Miss connecting flight ... on purpose. Ok to do?

News of St. John · Post by **News of St. John** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:30 pm

Here is an odd question...

I am scheduled to arrive in Puerto Rico at about 12:30 p.m. My flight to St. Thomas does not leave until 3:15, meaning I will not get there until 3:45. After getting the jeep and driving to the car barge, I am estimating that I will not be on St. John until about 6:30 at night. I prefer to arrive in the daylight so I can see the beautiful island.

As I am sitting in my living room snowed in in New England, I had an idea...

Is it possible to skip my connecting flight from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas and instead take an earlier flight on another airline? I can buy a RT from SJU to STT for only $111. This seems well worth it for me to get to the island two hours earlier. What do you all think? Possible? Allowed?

PatrickMcc · Post by **PatrickMcc** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:00 pm

I am pretty sure (but not certain) that a friend told me several years ago that he missed a connecting fight from Miami to Key West and drove to Key West and the airline cancelled his return tickets. I would check this out.

PatrickMcc · Post by **PatrickMcc** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:01 pm

I am pretty sure (but not certain) that a friend told me several years ago that he missed a connecting fight from Miami to Key West and drove to Key West and the airline cancelled his return tickets. I would check this out.

JJShaw · Post by **JJShaw** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:25 am

I would call the Airline and let them know you will not be needing the 2nd leg of the flight...or the first leg back..just make sure they do not cancel the return flight...you probably wont get any money back...but at least you would get there earlier..Id definetly call..to let them know..maybe they could even note your reservation..

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:37 am

I wanted to do that same thing (different cities, but same idea) and was told by the airline that my return flight would be cancelled if I went through with it.

Chris @ Work · Post by **Chris @ Work** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:20 am

It is pretty standard policy within the industry that any change in itinerary (unless made by the airline) will result in a canceled trip. I think this policy was started after travelers would buy multiple RT tickets at low promotional fares but not at convenient dates and then 'package' the dates they wanted throwing away the flight segments they didn't use. The result was a cheaper fare on dates they wanted but empty seats the airlines had difficulty re-filling.
I have also heard the policy is supported by Homeland Security/TSA although I tend to believe the former.
Unfortunately the way airlines price things today you might find it more expensive to buy RT to SJ and add the $111 then RT to STT. Of course saving money is not always the best way to have a vacation.
Concerning night time arrival to STJ...while I agree it is always nice to ferry in while seeing the island I also find it equally exiting waking up to the new day already being there. To each his/her own

lpowmacback · Post by **lpowmacback** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:16 am

We had a similar situation with our upcoming trip to STJ this March: original flight had us arriving in San Juan with a fairly short layover wait to STT - but a week ago the flights had some changes creating a 3 hour layover in San Juan and a much later arrival time. I called Continental and they changed it so we we will be on a much earlier flight to STT making the ETA on STJ earlier than originally planned. Bottom line, call them and ask!

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:56 am

I agree a skipped/missed segment in an itinerary will result in the remainder of the trip being canceled. Since the itinerary was first changed by them, they may be willing to be flexible. You may be able to get them to put you on different flights that work better. You may also be able to get them to change your trip to STT to a trip to SJU only. As you have already heard, don't expect any money back.

Good luck

JIM

JohnM · Post by **JohnM** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:42 pm

CTBG:

The only way you can pull off something like this is if its the last leg of your return trip (i.e., if you were returning back to STT), then you could throw away the SJU-STT leg of your trip. Otherwise, I agree with the others here that the airline will likely cancel the rest of your itinerary.

Also, you didn't mention any checked luggage. Even though it has a final destination of STT, it could be taken off the plane at SJU when you don't show up for the flight. Homeland Security issues here, because your luggage is on that flight, but you're not.

Your idea is a good one. But the airlines frown up it.

silands · Post by **silands** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 6:54 pm

I did it and had no problem, I was booked on Jetblue from Boston-San Juan-St Thomas on the way down to the island and I picked up a flight in San Juan, that left 4 hours earlier then my connecting flight would have left to St Thomas, I had no issues with my return flight. I used my AA miles it cost me a $12 charge!

Good Luck

Knolmom · Post by **Knolmom** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:10 am

You had no problems with cancelling on the Jet Blue itinereary because all of Jet Blue's flights are "one way". There is no "round trip" purchase so there is no penalty for throwing away the last leg of a "one way" ticket to STT. That is how Jet Blue operates. Dont hold me to it , but I believe Spirit operates the same way.

GidgetPicklebrain · Post by **GidgetPicklebrain** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:36 am

A number of years ago My husband and I flew to Denver for a ski vacation in Aspen. We arrived at the airport, checked our ski equipment and headed to the gate. A representative there told us we were so early that we could take a non-stop flight that waas about to board rather than waiting for our scheduled flight which included a layover and put us in Denver 3 hours later. At first we hesitated, but he talked us into it. BIG MISTAKE.

Upon arriving at Denver, we discoverd that our bags and equipment were on our originally scheduled flight, so we still had to sit at the airport for three hours and wait for our stuff to arrive. So much for saving time ...

When we arrived at the airport for our return flight home, we were informed that our tickets had been cancelled and our seats sold to someone else because we had not checked in and flown to Denver. I commented that obviously we had, otherwise we would not be standing there in front of him! Fortunately there we a couple of first class seats unsold, so they flew us home first class at no additional charge. Turned out well, but could just as easily have turned out very badly, stranded at the airport.

I've never had the guts to do a last-minute change or board a flight other than the one I was scheduled to board since then.

lpowmacback · Post by **lpowmacback** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:47 am

CT- have you tried talking to the airline? We had the same situation happen (not with the original flights/times I'd booked, but after their many changes over the course of a few months). I simply called and the woman @ Continental was great about switching our puddle jumper to an earlier one - since there was availability! You have nothing to lose by asking... and if they can't do it - ask THE AIRLINE the same question you asked here - I bet they'd know for sure - that's USUALLY (not always) the case

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