Ordering a return ticket Melbourne to Los Angeles with V Australia; can I travel to LA and cancel the return flight for a refund?

July 28, 2009 6:31 AM

I'm going to be flying one way from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles with V Australia. It's cheaper to book a return ticket than a one way ticket. Can I cancel the return flight and get a refund?

I'm looking at going via Premium Economy with V Australia and getting a "Premium Deal" ticket from Melbourne to Los Angeles (approx. $923) and selecting a "Premium Flexi" ticket for the return journey (approx. $2500). After arriving in LA, I would want to cancel the return ticket. Is it possible to do this and get a full refund of the $2500 for the return ticket? Has anyone had experience doing this kind of thing before?

Going with a return ticket option was much cheaper than going with one way. I had considered selecting a "Premium Deal" ticket for the return, but I read that there was a $550 cancellation fee, which is why I'm asking about the "Premium Flexi" instead.

posted by Eastgate to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

we used to purchase return trips all the time between NY and Finland. Never were we able to cancel move or exchange our return tickets. its part of the game sadly.
posted by wile e at 6:53 AM on July 28

No airline would permit you to cancel the return leg, or it would be done all the time. One way is always more expensive than return. Just book the one-way.

Assuming you have a visa that doesn't require you to show proof (ie a return ticket) that you are going to leave the US, of course!
posted by wingless_angel at 7:01 AM on July 28

It's a visa that will give me permanent residence, so I don't need to show evidence of a return flight.

According to the booking system on the V Australia site, it's actually cheaper for me to book return "Premium Deal" tickets with V Australia than to book a one-way ticket (which they only offer in "Premium Flexi" anyway), so no, it's not always cheaper to buy a one way ticket. So it looks like either way I should book return even if the return journey will just be unused and unrefunded. What I'm just trying to work out is whether it would make sense to book "Premium Deal" travelling there and "Premium Flexi" for the return flight, since "Premium Flexi" says it allows you to cancel for free.

According to section "7. Refunds" on this page:
http://www.vaustralia.com.au/help-me/terms-and-conditions/index.htm

(b) if a portion of the Ticket has been used, the refund will be an amount equal to the difference between the fare paid and the applicable fare for travel between the points for which the Ticket has been used, (considered on a one-way basis where appropriate, and including any applicable taxes, levies and surcharges) less any applicable service charges or cancellation fees.

Their terms seem to indicate that I can do it?
posted by Eastgate at 7:18 AM on July 28

Yes, you can get a refund for whatever portion of the ticket cost more than the one-way fare.

Which is zero. That's what "considered on a one-way basis where appropriate" means.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:30 AM on July 28 [1 favorite]

I've been in this situation a few times.

Generally you can't cancel and get refunded for the unused leg.

If the return is cheaper than the one-way, just buy the return and "forget to show up" for your flight.

I've done this a few times. You'll make some standby passenger's day.
posted by generichuman at 8:12 AM on July 28