workaround to be able to skip first flight of a two-leg trip

[chayie]

Hi.

This happened to me a couple of days ago, so it's no longer relevant, but I would love to know what the DDF experts have to say, in case I'm ever in this situation again.

I had a United ticket (class S) that I booked in March, flying from Washington to Newark and Newark to TLV, as there are no direct Washington flights.

I ended up in NY unexpectedly and called United two days before the flight asking them if they can just "forget" about the DC-EWR flight, and allow we to just fly EWR-TLV. Nothing doing - they wouldn't budge and said that I MUST take the DC-EWR flight, otherwise they'll cancel the EWR-TLV leg. I tried reasoning with them, but they wouldn't change it, unless I paid the $300 International change fee plus the difference, which at that time was $2500!

Having no choice, I took the train from NYC to Washington and a couple of hours later, turned right around and took the DC-EWR flight, which is simply insane!

What could I have done?
PS- I have no status with United. All I have is the Mileage Explorer credit card.

Thanks!

[Emkay]

Hi.

This happened to me a couple of days ago, so it's no longer relevant, but I would love to know what the DDF experts have to say, in case I'm ever in this situation again.

I had a United ticket (class S) that I booked in March, flying from Washington to Newark and Newark to TLV, as there are no direct Washington flights.

I ended up in NY unexpectedly and called United two days before the flight asking them if they can just "forget" about the DC-EWR flight, and allow we to just fly EWR-TLV. Nothing doing - they wouldn't budge and said that I MUST take the DC-EWR flight, otherwise they'll cancel the EWR-TLV leg. I tried reasoning with them, but they wouldn't change it, unless I paid the $300 International change fee plus the difference, which at that time was $2500!

Having no choice, I took the train from NYC to Washington and a couple of hours later, turned right around and took the DC-EWR flight, which is simply insane!

What could I have done?
PS- I have no status with United. All I have is the Mileage Explorer credit card.

Thanks!

Nothing really to do. Need to take that leg.

[shmooz]

If there was a schedule change in the flights since you booked  you may be able to drop the flight otherwise need to fly.

The non hub flights are cheaper and if united allowed dropping the flight people would do it every time

[MarkS]

The one thing you could do is find someone else that needs to get from DC-EWR and have them take the flight....

[Yitz]

The one thing you could do is find someone else that needs to get from DC-EWR and have them take the flight....

How does this work if it is a different name for the 1st leg of the trip.

[yitrap]

How does this work if it is a different name for the 1st leg of the trip.

If he could somehow get to the gate...

[David Smith]

How does this work if it is a different name for the 1st leg of the trip.

Use refundable to get through security, and hope they don't check name by gate.

[chaimmayer]

There's a thread somewhere where there is a discussion whether or not you can rely on them not checking your id as you board

[Aaaron]

It's an incredibly stupid move.

[Sig]

Yeah, for a variety of reasons from security to knowing who's on a mishap aircraft it's important to know that the manifest matches the actual people on board. You're being selfish, plain and simple, if you put the whole plane at risk of a security incident, taking off all the luggage, screening it, and rechecking it just because you engage in a stupid stunt like this to save a few bucks. If you think you need a refundable ticket buy  a refundable ticket or engage in a hack that doesn't put the rest of the aircraft's passengers at risk for a multi-hour delay.

[ExGingi]

Use refundable to get through security, and hope they don't check name by gate.

How about travel without any piece of ID? Happened to me once before that I arrived at airport (in the mid 2000s) and they let me go through subject to a complete pat down.

[dudi]

How about travel without any piece of ID? Happened to me once before that I arrived at airport (in the mid 2000s) and they let me go through subject to a complete pat down.

Most important part of this is that it happened before 2001

[SPLP]

It's an incredibly stupid move.

WELL SAID!

[B.D.Da'ehu]

If only there was a workaround 

[yakrot]

Most important part of this is that it happened before 2001

You can still travel without id

[dudi]

You can still travel without id

How???

[yakrot]

How???

Show up to the airport and say you lost your id you need to fill out a paper and they do an additional homeland security check and your through

[ExGingi]

How about travel without any piece of ID? Happened to me once before that I arrived at airport (in the mid 2000s) and they let me go through subject to a complete pat down.

Most important part of this is that it happened before 2001

Definitely happened AFTER 2001, I am guessing around 2005 IIRC.

[coralsnake]

Show up to the airport and say you lost your id you need to fill out a paper and they do an additional homeland security check and your through

Better come a few hours early. But yes its possible.

[ExGingi]

Better come a few hours early. But yes its possible.

Interesting idea came to my mind now. If someone doesn't have GE/TSA Pre, might this be a way to actually cut through the long security lines at airport?