Expert: Roberto Gomes - 2/6/2006

Question
Follow up question.  

There are no bags involved, I never have checked luggage.  These flights are all on the same airline. Toledo and Detroit airports are equal distance from my house.  The price from Toledo is cheaper but requires me to fly from there to Detroit.  From Detroit it is the same plane to London whether the tickets originated there, or I flew from Toledo. Applying some logic to the senario, how can it be cheaper from Toledo when it requires another flight?  Toledo seldom issues boarding passes for international flights out of other airports, I would need to get those in Detroit anyway where it is quick and easy.  I could leave my house later in the day if I flew from Detroit, and be home in bed long before the Detroit to Toledo plane even took off (4.5 hours in Detroit waiting for the flight to Toledo).  Why does the airline care if I drive to Detroit, or use the ticket they sold me to fly there from Toledo?  As long as they get the money and I am happy, what is the problem?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Why do airlines make it impossible to use part of a ticket?  Is this airline policy or Federal regulation?  i.e. buy a ticket from Toledo to Detroit to London and skip the Toledo to Detroit leg.  As long as I paid for that leg, why do I need to be on the plane?  Three hour layover in Detroit before going on to London.  Obviously a different airplane going to London then the one coming from Toledo.  I can drive to Detriot in 45 minutes.

Thank you
Answer -
Dear Donley,

Sorry for the delay in answering, but the site experienced some tech dificulties and I just got the problem fixed today.

In this case probably the fare you found from Detroit to London was higher than the one from Toledo to London. Once you bought it, you made a contract with the airline - which one part of it - you did not fulfill. You paid it, you booked and you didn't show up (indirectly, other customer was prejudiced). Also consider the following:

1. In Toledo your bags will be checked directly to London. You do not have to collect them in Detroit.

2. If your itinerary involves codeshare flights or alliance airlines your Detroit-London leg' boarding pass is also issued in Toledo.

3. You will have to be at Detroit check-in counter at least 3 hour before departure. Is the same time you will spend at the transit lounge.


Apart of the issues I point out I would like to ask you to re-submit your question if is not clarified.

Best Regards,
R. Gomes  

Answer
Technically, fares are constructed according to the distance from two points. In some cases cities/airports in the vicinity area are treated as "common points" and thus the resulting tarifs are the same i.e "common fares". It is up to the customer to select the itinerary of his/her convenience. In your case you selected the fare from TOL which was cheaper. But this criteria did not meet your convenience.

Airlines do this to capture traffic, make revenue with other outbound destinations and pay their expenses (landing fees/slots, staff, fuel etc...) and some people prefers to fly this way. It is a matter of choice.

R. Gomes