AMS trick - can you get off before last sector?

[preiffer]

It's a real shame that you now have to take the first leg. A year ago I booked AMS-LGW-LAS-LGW-AMS and just showed up for my Virgin flight from Gatwick. Didn't have any problems at all. This time around I booked DUB-LGW-MCO-LGW-DUB and discovered the DUB portions of my flight showing in 'my bookings'. It never used to be this way, but it looks like they closed that loophole.

It's always been this way - ever since the "trick" was found. I'd say you were just extremely lucky last time.

It's a real shame that you now have to take the first leg. A year ago I booked AMS-LGW-LAS-LGW-AMS and just showed up for my Virgin flight from Gatwick. Didn't have any problems at all. This time around I booked DUB-LGW-MCO-LGW-DUB and discovered the DUB portions of my flight showing in 'my bookings'. It never used to be this way, but it looks like they closed that loophole.

griffinm7 -- As Honey Lamb has said to your post in another thread http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=4& ... =viewtopic you were extremely lucky that your previous flight was not cancelled when you failed to fly the first leg --- this was never a loophole, I can only imagine your supposed arrival and check-in at LGW were so close that your non attendance on the BA AMS-LGW had not been updated on VS systems --- any non attendance of first part of a flight would automatically cancel the entire ticket -- in certain circumstances this can be waived but would require lengthy negotiations/discusions

From memory, the check in agent did have to go back and speak to her supervisor, but at the time I figured it was something to do with my PE upgrade. A lucky escape indeed.

If the initial flight from AMS is the day before I'm assuming there is no requirement to check in the same luggage from AMS that you'll be checking in on the VS flight the following day? In my case I'll be hopping on BA to AMS & returning to UK the day prior to the VS flight. The AMS-LGW leg is ticketed by VS as part of the overall AMS-LGW-LAS-LGW-AMS ticket.

I have no intention of carting all my luggage to AMS as all I'll be doing is hopping there, having a coffee (or G&T!) and hopping back. Presumably not taking luggage with me on the initial segment is OK given that, even if I did cart all the luggage to AMS, it would have to be returned to me at Gatwick regardless because of the overnight aspect?

[Darren Wheeler]

When I did my AMS trick a few years ago, I left my luggage at Heathrow with the Excess Baggage Company in T3 and was charged about £8 for overnight. When I landed from AMS, bag collected, a quick re-pack of unwanted items and checked-in with no problems at all.

If you've got any of the VS credit cards (earning miles/tier points etc), it's worth making the booking by phone with VS. I've done it many times, and they are always happy to make the booking, even if none of the flights are on VS metal. I did it once flying, I think, BA-DL-DL-BA.

If you've got any of the VS credit cards (earning miles/tier points etc), it's worth making the booking by phone with VS. I've done it many times, and they are always happy to make the booking, even if none of the flights are on VS metal. I did it once flying, I think, BA-DL-DL-BA.

Do they give special service to those with the VS cards?

No, the VS customer services have no idea what kind of card the booking is being made on.

It's a real shame that you now have to take the first leg. A year ago I booked AMS-LGW-LAS-LGW-AMS and just showed up for my Virgin flight from Gatwick. Didn't have any problems at all. This time around I booked DUB-LGW-MCO-LGW-DUB and discovered the DUB portions of my flight showing in 'my bookings'. It never used to be this way, but it looks like they closed that loophole.

griffinm7 -- As Honey Lamb has said to your post in another thread http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=4& ... =viewtopic you were extremely lucky that your previous flight was not cancelled when you failed to fly the first leg --- this was never a loophole, I can only imagine your supposed arrival and check-in at LGW were so close that your non attendance on the BA AMS-LGW had not been updated on VS systems --- any non attendance of first part of a flight would automatically cancel the entire ticket -- in certain circumstances this can be waived but would require lengthy negotiations/discusions

I certainly would not want to risk testing this theory - especially on an airline that VS codeshare with (so there is a good chance VS's system would update very fast when you failed to show for the flight from AMS / BRU).

Some years ago, I flew AA from BHX to ORD. Me & my Dad were both on reward tickets in Y, but his plans changed before travel & he now needed to fly the outbound leg on business, so work booked him to travel in J on the outbound flight. At checkin at BHX, I was "moved" to J by the station manager & boarding passes issued for the onward flight from ORD. In the time we took to fly to ORD, AA's system had noticed that neither of us had used the outbound reward tickets & the remainder of the itinerary was cancelled. Red lights and non-magic beeps at the gate when we tried to board the onward flight.

I've another question on this. Is it absolutely essential that you take the first flight either? Can't you just rock up at T3 for your VS flight without doing the first sector ex-AMS or wherever?

Btw: I always just asked the checkin agents at the departure on return to label them to LHR instead of AMS and it never has been a problem. I think they are even legally obliged to do so because if you want your luggage at arrival they have to give it to you. But even if not just ask and they label it to london and you can just miss your last flight.

[honey lamb]

Btw: I always just asked the checkin agents at the departure on return to label them to LHR instead of AMS and it never has been a problem. I think they are even legally obliged to do so because if you want your luggage at arrival they have to give it to you. But even if not just ask and they label it to london and you can just miss your last flight.

We've all done that but beware if you are a member of BAEC. There is anecdotal evidence that BA have audited members' accounts and have cancelled them and voided their points if it shows a pattern of failing to take the final leg

We've all done that but beware if you are a member of BAEC. There is anecdotal evidence that BA have audited members' accounts and have cancelled them and voided their points if it shows a pattern of failing to take the final leg

I think the risk is far far lower if main airline is VS, because VS will be paying for the BA flights, rather than BA taking the loss on their loss making short haul, to give someone a reduced price flight on their long haul.