Is it OK to miss a connecting flight on purpose?

Trimm Trabb

This summer I have booked a return flight to Cuba. On the way back from Cuba there is a layover in Toronto before going back to Dublin. I now want to go visit a friend in Vancouver so my ideally I'd like to walk away from the second leg of the return flight and just buy an internal flight from Toronto to Vancouver - does anyone know if this is possible?

My googling so far seems to indicate its against the rules.. Has anyone ever done something similar?

There seems to people saying that if you just don't show up for the next flight the plane will just leave without you and then you can go catch the flight you actually want.. Problem with that is my girlfriend is travelling to Cuba with me and and she will be taking the Dublin flight so I presume they would want to know from her where I am? Also would I have a problem getting through customs to my next flight internally?

athtrasna

Trimm Trabb wrote: »

This summer I have booked a return flight to Cuba. On the way back from Cuba there is a layover in Toronto before going back to Dublin. I now want to go visit a friend in Vancouver so my ideally I'd like to walk away from the second leg of the return flight and just buy an internal flight from Toronto to Vancouver - does anyone know if this is possible?

My googling so far seems to indicate its against the rules.. Has anyone ever done something similar?

There seems to people saying that if you just don't show up for the next flight the plane will just leave without you and then you can go catch the flight you actually want.. Problem with that is my girlfriend is travelling to Cuba with me and and she will be taking the Dublin flight so I presume they would want to know from her where I am? Also would I have a problem getting through customs to my next flight internally?

You would be voiding the Toronto Dublin leg of your flight so would need a new ticket for that too. You would also have to go through Canadian immigration, and without a ticket home they are likely to say no.

Trimm Trabb

athtrasna wrote: »

You would be voiding the Toronto Dublin leg of your flight so would need a new ticket for that too. You would also have to go through Canadian immigration, and without a ticket home they are likely to say no.

Yep I would want to void the Toronto-Dublin leg of the flight. I would then fly internally from Toronto to Vancouver and have a return flight booked from Vancouver to Ireland (which I have found a great price on).

Humour Me

Contact the airline and see if they will move your return flight to a later date for a fee. It should be cheaper than booking a new flight.

martybike

Make sure you don't book your luggage through to Dublin otherwise you won't be able to get it in Toronto when you get off there and it's going to cause a problem when you don't show for the Dublin leg.

martybike

martybike wrote: »

Make sure you don't book your luggage through to Dublin otherwise you won't be able to get it in Toronto when you get off there and it's going to cause a problem when you don't show for the Dublin leg.

But if his GF is just continuing on as normal then surely she can get the bags?

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

But if his GF is just continuing on as normal then surely she can get the bags?

If they're checked on in his name and he doesn't turn up, they will have to be taken off the plane.

dr.fuzzenstein

Well, what fare did you purchase? Cheap travel agency fares often don't allow any changes and if your flight is seen as Cuba to Dublin you won't be able to enter Canada as you're just transferring, so there's immigration to be considered, do you have a visa sorted? And , as mentioned your bags, if they're on the next plane that won't work.
I feel you won't be able to do what you do, you should contact the airline and see I'd it is possible within the confines or your fare.
You could be lucky and the fare might allow a layover for a while, but odds are it won't.

Trimm Trabb

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Well, what fare did you purchase? Cheap travel agency fares often don't allow any changes and if your flight is seen as Cuba to Dublin you won't be able to enter Canada as you're just transferring, so there's immigration to be considered, do you have a visa sorted? And , as mentioned your bags, if they're on the next plane that won't work.
I feel you won't be able to do what you do, you should contact the airline and see I'd it is possible within the confines or your fare.
You could be lucky and the fare might allow a layover for a while, but odds are it won't.

Yeah I can't see any way I'll be able change the existing flight as its a return to Ireland through London. It was just bought through one of the agents selling through sky scanner.

The frustrating thing is that if I purchase a flight direct from Havana to Vancouver (with Air Canada who are the same company I'm doing the original trip with) then I will have to do a lay over in the same airport in Toronto.

I think what I'll do tomorrow is ring the booking agent/Air Canada to see if there is anything they can do for me and maybe try the Canadian embassy to see if I got a holiday visa could I enter the country from my layover flight.

I have found a return flight from Vancouver to the UK for €300 which is a great price but I don't think there is any affordable way for me to get to Vancouver unfortunately.

