To just not get on return flight

[Ribrabrob]

I made a silly error when booking a trip (to the Middle East). I booked Monday to Friday thinking I'd have 3/4 full days but turns out I don't land until 23.00 on the Monday night and leave early Friday morning at 1am. This means I only really have two and a half days which for what I paid, doesn't seem a lot! (My own stupid fault I know).

I booked with Expedia so unfortunately to add an extra night would be £200+, which is way too much. I was planning to fly to Italy a few days after my return home anyway, so I'm thinking of perhaps getting a flight straight to there from my destination. However the thing is because I booked a package deal, my space on the flight is already booked.

Would I be totally unreasonable just to not get on this flight, does it matter? Or will it affect a lot of people (no checked bags booked if that makes a difference)? I also don't want it to affect me should I use that airline in the future.

If it does cause issues then I will just get on the flight, however if not then I will head straight to Italy.

I would think that if you don't check into your return flight and are a no show at the airport they would just open the seat up to stand by passengers or crew. You wouldn't get a refund though.

If you cancel, even if it’s a non refundable ticket you can usually claim the tax back (air passenger duty). But if you just don’t show up then there won’t be any consequences- I think you’re thinking of deliberate throw away ticketing where people book connections onto places they have no intention of going because it’s cheaper as some airlines have taken action against repeat offenders. Just missing a flight though, you’ll be fine. But it is worth exploring if you can get a tax refund.

I'd just be a bit concerned about my plans conflicting with my return ticket in terms of landing cards, what I said to customs/immigration.

Which country is it?

Good point RubberTreePlant! It's UAE (Abu Dhabi) so I'm not sure if there will be a landing card?

I suppose having the ticket to Italy handy would help.

It doesn't sound too scary;

www.abudhabiairport.ae/english/airport-information/check-in-and-passport-control/

I do this all the time. I have also left my flight on a stopover.

If you’re a British passport holder, no issues with landing cards or anything in UAE. Just turn up, get your stamp, occasionally someone asks where you’re staying (In my experience, more boredom than anything else, unlike some countries there’s no need to register with your hotel or anything)

Visit visa is 30 days. There’s multiple flights to Italy a day.

However, one way flights from here are expensive. Hotels are expensive depending on the time of year. The £200+ may be worth it if you compare with the cost of your alternative plan.

You are unlikely to get a refund of the taxes if it's a package, because it's all interlinked and travel agents have different arrangements for paying the taxes.

I wouldn't have thought not turning up for the UAE to UK flight would affect your UAE to Italy flight, but it might be worth checking (not sure who with).

Airlines are cracking down over people who exploit inconsistencies in pricing with singles vs returns or leaving indirect flights before the second leg (I think it's in the T&Cs that they can charge your card what the single flight would have been) but I don't know how often they do it, but it's their own fault really with having such ridiculous illogical fares.

DP was once sent by his work to Berlin on an indirect flight via Brussels and his return ticket was quite cheap considering it was at about 2 days notice - about £150. So I thought that 'oh we could go on a city break to Brussels and it would be really cheap' but no all the UK to Brussels fares on the same planes were about £400 return! Even though you could book the same flight and an onward flight to Berlin for much less .

Of course there's the risk that if you book the UK - Bru - Berlin flight and leave the airport at Brussels, they'll cancel the rest of the booking and you'll be stuck when you get back to Brussels airport.

Sort your flight to Italy and your accommodation and then just tell the package company.

Hi there all,

We're moving this to AIBU at OP's request.

I don't think there's a problem not turning up to the uae to uk flight but I'd be worried about missing the uk to Italy flight and my ticket still being valid for the return.

You'll be fine to miss the flight, but I'd be surprised if a one way flight from the Middle East to Italy would be economically beneficial...

Also, as above, if you've already booked your UK to Italy flights you'll potentially have a problem for the return if you miss the outbound (unless with Easyjet or similar).

It won’t cause any issues with UAE immigration or other flights. Do not let the package company know... you’re not technically supposed to do what you’re proposing but no one looks into it. You could book to the UK with a long layover in Italy if that’s cheaper.

I don't think there's a problem not turning up to the uae to uk flight but I'd be worried about missing the uk to Italy flight and my ticket still being valid for the return.

Good point. I’ve heard of there being problems with this before.

You need to check the T&C's. Some airlines have a penalty if you only use one leg of a journey and some don't let you use the return if you don't use the outward flight or there's a penalty (esp. if return is cheaper than 2 standard tickets)

Ah, you wanted to still use the return portion of the UK-Italy flight? If you miss the first leg, the whole ticket is cancelled, so you can’t do that

Depends what sort of booking the UK to Italy one is. If it's on Ryanair or another budget airline, their flights are all point to point not return so it doesn't matter if you don't use the UK to Italy leg.

However if it's someone like BA it might be a proper return flight so need to check the T&C's.

So, you currently have 1 return flight UK - UAE, and one return flight UK- Italy?

Skipping the UAE - UK bitcwill fe ok.

Skipping the UK- Italy bit will invalidate your Italy - UK ticket, unless its Ryanair orcsimilarcwhere the tickets are basically 2 singles, and not a return. If the Italy bit is the package, I'd recommend not messing with the flights.

Agree Ryanair easyjet etc is usually two singles whereas other airlines would be a return and more problematic.

I'd be astonished if this whole plan was economical though.

Oh, I see, it is the return journey from Italy to UK that has been booked as part of a package that you are concerned about.

I would ask them.

You'll be there for all of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I don't understand how you think this is less than three full days.

Thanks for all the advice.

Just to confirm it's only the return journey I don't plan to catch, not the outward journey. The journey to Italy would be an entirely separate ticket and I know I wouldn't get the money back for the missed flight.,

Again no problem about not returning from uae.

But if you have booked return to Italy and don't turn up for the outward depending on airline you could face problems getting home again.

When I read the title I thought you were doing a Shirley Valentine!

You need to check with the ticketing agent. Am I right in thinking your tickets are:
UK - UAE,
UAE - UK,
UK - Italy,
Italy - UK?

If so and you plan to go
UK - UAE,
UAE - Italy (on a new ticket),
Italy - UK (on original ticket),
you may find the last leg has already been cancelled as you didn't turn up for the UK - Italy leg of the journey.

You really need to check...