Questions and Answers

I want to book a one-way ticket from Edinborough to the U.S. (preferably ATL) for August (right now the airfare round trip is about the same as one way, but I’m not ready to book yet). Already booked one way bus class award flight from ATL-EDI. I’ve read everything I can find on throwaway ticketing and understand the penalties outlined in the contract of carriage. But I’m wondering if anyone has actually paid the price for doing this? Has anyone had their frequent flyer account revoked? Has anyone been charged $$?
My thought was to book the return on an alliance that I’m not a member of—meaning since I wasn’t a frequent flyer of the airline, they might not care. But I certainly wouldn’t want to be charged the difference between the round trip and one way fare.

So does my logic make sense—book on an airline I’m not a frequent flyer with? Has anyone done this internationally in the past year or so? Thank you for any info you may have on this issue.

Welcome [USER=4957]@KathyW[/USER] – the only times I’ve heard of the airlines going after anyone is for serial abusers. If you do it once they almost certainly won’t penalize you. I really wouldn’t be concerned about it.

[USER=4957]@KathyW[/USER] just make sure you don’t do throwaway ticketing with an airline for which you have a frequent flyer account. And, also use one where you will not have to check any bags to your final destination

[USER=1486]@wilve[/USER] – she’s throwing away the whole return leg (US-EDI) so it’s fine to check a bag EDI-US. Once she lands in the US, as far as the airline knows, she’ll be returning to EDI at a later date. And I really think as a one-off she’ll be fine crediting the mile on the outbound leg.

Kathy, you could also look at making your return leg at a way later date. I’ve been in your shoes before, and booked a flight from Europe to the US when I needed it, and the entire return leg 8 months later. I didn’t even know where I was going at the time, but I booked the flight back to London figuring I could get most anywhere from there. It still got that “round-trip pricing” that you’re looking for, and gets you the start of potentially your next vacation.