Making best use of an unused ticket
November 3, 2019 12:03 PM Subscribe
We both have an upcoming (return) flight scheduled. We both flew out but only one of us is flying back. She can make it. I can't. The flight is non-refundable, non-changable. How can she best make use of my empty seat?
I assume that if I call and cancel, the airline will try to re-sell my seat. My preference would be for her to have an empty seat next to her and thus have a more comfortable flight.
At this point, I was planning to not checkin and when she arrives at the checkin desk with her bag she can inform them that I will not be making the flight. Should she even do that?
Any advice appreciated.. The flight is 11+ hours so this would make a huge difference. Airline is Lufthansa/United if that makes a difference.
I assume that if I call and cancel, the airline will try to re-sell my seat. My preference would be for her to have an empty seat next to her and thus have a more comfortable flight.
At this point, I was planning to not checkin and when she arrives at the checkin desk with her bag she can inform them that I will not be making the flight. Should she even do that?
Any advice appreciated.. The flight is 11+ hours so this would make a huge difference. Airline is Lufthansa/United if that makes a difference.
It differs widely from airline to airline and of course also according to the fare rules for the particular ticket you bought but I have found in the past that even non-refundable tickets can sometimes be turned into a partial credit against future travel. You almost certainly won't get the full value of the ticket refunded to you but it is very possible you might get more than nothing even if your ticket is non-refundable.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:26 PM on November 3, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:26 PM on November 3, 2019 [6 favorites]
(By "play dumb" I mean something like "gosh, he said he was going to meet me at the airport, but can I check in now and drop off this heavy bag with you and then he can check in when he gets here?")
Also, since I'm posting a follow-up: you might try asking this same question on Travel StackExchange. There are plenty of seasoned travelers there who might have other advice.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:26 PM on November 3, 2019
Also, since I'm posting a follow-up: you might try asking this same question on Travel StackExchange. There are plenty of seasoned travelers there who might have other advice.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:26 PM on November 3, 2019
Check in online for the flight but simply don't show up. No reason exists for her to inform the airline you won't be showing up. If you don't check in, someone on the wait list will be bumped onto the flight about an hour before the flight. If you check in, the only way someone can be bumped onto the flight is just before the final boarding announcement, which most gate agents are not going to bother with.
posted by saeculorum at 12:41 PM on November 3, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by saeculorum at 12:41 PM on November 3, 2019 [10 favorites]
Agree check in and if possible have her reserve a window/aisle seat and you reserve the middle next to her. That way they have less time to realize you aren’t showing up, and if they do and someone takes your seat, she at least isn’t in the middle.
Even if you are on the same reservation, you can check in and/or drop off bags separately so there is no need for her (or you) to tell them you aren’t coming.(I was you want to try for a partial refund as explained above). If the flight is oversold or there are standbys, they will most likely eventually give your seat up if you don’t actually board, but yeah that’s less likely on an international flight.
If they don’t give your seat up someone could take it and at that point it’s up to your partner how much she would be comfortable saying that seat is taken even though it really isn’t. If I were her I would spread out her stuff and put her legs/feet up or otherwise make it look like you are coming to sit there so that is less likely to happen. But if it’s a middle seat anyway I doubt someone will try to snatch t unless they are in a really crappy seating situation
posted by sillysally at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Even if you are on the same reservation, you can check in and/or drop off bags separately so there is no need for her (or you) to tell them you aren’t coming.(I was you want to try for a partial refund as explained above). If the flight is oversold or there are standbys, they will most likely eventually give your seat up if you don’t actually board, but yeah that’s less likely on an international flight.
If they don’t give your seat up someone could take it and at that point it’s up to your partner how much she would be comfortable saying that seat is taken even though it really isn’t. If I were her I would spread out her stuff and put her legs/feet up or otherwise make it look like you are coming to sit there so that is less likely to happen. But if it’s a middle seat anyway I doubt someone will try to snatch t unless they are in a really crappy seating situation
posted by sillysally at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Although I just remembered for international flights, at least out of the US, you (Sometimes? Always?) have to check in in person.....so might be out of luck on that front. If you are flying between places where you don’t have to show a passport (unlikely given the 11 hr duration) it might work.
posted by sillysally at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2019
posted by sillysally at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2019
Agree with Johnny Assay about seat selection: see if you can select seats such that when yours becomes empty, it's not likely to be the "next best seat" for someone else.
Also, do check with the airline. It's possible that you could pay a substantial fee to retain some value for use in the future. Most likely, this would be structured as paying a change fee, canceling the return flight for both of you, then using the prepaid value of your return flight (not necessarily half of your total fare, could be more or less) to buy a brand new reservation for her.
It's possible (though unlikely) that you could do this and end up with a credit at the airline to use in the future. If you want to try this, first shop for one-way flights to see if an earlier/later flight could be less expensive.
posted by reeddavid at 1:23 PM on November 3, 2019
Also, do check with the airline. It's possible that you could pay a substantial fee to retain some value for use in the future. Most likely, this would be structured as paying a change fee, canceling the return flight for both of you, then using the prepaid value of your return flight (not necessarily half of your total fare, could be more or less) to buy a brand new reservation for her.