Pro Hoc Vice

Trimm Trabb wrote: »

This summer I have booked a return flight to Cuba. On the way back from Cuba there is a layover in Toronto before going back to Dublin. I now want to go visit a friend in Vancouver so my ideally I'd like to walk away from the second leg of the return flight and just buy an internal flight from Toronto to Vancouver - does anyone know if this is possible?

My googling so far seems to indicate its against the rules.. Has anyone ever done something similar?

There seems to people saying that if you just don't show up for the next flight the plane will just leave without you and then you can go catch the flight you actually want.. Problem with that is my girlfriend is travelling to Cuba with me and and she will be taking the Dublin flight so I presume they would want to know from her where I am? Also would I have a problem getting through customs to my next flight internally?

Friend does it all the time, the only issue with Airline is air miles. Check out flyertalk forum there should be threads over there about it the status chasers would have threads about it.

munchkin_utd

Pro Hoc Vice wrote: »

Friend does it all the time, the only issue with Airline is air miles. Check out flyertalk forum there should be threads over there about it the status chasers would have threads about it.

if you do it too often then it has happened that airlines will stop allowing you to travel with them.

the one "problem" would be to ensure your luggage does not get checked the whole way through. No idea if its possible to stop this happening (yea, asking them to not check it through would be the solution, but why would they agree to doing something that only makes sense if you are breaking the conditions of the ticket?)

VincePP

Pro Hoc Vice wrote: »

Friend does it all the time, the only issue with Airline is air miles. Check out flyertalk forum there should be threads over there about it the status chasers would have threads about it.

not good advice as Canadian immigration would be involved.

However once the OP has sorted the visa requirements for a short stay in Canada, there won't be an issue.

Also, for the trip back, surely a one way ticket will be cheaper?

dibkins

Your gf is going to be pretty annoyed when they plane is delayed due to you a) not turning up and b) the airline having to take your luggage back out again. Not to mention everyone else on the plane.

Trimm Trabb

dibkins wrote: »

Your gf is going to be pretty annoyed when they plane is delayed due to you a) not turning up and b) the airline having to take your luggage back out again. Not to mention everyone else on the plane.

Cheers always nice to be reminded how annoyed my girlfriend will be

ted1

Just change your flight

Trimm Trabb

ted1 wrote: »

Just change your flight

If I had a grand lying around I would.

ted1

Trimm Trabb wrote: »

If I had a grand lying around I would.

Is that the price they quoted for changing the last leg ? Or is that a price you made up?

skywanderer

Could the op not conveniently just get "Sick" at the airport during his layover and request not to travel onwards, perhaps due to his newly found "fear of flying".

VincePP

solution - make a trip to Vancouver seperately later in the year.

1 - It won't cost too much extra if its off season. €660 return incl taxes with Air Canada in mid Sept.

2 - It will be a lot less hassle

3 - Your GF won't be p1ssed off

Trimm Trabb

VincePP wrote: »

solution - make a trip to Vancouver seperately later in the year.

1 - It won't cost too much extra if its off season. €660 return incl taxes with Air Canada in mid Sept.

2 - It will be a lot less hassle

3 - Your GF won't be p1ssed off

I can't due to work, it's got to be in the peak season unfortunately.

I rang the travel agent today and they were quite helpful. He advised me that it would be $2000 to change the flights so that is completely out of the question.

He did split the flights for me so myself and my girlfriend so we are now completely separate passengers. He suggested that she could then check through any extra luggage (and we can pay whatever that may be - small change in comparison to booking new flights) and I can just bring hand luggage with me on the first flight.

He then said I will be free to go on and book separate flights and leave the airport as I normally would. So next step is just checking with the Canadian embassy what position I would be arriving in Canada in this way - obviously I will need a holiday visa and to have proof of a return flight - I just need to be sure they won't refuse me entry due to missing the second flight.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Trimm Trabb

Trimm Trabb wrote: »

This summer I have booked a return flight to Cuba. On the way back from Cuba there is a layover in Toronto before going back to Dublin. I now want to go visit a friend in Vancouver so my ideally I'd like to walk away from the second leg of the return flight and just buy an internal flight from Toronto to Vancouver - does anyone know if this is possible?

My googling so far seems to indicate its against the rules.. Has anyone ever done something similar?

There seems to people saying that if you just don't show up for the next flight the plane will just leave without you and then you can go catch the flight you actually want.. Problem with that is my girlfriend is travelling to Cuba with me and and she will be taking the Dublin flight so I presume they would want to know from her where I am? Also would I have a problem getting through customs to my next flight internally?

This all worked fine in the end - didn't check a bag and headed for the exit instead or gate for connecting flights in Toronto - happy days.