if you book a round-trip with an airline, and do not take the return flight, is there any penalty?

Question

I tried to call the airline with this question, and the ticket agent refused to answer...he said if you are traveling one-way you must book one-way. The one-way is more than double the fare of the round trip (shouldn't it be the other way around?). Is there any risk that if I am not on the return flight that they will charge my credit card for the difference in fare?

Answer 1

No penalty sort of. They cannot charge you the difference or take any more money from you. There are some "minor" possible penalties.

1) If you have frequent flyer miles with them, they can and might cancel your account and take your miles away. You have broken one of their rules (yes it is a rule and it is deep in the rules section. A one sentence small type rule on their website).

2) If you do it often enough they can flag your name and credit card to not be allowed to buy a flight on the airline ever again. (Rare, but I have heard cases of this happening for people who do it very often)

Answer 2

The only "penalty" you will pay is....you will need to purchase a more expensive "one way ticket" when you return, if you return. Sometimes it's cheaper do do exactly what you did, but you won't be refunded for the unused portion of the flight. When you return, see if you can again find a cheaper round trip ticket, and do the same thing on the return trip.

Answer 3

NO,they cant do anything about it.


The airline can never force someone to take a return trip. The reason why the airlines dont allow you book a round trip if they know you are only going one way, is because often times round trip are cheaper then one way. And the airlines know you are doing it to fool them.

But there is no way for them to know that you are doing it unless you tell them. Obviously peoples plans change and they cant force you take that flight. Just dont alert them to it if you know that you are not using the return.



All that being said , there is no way for them to control it.

Answer 4

That airline agent's funky.. heheheh.. I'm sorry..
You will NOT get penalty for not using the rest of your ticket.

1/ You will not get refund for the un use portion.
2/ You will have to buy another tkt whenever you decide to make the trip back to your destination.

... It's kinda dumb that one way's more expensive then round trip.. but that's how the airline makes $$$$
My husband flew frm France to Chicago and he bought a round trip tkt for 570 instead of 900+ for One way ticket..

3/ They have NO RIGHT to charge your credit card w/o your knowledge.. that's ILLEGAL..

Good luck!!!..
Btw, PICK ANOTHER TRAVEL AGENT if that one's SUX...

Answer 5

Go to the airport and talk with an agent. If that turns out to be difficult, ask for a supervisor. If you like what you hear, rock on. If not, get your friends together for a B-B-Q. Instead of mesquite chips for flavoring, throw the ticket on there. You'll get such a sour taste that you'll think twice before missing a departure flight again.

Answer 6

No. The airline does not encourage people doing that, so the agent didn't want to answer. There are many reasons why a person cannot take a certain flight. They cannot charge you the difference. Don't worry.

Answer 7

I dont think there would be any penalty for you...the airline would just have an empty seat on the return flight. They obviously don;t want you to so this because they get more money if you buy a one way...give a try!!

Answer 8

Nope - but of course, neither will they refund you for the unused passage.

Answer 9

no, but it is a loss for you, you can try to sell it though