Booking a holiday package but not using the outward flight

[SilverLining]

If I book a package for 4 of us but DH doesn't come on the outward flight as he is away with work nearby, would he still be able to fly back with us? Its way cheaper to book the package rather than separately but I'm sure I read somewhere that some operators will cancel the return flight if you haven't used the outward one - any one any wiser than me?!

I've heard that too. Best check with the operator.

Yes I've heard that too. Definitely call the operator.

Yes I think that if he doesn’t fly out they cancel the flight back.
It happened to DH when he flew to Russia, due to a cock up he didn’t use his flight out and when he checked in to come home they had cancelled the flight . He had To stay overnight and come home next day. Can’t remember if he got a refund
I suppose it couid be different with a package holiday but I doubt it

If you book a return flight, the return element will be cancelled if you don't check in for the outbound flight.

If you book a point to point flight (usually with low cost airlines, such as Ryanair and Easyjet) the "return" will not be cancelled.

You need to check with the airline.

Eeeek! Glad I checked! Sounds like it could be an expensive mistake & inconvenient!!

Thanks so much wise ones!!!

Check with the operator. If it's a low cost flight, which may include Thomas Cook etc, they don't actually sell return flights, they're all singles, they might not know or care, but they all have their own rules, so no-one on here can say how they will deal with this.

If you don't check in on your outbound flight, your return is cancelled.

Unfortunately I found this out the expensive way!

Your travel agent can sort this for you. We once got stuck in a nine hour traffic jam on the motorway and missed our outbound flight.
The kids and I took single flights the next day with a different (wildly expensive!) airline and of course our return leg would be automatically cancelled.
However I phoned the travel agent before we took off, and she arranged with the airline to reinstate both the return and connecting flights. It all went smoothly.

He cannot do this. If one portion of the flight is not used, the other part is automatically cancelled by the airline.

If one portion of the flight is not used, the other part is automatically cancelled by the airline

Not true in many cases. Might be true for BA, KLM etc, but seeing as the OP is talking about going on a package holiday, she is unlikely to be travelling using these airlines. These days the flights sold by the low cost operators and probably a lot of the package companies are all single flights so not using the outward leg has no effect whatsover on the return, although obviously the OP needs to check for the company she is planning on using.

For example, from the Ryanair website:

*if I do not take the first flight sector of my journey, can I still take the second sector?

Yes, if for whatever reason you do not travel on your first flight sector, you will still be able to travel on the second flight. Likewise, if you do not travel on your outbound flights, you will still be able to travel on your return flights*

Most holiday airlines sell flights only.If its worth it financially it may be possible to just book a seat on the return flight for your husband. I know Jet2 Thomas Cook and TUI sell single flights