One Way Flights V's Return
 

Hi All,

Anyone left to move back to the UK for good and booked a return flight (knowing you won't use the return flight)?
I am curious if airlines can send a bill for the flight you did not show for or if immigration cares that you have a return flight.
I am moving back home and my b/f is moving with me on a visa, one way flights are notorious for being an insane amount of money and so all we can afford is a return flight but we don't want to run into any possible issues by booking a return knowing we won't use that flight.

Thanks, any tips or people that have moved back home welcome to comment :)

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I'd like an answer to that also! Moving back ourselves and the one way flights are extortionate!

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Many of our members do this. Some have also claimed the taxes and fees back on the unused ticket.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I've not used the return part of an air ticket without any repercussions.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

CDFERGUS, :)
Good luck with your move, when you off?

Thanks Jerseygirl and Editha, I just heard recently that some airlines will now send a bill for the return you do not use because they are trying to clamp down on people doing this. I was planning on booking a return and then calling a week prior to say i won't be using it.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

That's exactly what others have done. After the first leg of the flight is completed...call the airline and cancel the return flight...ask for a refund of the taxes and fees.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I'd suggest reading the cancellation policy on the contract when applying.
Just because airlines have been generous in the past is no guarantee it may be repeated.
Major airlines hardly make money...they're a bad financial investment due to competitive budget airlines driving prices to the bottom...or some states subsidizing their flagships.
These days an airline will try to recoup anyway it can...or go bankrupt.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I've recently started saving to return (I have $380 right now and will have $400+ tomorrow.) I plan on buying the cheapest 1 way ticket I can. I was surprised to see that if I had $957 I could have bought it for Nov 30th this year.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

When I decided not to use the second half of an Air Canada Edmonton/Heathrow return, I rang Air Canada and asked to cancel. I was told there was a cancellation fee. 'OK then' I said 'What happens if I don't cancel but just don't turn up?' Nothing.

That was in 2007, so ancient history.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Exactly...there are numerous ways to get cheaper fares and only using the outbound of a return ticket is the most common one. It's rarely worthwhile cancelling the return portion of a discounted ticket due to the cancellation fee as Editha explained above.

There are airlines who do offer discounted one way fares so do a search.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Do a search on Kayak.com

When I went back to Blighty last year, I flew out on Norwegian airlines and back on WestJet so both legs were classed as one-way. That was the cheapest option.

Also consider alternate airports. I drove 7 hours to Orlando which saved me over $1,000 compared to flying from my local airport.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Hi, not for a while. Going to Scotland in September (Isle of Bute) to check everything out then will apply for spouse visa as soon as I get home. So will leave Jan or Feb. So wish I had started this whole process sooner, but we have some financial issues to sort out before we go:) BTW, we are in Spokane! When are you going?
Chris

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Our problem is that we will be transporting our cat in cargo on our flights. Because of this they have so many rules about which flights you can take:( So I think a RT ticket is our only option:(

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

In that case fly BA from Seattle. They have an excellent reputation for pet cargo so it'll be worth paying the extra. The Isle of Bute eh? We're thinking of going to Argyll and Bute when the time comes to go back to my mother land.
A relation of mine stays on Whidbey Island near where you are now.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

We did, coming the other way. No repercussions, except that when we later booked a return US-UK-US, it caused some confusion at check-in because the outward leg from the US was the same flight as the return leg on our last UK-US-UK ticket, but still no repercussions.

The last time we went to the UK we flew IAD-CLT-LHR-CLT-IAD, (because flying from IAD was substantially cheaper (better than "buy two, get one free" for the three of us) than flying from CLT, even after adding a night in a hotel, an extra meal in a restaurant, gas, and one-way car rental to IAD, and the Uber home from CLT was less than parking at CLT would have been) but we bu99ëred of at CLT on the return journey. :rofl: .... If there are any negative repercussions to what we did, we haven't heard about them.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Thanks for the advice! When you say worth paying extra, do you mean the cost of transporting our cat or airline fees in general?A lot of ex Navy still live on Whidbey; have you visited there? It is really lovely! We have friends in Port Orchard and we visited there not long ago.

When are you thinking of returning? I have done so much research on Bute. Do you follow the Isle of Bute thread on Facebook? full of great information and everyone has been so kind and friendly. I am going there in Sept for a recce and assuming all goes well shall apply for my husbands spouse visa when I get home.

Chris

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Cadfergus, I believe one of our esteemed members Scot47 (or Scots47) lives on the Isle of Bute.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

OK as long as you don't have an FF membership with the airline. They may take your miles.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Buy a refundable ticket. You pay more but you get a lot refunded. Don't buy from a travel agent but from the airline.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Indeed he does! My PM'S with him are the primary reason I researched Bute! He has given me wonderful local information about housing, etc. I look forward to meeting him😀

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Thank you!

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I shall sit and wait fro cdfergus to arrive. The isle of Bute is still here.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Lol. You charmer you!

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Why would there be repercussions..if you have a return ticket you have bought and paid for the seat it yours to do what you want with if you dont use its so what the airline have got the money for it so they dont care.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Not true, the airlines don't like it and it is against the conditions that you agree to when you buy the ticket. Missing a leg accidentally is one thing, but gaming the system by buying a multi-leg ticket with the intention of not using one of more legs is technically forbidden. ..... Granted, there isn't much they can do about it in most cases, BUT if the leg you skip isn't the final leg then they will cancel all subsequent legs!
Better than that, in most cases they will sell the seat again.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Worth paying the extra as a direct flight to London means less stress for your cat. BA do have a great reputation for pet cargo.

Yes I once went on a cycling tour in your part of the world and loved it...it's so much like Scotland. We're discussing about moving back to Scotland and Bute is one of the places we would consider buying property. I'm from Glasgow but although we love the city we'd rather be somewhere more rural but not too remote.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Yes, I looked at the flights from Seattle to Glasgow. They would not process my kitty until she arrives in Glasgow which is probably less time and stress than in London!

I lived in Dunoon and across they way in Kilmacolm (above Greenock) during the years of Holy Loch submarine base. Loved it so that is why the interest in Bute. Hubby and I will be renting but property is well priced on the island! I will let you know how my trip goes in September and if I fell in love with it in person:)

Chris

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Good luck, hope it all goes smoothly.
It's a great area yet so close to Glasgow.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Thank you!

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

so why give them the satisfaction?..if one way tickets were not double or three times that of a return then it wouldn't be an issue.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Most airlines rely on no-shows...that's why they overbook flights.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I booked a one way ticket on Wednesday for the end of November. At $840, I'd have been mad not to. When you're certain about not wanting to return, you don't need to spend extra money on a flight you'll never use. No shows also cause delay, which is incredibly costly for airlines, and stressful for staff.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

One way tickets are frequently more (much more!) expensive than returns. That's why people do it.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

I have RT Seattle to Heathrow for $612, the one way fair was $1300!!!!

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

Huh, Air New Zealand must be one of the few where a one way ticket is cheaper, last I checked it was roughly twice as much for a return ticket.

Re: One Way Flights V's Return
 

It depends if the airline offers discounted fares on one-way tickets or not. A lot of the legacy airlines don't for long haul flights.