Passengers who missed their outbound flight could be stranded at the airport on their return home due to a tiny clause buried in many airline terms and conditions. The little-known ‘no-show’ rule means your return ticket can be void and sold on without warning if you do not board your outbound flight. In such instance, passengers who have their return flights cancelled after missing their outbound journey can sue airlines if they are denied boarding.
No-show Clause by Airlines
The Airlines often include a ‘no-show clause’ in their terms and conditions. They can automatically cancel a passenger’s return flight if they miss their outbound one, even if it is for reasons outside of their control. When passengers miss the outbound leg of their flight, their return flight is cancelled. After cancellation of the return flight, airlines are able to resell the ticket. Obviously, this means they are potentially doubling their money. On the other hand, passengers only find out that their flight has been cancelled after they arrive at the airport for the return flight. Now they either buy a new seat at a vast expense or they pay a fine to sit in their original seat.
Airlines such as British Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Flybe all have included ‘no-show clause’ in their terms and conditions. This is to prevent passengers from taking advantage of cheaper fares, for example when a connecting flight is cheaper than a direct flight – also known as ‘skiplagging’.
Skiplagging
Airlines hate skiplaggers. While the practice is cost effective for passengers but it does cut down the airlines’ revenue since they can’t sell that empty seat on their route in an instance. Skiplagging also has the potential to delay flights since the aircraft sits waiting for a passenger who is never going to show up.
Passengers can Sue Airlines
While barring passengers from flying has become an increasingly common practice among airlines, many passengers are still not aware of this practice. According to CAA, passengers should be able to miss their flight and still have their return flight. CAA has now advised that passengers could sue airlines if they are denied boarding in this instance. Whereas British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Flybe, Emirates, American Airlines and Singapore Airlines cancel your return ticket if you fail to turn up to your outbound first flight, Air France and Dutch airline KLM impose fines of up to £2,568 on customers who miss any flights which are part of their booking.
Airlines which do not meet the CAA standards of good practice in regard to missed outbound flights are given below.
- British Airways
- Air France/KLM
- Flybe
- Aer Lingus
- Lufthansa
