Short answer: do not assume you can. On a connecting or return ticket, airlines generally expect you to fly the flights in order. If you skip the first one, the rest of the booking may be cancelled, and you may find out only at the second airport.
Why it happens. A ticket is one itinerary, not a set of separate flights. Philippine Airlines explains it as a "no-show downline" cancellation: if you do not show up for a flight that has connecting or return flights after it, the onward and return flights are automatically cancelled once the missed flight is tagged as a no-show. Other guides describe the same rule across many airlines.
The no-show window. Some airlines give a short grace period. Air India, for example, says a no-show is a missed flight without prior cancellation or change, and offers a two-hour no-show window in which you can cancel or modify the booking. After that window, refunds are not available. Your own airline's terms may differ.
Checked bags make it harder. If you checked a bag, it was tagged to the final destination. Skipping a flight after check-in can lead to your bag being offloaded or delayed, so this is a real problem even before the ticket question.
Not every airline works this way. Ryanair says that if you skip your outbound flight, your return flight is not cancelled, because it treats each flight as a separate segment. This is the exception, not the rule. Read the conditions of carriage for the exact ticket you hold.
What to do instead. If your plan has changed and you do not need the first flight, contact the airline before it departs and ask to change the booking, drop the first segment, or move your start point. Ask what it will cost and get the answer in writing. If the airline says the fare cannot be changed, a new ticket may be cheaper than losing both flights.
For the trip itself. If you are planning a multi-flight trip and want help reading the fare rules before you book, send us a trip-planning inquiry.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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