Whether you can cancel the return leg of a round trip ticket depends almost entirely on the fare rules of your specific ticket and the airline’s policy.
Here’s a breakdown of the key factors:
1. The Type of Fare You Purchased
This is the most important factor. Airlines sell tickets with different sets of rules, generally categorized as:
- Non-refundable, Basic Economy, or Highly Restricted Fares: These are the most common and cheapest tickets. For these, the return leg usually cannot be canceled independently without penalty. If you don’t take the return flight, it’s typically considered a “no-show,” and the remaining value of the ticket is forfeited. You generally cannot get a refund or credit for the unused portion.
- Refundable or Flexible Fares: These more expensive tickets often allow changes and cancellations with little or no fee. You could likely cancel the return leg and receive a refund or credit for its value.
- Partially Refundable Fares: Some fares may allow cancellations with a fee. You might be able to cancel the return, but a change/cancellation fee would apply, and you’d get the remaining value as a credit.
2. The “Hidden City” Trick & Its Consequences
Some travelers consider skiplagging—booking a round trip because it’s cheaper than a one-way, but intentionally missing the return leg to use only the outbound flight. Airlines explicitly prohibit this in their contracts of carriage.
Risks of Skiplagging:
The airline can cancel any remaining segments on your itinerary (including your return if you haven’t taken it