B.A booking query
 

A group of four travelling under the same booking reference. Outbound completed. There is now a possibility that one of the group must return early and not make the planned return. By them not checking in for the return flight, does this affect the rest of the group taking the return ? Or does one need to separate the no-show from the booking ? If so, how does one do that ? No clear advice for this situation, at least not that I can see. Any help appreciated.

The answer might depend on when/how the "early returner" is travelling. If buying a completely sepparate ticket that's one thing. If, on the other had they are using the return half of their ticket as (a probably very small part payment) of their new ticket then that will cause the booking and ticket to be separated from the rest so no problem when everyone else checks in.

Now for a bit of history...... My wife and I booked London/Dallas/El Paso then Phoenix/San Francisco followed by San Francisco/London. All in the days of paper tickets. My plans changed. She flew the London/Dallas/El Paso alone. We went together Phoenix/San Francisco. She went San Francisco/London alone.We never told BA (or AA or UA) and nobody batted an eyelid!

I can't see any circumstances in which the no-show of a passenger on a return leg would have any implications for other passengers on the same booking.

Thanks for the replies. The possible early returner might return on a changed flight, new flight or land transport. The concern was that if they are missing from the check-in that it might cause a 'computer says no' issue.

Wasn't there a similar query a few months ago? I couldn't find it but somebody might remember how it went?

The only circumstance where someone 'has' to travel that I'm aware of is if someone booked using an Avios (air miles) companion voucher (nicknamed a 2-4-1), where the booker needs to fly with the companion.

However, for full reassurance I would turn to the experts on FlyerTalk's BA forum - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...tive-club-446/ - after having a quick look to see if your situation has already been covered adequately already.

It was probably me that had a similar question in the summer. There were 3 of us booked on a BA booking London - Doha - Sydney on Qatar returning Brisbane - Singapore- London with Qantas and BA. I couldn't board at Heathrow due to a visa issue so the other 2 went on without me. BA customer services told me several times that my return would be cancelled automatically. I flew down on a new one way ticket with Thai and caught up with my family. I kept checking the booking on the BA website and it showed as live for all 3 of us. We checked in at Brisbane and everything was fine.

I suspect that the computer treats a no-show (which would almost certainly result in cancellation of the return leg) differently from a denied boarding, as happened in your case.

Just in case anyone was on the edge of their seat waiting for the outcome ;-) the return trip did indeed go ahead minus one passenger and it was without any issue apparently.

thanks for reporting in!

AFAIK, issues appear if the outbound leg is missed(unless two singles were purchased). Returns are less sensitive to scrutiny and it would appear people under the same booking reference can amend their flights. But measure twice, cut once in case an airline chooses to take umbrage ;-)