Can I buy a round trip ticket and only fly one way?

If you buy a round trip flight but only use one way, then the other half of your ticket will be forfeited. Depending on the airline and fare type, you may be able to get a refund or credit for future travel.



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To offer you the best price on your chosen route, we found that a round-trip ticket is actually cheaper than a one-way flight. However, the practice of “throwaway ticketing” — only using the first part of a round-trip ticket — is prohibited by a majority of airlines in their terms and conditions.

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If you purchased a round-trip flight and need to change the first leg to a different day, your best bet will likely be to pay the change fee and book a new flight. If you only need to change the return portion of a round trip, however, it may be cheaper to book a new one-way flight than to pay the cancellation fee.

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Airlines typically require that both legs of the journey be cancelled together in order to receive a refund or credit for future travel. However, if your plans have changed and you no longer need to take the return portion of your flight, some airlines may allow you to change it for a fee.

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Even if you booked a round-trip itinerary, you can cancel just one direction if needed. Within your account, Southwest displays all your upcoming reservations. To cancel your flight, click the Cancel flight link for the respective flight. Note that canceling the flight will cancel all passengers on the itinerary.

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Yes you can but you should not check-thru your bags to your final destination. Best situation is to have carry-on so that you can jump off at your connecting airport.

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Don't openly admit you have a one way flight
Immigration and security officials can deny you access to the flight or send you straight back home if they know you're on a one way ticket. Chances are they won't ask but it is officially their duty to, so be prepared with proof of some sort of onward travel.

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You want to take only the first leg of the journey.
Although it's a breach of contract, you can do it. The airline can't cancel your journey anymore, as there is nothing left to cancel. But are you eligible for compensation if one of the flights is delayed or cancelled?

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The good news is that hidden city ticketing isn't illegal. The bad news is that you can get in trouble with airlines for hidden city ticketing, as it does violate the contract of carriage you agree to when booking a ticket.

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Empty legs are often deeply discounted and priced low enough to entice flyers to take advantage of the low empty leg prices. What is an empty leg discount? Empty leg flights are often discounted by 25 to 75 percent, depending on factors such as the type of aircraft and the route.

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You have to contact the airline and rebook the first segment or otherwise have them change your ticket in the case that you accidentally miss your first flight. If you accidentally miss it, then yes, your whole itinerary is void.

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Throwaway ticketing is purchasing a ticket with the intent to use only a portion of the included travel. This situation may arise when a passenger wants to travel only one way, but where the discounted round-trip excursion fare is cheaper than a one-way ticket.

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If you missed your flight due to traffic, the airline may label you as a no show and cancel your entire itinerary. This is why it is important to call ahead and see if you can be rebooked on another flight so that you can still fly. Chances are, you will need to pay the rebooking fee.

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Average domestic airfare price by day
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically.
  • Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush.
  • Wednesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally.
  • Book one to three months in advance.
  • Set a price alert.


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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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