Hi all,
Looking to fly to Tokyo but there are no reasonable options from Perth when using points. I have however found plenty of flights which have a layover in Tokyo but ultimately land in Osaka.
As I don't have any intention of going to Osaka, are there any issues with just missing the Tokyo to Osaka leg and staying in Tokyo?
Thanks!
Bags not an issue but return flights will be booked on seperate ticket with the same airline.
Seperate tkt is fine. Just not on same tkt as the outbound. If you do have bags then you can still check them in, you'll just need to get them to only tag the bags to kix and no further.
always check your T&Cs as some airlines won't like it and will ban you.
I remember seeing an article years ago about an airline trying to fine someone for dropping the last leg of their journey (for the exact same reason: stupid pricing). I think this was in the US but (of course…)
If it's one-way then only real consideration is checked-in baggage which will go straight to Osaka. Potential ban from airlines in future but unlikely from one journey only.
If it's a return then consider if airline won't be happy you didn't finish your journey legs. While it doesn't matter in reality, it may be a case of "computer says no".
Osaka's pretty great though, tons to see and do and you can bullet train to Tokyo.
Have been to Osaka a couple of times and have only a short trip so don't plan on going.
Would it be the case of "computer says no" if the return portion is booked on a seperate ticket?
No, only if all booked on the 1 single tkt.
The practice is called skiplagging. Once you skip a segment, the rest of your reservation will be cancelled.
Would this include the return journey on a seperate ticket (but same airline)?
no
its harder to cancel a flight ticket then you think, i think airlines don't want to cancel so you dont get refunded airport taxes
How is one able to get one's checked in luggage?
Its not like you can tell the useless Perth personnel to send your bags onto the Narita conveyor belt instead of Osaka.
It depends how long the layover is. If you have a 8+ hour stop the airlines usually ask if you want your baggage while stopped.
you may get banned from airline, may get fined, nothing may happen
why not just fake a sickness in tokyo, say ur to ill to fly and you will make other arrangements.
Guess I could do that potentially? Miss the flight due to "illness", call the airline and advise after the flight has already departed.
Having legitimately been in this situation, I would suggest you approach the airline well before boarding commences and let them know that you are sick and won't be boarding. They can then uncheck you. I did get a nice escort back through customs and immigration, but that was because I had already left the country I was then returning to without flying. You should not have that problem. Unless the VISA is issued for arrival at a particular port - that shouldn't be an issue for Japan after October 11.
It will save the poor customer service staff from running around looking for you, your name being called repeatedly over the PA, the whole flight potentially being delayed as they wait for you to board.. No need to be an ar$ehole in addition to saving some $ when you don't have to!
I would probably use a different unplanned reason than ‘sick’ in this day and age - don’t want any kind of COVID implications or restrictions on our return flight. Even if you said that hurt your back, knee etc they might want a medical certificate that your okay to fly later. Unlikely but possible.
Do the flights involve an NRT to HND changeover (or vice versa)? If so, presumably you would need to collect your own baggage at NRT before leaving and making your own way to HND, so it wouldn't be that out of the ordinary if you were to get lost and miss your flight in the world's biggest city.
If your transit isn't long enough, I believe the airlines will keep the checked-in luggage for when you are in Tokyo.
I did it with a flight from Japan to NZ stopping over in Oz once as it somehow worked out cheaper, or the timing was right etc. I got out in Oz. I didn't have any issues. I can't remember which airline it was, but I've flown heaps since then with most mainstream airlines. Oh yeah, and I only had carry on…
Checked in baggage will be an issue.
I did this flying home from Mexico>LAX>Sydney>Auckland with the goal of just gettting to Sydney and missing the Auckland leg. I let them know in LAX that "Something had come up" and we were not going to be able to complete our final leg to Auckland and that we would need to get our bags off in Sydney (this leg was with United and the final leg was to be with Virgin). They said it would be $800 each bag to get off in sydney - I told them to keep the bags coz there wasn't $800 worth of stuff between them let alone $1600.
When we arrived in Sydney we just thought we would try our luck again… As soon as we got off we went to Virgin customer service and told them some story about how we couldn't continue onto Auckland and needed our bags so we could go to wherever the imaginary crisis needed us and they happily took our bags off for nothing.
I've spoken to friends in the industry and our consultant who booked the flight for us on flightfox about this and they said you can do it occasionally without being flagged but because of the code share agreements that the airlines have amongst eachother it can disrupt their operations model so is not tolerated if you repeatedly do it. Eventually, you will get a mark against your name but i don't know what happens when you get the mark… maybe you don't get your complimentary peanuts.
The airlines hate it when people do it but it is pretty common. Only issue is checked baggage.
I suspect they will not check your luggage to Tokyo when you have a ticket to Osaka. That will automatically raise a red flag to them. Might work if you have carry on only, but personally I wouldn't risk it.
Fine as long as you can get your bags off and don't book return flights.