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I'm planning a multi-destination trip (TLS -> AKL -> YUL -> TLS). Flight finders are showing me prices around €2-3000 for EACH of these legs, total up to €9000, whereas the (geographically similar) TLS -> AKL -> TLS round trip is reasonably priced (€1400).

It seems that I'd save loads of money if I booked return trips for each of the three segments, flying the outbound leg and cancelling the return leg each time.

But this sounds like a hacky solution to work around airlines' pricing policy. I've read reports online of airlines claiming money afterwards from people not showing up on the return leg, but not from cancelling it. Can anyone confirm that it works (or doesn't)?

Relaxed
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foucdeg
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2 Answers2

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As Relaxed says, you can almost certainly find cheaper flights than you have. For the end of June, with the 3 flights spaced a week apart, I found €3700 as the cheapest option, without any tricks, just searching for a multi-city trip on Expedia. Some of those were pretty horrible connections, but they do exist.

But you can make it better by buying two return tickets and using all the legs. You can get TLS->YUL for only €500 return, and YUL->AKL for €1700 return. You fly to Montreal and then straight to Auckland, then when you are done fly back to Montreal and stay with your sister. Or if it was me take a break of a few days each way. The only thing you are losing is your round-the-world trip (I just did one, and believe me it's not that exciting).

DJClayworth
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This probably won't work for all air companies, but some of them allow making multiple legs reservation. For example on KLM I can search for your itinerary with a multi city trip

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This would spare you the "trick" of booking a return which you won't use.

L.Dutch
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