2 x fully flex tickets, each ticket using for only one leg

[Luni]

Hi
Theoretical crazy question;
Flying A to B
Airline X selling return ticket A to B cheap, return leg B to A very expensive
Airline Z selling ticket to same destination, same day A to B very expensive, return leg B to A very cheap
I buy both ticket then;
# cancel Airline X return leg B to A and using only cheap A to B part of ticket
# cancel Airline Z outward leg A to B and using only cheap return leg B to A part of ticket
Is this possible?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi
Theoretical crazy question;
Flying A to B
Airline X selling return ticket A to B cheap, return leg B to A very expensive
Airline Z selling ticket to same destination, same day A to B very expensive, return leg B to A very cheap
I buy both ticket then;
# cancel Airline X return leg B to A and using only cheap A to B part of ticket
# cancel Airline Z outward leg A to B and using only cheap return leg B to A part of ticket
Is this possible?

It sounds like the prices you have quoted are based on a return. That is, the cheap flights aren’t available to purchase individually.

In the case of a return ticket, failure to take one leg will result in the cancellation of the rest of the ticket.

For airline X you could in theory fly A to B and not take the return. But their airline could - although unlikely - come after you for the higher fare for just A-B. Unless you were making a habit of it, the airline will likely just let it go.

For airline Z, as soon as you cancel A-B, they will also cancel B-A.

There are some exceptions for airline tickets bought in some European countries. If your itinerary involved airlines only in europe, particularly Germany or Italy, let us know as it may alter the above advice.

 

[Luni]

Thanks for quick reply...asking as both of given airlines giving many options at time of purchase; routing and class of ticket of each leg...so basically final price is given for two individual prices combined together.
Asking in case fully flex tickets are selected. Hope that makes sense

 

[Mwenenzi]

If you try to cancel 1 leg of a return ticket no guarantee you will get a "refund" for what you think is the fare for that leg. May (will) get zero or the airline may actually request more $$ from you to fly the remaining single leg.
If it was that simple 100's of people would be doing that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for quick reply...asking as both of given airlines giving many options at time of purchase; routing and class of ticket of each leg...so basically final price is given for two individual prices combined together.
Asking in case fully flex tickets are selected. Hope that makes sense

It depends… while it may price each leg individually, you really need to be searching for one way tickets if that’s what you’re going to end up with.

The prices for the individual legs can still be lower based on the assumption you are going to be buying a return ticket.

Search one way only to get the true cost.

If you are going to be flying the route often, you could nest tickets to take advantage of the prices. That mean two tickets being used in between each other.

So airline X for A-B followed by Airline Z for B-A, then on your next trip you’re using the return of airline X and then the return of airline Z, etc.