It's possible (though unlikely) that you could do this and end up with a credit at the airline to use in the future. If you want to try this, first shop for one-way flights to see if an earlier/later flight could be less expensive.
posted by reeddavid at 1:23 PM on November 3, 2019
Are you absolutely sure there is no way to cancel your ticket without getting a credit? United's web site says there's a $400 fee to do so for international flights. Call and confirm. You don't have to do the cancel immediately if you're strategically trying to make sure she has an empty seat beside her.
To minimize the chance that someone else gets assigned the seat you would be in, if necessary, change both your seating assignments so that she has the desirable one and you have the undesirable one (before canceling your ticket). Then, cancel your ticket at the last possible minute; my guess is an hour before the flight would be good.
posted by ShooBoo at 2:00 PM on November 3, 2019
To minimize the chance that someone else gets assigned the seat you would be in, if necessary, change both your seating assignments so that she has the desirable one and you have the undesirable one (before canceling your ticket). Then, cancel your ticket at the last possible minute; my guess is an hour before the flight would be good.
posted by ShooBoo at 2:00 PM on November 3, 2019
My husband has to miss some flights and he told me that he goes through the process of cancelling so he gets the taxes back... which is a lot.
posted by catspajammies at 2:05 PM on November 3, 2019
posted by catspajammies at 2:05 PM on November 3, 2019
All tickets are changeable, the only issue is the size of the change fee. As long as the change fee is less than the cost of the other flight you want, the ticket has some value.
posted by w0mbat at 2:40 PM on November 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by w0mbat at 2:40 PM on November 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
The airline may have a standard for buying a seat for a musical instrument. So a $25 pawnshop violin (that identifies itself as a Stradivarius) becomes her seatmate.
posted by Sophont at 3:39 PM on November 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Sophont at 3:39 PM on November 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
All tickets are changeable, the only issue is the size of the change fee.
Lufthansa offers fares that are non-changeable and non-refundable. I’ve bought both refundable and non-refundable fares from them in the last 12 months. What you can always do is get back your taxes, normally after deducting some admin fee.
If you don’t want to do that you should check in online and she can work out what seat combination makes most sense for her. That way they can’t be certain you are a no show until it is too late to re-sell the ticket although she may still be unlucky if there is a waiting list.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:03 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Lufthansa offers fares that are non-changeable and non-refundable. I’ve bought both refundable and non-refundable fares from them in the last 12 months. What you can always do is get back your taxes, normally after deducting some admin fee.
If you don’t want to do that you should check in online and she can work out what seat combination makes most sense for her. That way they can’t be certain you are a no show until it is too late to re-sell the ticket although she may still be unlucky if there is a waiting list.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:03 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
As an experienced standby air traveler, it is very, very common for your seat to be reassigned at the last minute if you check in and don’t show up. This will almost certainly happen unless the flight is not full.
posted by mai at 4:43 PM on November 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by mai at 4:43 PM on November 3, 2019 [5 favorites]
Several good answers above; you can try and pay the change fee (if it has incremental value), or you can try to get it to be a 'musical instrument' seat. I'm betting for that one they would consider it a change of seat-holder, so that would probably cost you.
At the end of the day all you can do is ensure that she has the "good" seat (window or aisle) and you get a crappy seat (the middle) next to her. You should reassign your seats to this configuration if you can, even if it means switching from two good seats (aisle / window) that weren't next to each other previously. This maximizes the chance of her having an empty seat next to her; as mai says above, if the flight is oversold or full all the seats will get used, so the best you can do is make yours one of the least attractive.
If you do that AND you check in, you will have one of the last seats re-assigned. Won't help on a full flight, but there's a decent chance otherwise.
posted by true at 5:34 PM on November 3, 2019
At the end of the day all you can do is ensure that she has the "good" seat (window or aisle) and you get a crappy seat (the middle) next to her. You should reassign your seats to this configuration if you can, even if it means switching from two good seats (aisle / window) that weren't next to each other previously. This maximizes the chance of her having an empty seat next to her; as mai says above, if the flight is oversold or full all the seats will get used, so the best you can do is make yours one of the least attractive.
If you do that AND you check in, you will have one of the last seats re-assigned. Won't help on a full flight, but there's a decent chance otherwise.
posted by true at 5:34 PM on November 3, 2019
If you can't get a refund or credit, the best thing you can do is absolutely nothing.
It's not clear from your question, but I assume the return flight is to the US. A couple of comments above are good ideas for domestic travel in the US, but aren't applicable overseas.
1. The "check in online and don't show up so they have less time to move someone from standby" trick probably won't be possible. This is because USCIS regulations (combined with some airlines' justified cautiousness in the face of USCIS fines) make it impossible to check in without appearing in person with your passport at the airport for travel to the US. If you try, you get a confirmation that looks like a boarding pass that says "come to the airport to check in".
