deb

 

[linsj]

There is no way I'm going to book a flight on two different airlines. I keep my miles in one airline and enjoy the status perks.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

There is no way I'm going to book a flight on two different airlines. I keep my miles in one airline and enjoy the status perks.

Yep. And one of the perks is the ability to change flights without paying a cancellation fee.

And if there is a cancellation, I can call the membership reservations center and get my flight schedule redone on the phone in about five minutes instead of standing in line for half an hour or more.

 

[jehb2]

In my case I would be paying a much higher price on the off chance that I might miss my flight.