2. On the other hand, standby travel is rarely possible for international travel to the US because USCIS makes late additions difficult and slow (including requiring a second round of document checks at a secured area near the gate). Unless the airline has several hours of notice that a passenger will not appear, they'll find it difficult to switch in a new passenger.
All of which is to say, if you don't show up, the airline will probably not be able to move someone on to the flight from standby.
There's nothing you can do to stop someone who has a ticket being moved to your seat (except choose an undesirable seat).
p.s. One thing you should definitely not do is go with her to the airport, check in, and then not appear at the gate. This is going to attract attention for you (and her, if she's on the same itinerary) from USCIS.
posted by caek at 8:23 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
It's not clear from your question, but I assume the return flight is to the US. A couple of comments above are good ideas for domestic travel in the US, but aren't applicable overseas.
1. The "check in online and don't show up so they have less time to move someone from standby" trick probably won't be possible. This is because USCIS regulations (combined with some airlines' justified cautiousness in the face of USCIS fines) make it impossible to check in without appearing in person with your passport at the airport for travel to the US. If you try, you get a confirmation that looks like a boarding pass that says "come to the airport to check in".
2. On the other hand, standby travel is rarely possible for international travel to the US because USCIS makes late additions difficult and slow (including requiring a second round of document checks at a secured area near the gate). Unless the airline has several hours of notice that a passenger will not appear, they'll find it difficult to switch in a new passenger.
All of which is to say, if you don't show up, the airline will probably not be able to move someone on to the flight from standby.
There's nothing you can do to stop someone who has a ticket being moved to your seat (except choose an undesirable seat).
p.s. One thing you should definitely not do is go with her to the airport, check in, and then not appear at the gate. This is going to attract attention for you (and her, if she's on the same itinerary) from USCIS.
posted by caek at 8:23 PM on November 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Isn’t there a procedure where people with large bodies can buy two seats if they would be more comfortable? There must be some way she can just have both seats...if that’s not possible (both in her name?) then I’d agree to check in and just not show up. There was traffic and you “missed” the flight.
posted by amaire at 8:40 PM on November 3, 2019
posted by amaire at 8:40 PM on November 3, 2019
Response by poster: Lufthansa offers fares that are non-changeable and non-refundable.
These are indeed the fares. Everything I've seen is that there is zero flexibility on these fares.
Thank you all for the advice. I was asking in case there was something I didn't know about being in this situation. I don't mind losing the fare - I am staying behind for some work that will also pay for a new return flight.
One thing you should definitely not do is go with her to the airport, check in, and then not appear at the gate. This is going to attract attention for you (and her, if she's on the same itinerary) from USCIS.
This is very good advice. This is a US->Europe flight and the one person flying is on an ESTA. So I think I will proceed with caution here. I'll let her checkin alone and inform them I won't be showing up. We'll take our chances from there.
posted by vacapinta at 2:25 PM on November 4, 2019
These are indeed the fares. Everything I've seen is that there is zero flexibility on these fares.
Thank you all for the advice. I was asking in case there was something I didn't know about being in this situation. I don't mind losing the fare - I am staying behind for some work that will also pay for a new return flight.
One thing you should definitely not do is go with her to the airport, check in, and then not appear at the gate. This is going to attract attention for you (and her, if she's on the same itinerary) from USCIS.
This is very good advice. This is a US->Europe flight and the one person flying is on an ESTA. So I think I will proceed with caution here. I'll let her checkin alone and inform them I won't be showing up. We'll take our chances from there.
posted by vacapinta at 2:25 PM on November 4, 2019
Response by poster: So, the Lufthansa strike changed everything.
They re-booked us on another flight (United) and this change then allowed me to get a refund for my unused flight.
They also told us that we really needed to split the booking. We were both of course on the same booking but my no-show/cancellation endangered her booking. Or so they said. So I did talk to a Lufthansa agent who split our booking. She stayed under the original booking code and they created a new one for me.
Again, I do not know if this was strictly necessary but it is what I was advised to do and thought I'd share it here for others.
posted by vacapinta at 6:56 AM on November 8, 2019
They re-booked us on another flight (United) and this change then allowed me to get a refund for my unused flight.
They also told us that we really needed to split the booking. We were both of course on the same booking but my no-show/cancellation endangered her booking. Or so they said. So I did talk to a Lufthansa agent who split our booking. She stayed under the original booking code and they created a new one for me.
Again, I do not know if this was strictly necessary but it is what I was advised to do and thought I'd share it here for others.
posted by vacapinta at 6:56 AM on November 8, 2019
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If you really want to maximize the chances that your seat won't be reassigned, I would (a) ensure that you give up the less desirable of the two seats, so that another passenger is less likely to snap it up; and (b) have your companion play dumb about where you are, so that the airline has less time to re-sell or re-assign your seat between when they officially decide you're a no-show and when the plane takes off.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:18 PM on November 3, 2019 [13 favorites]