Airlines refuse to end ‘no-show’ clauses for passengers

Airlines under pressure to drop clause.

 

Airlines have resisted calls to remove “no-show” clauses, despite heavy criticism from European consumer groups.

 

British-based consumer body, Which?, wrote to nine airlines in December calling for the end of “rip-off no-show clauses.”

 

Such clauses allows an airline to cancel a passenger’s connecting or return flights just because they missed a single segment on the itinerary. Of course, no refunds are given.

 

This allows the airlines to effectively double their money by reselling the seats they have cancelled.

 

Earlier this week, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned that airlines could be successfully sued by passengers if their return tickets are cancelled without being told.

 

Of the nine airlines Which? contacted, the following eight rejected the prospect of scraping the clause: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, KLM, Air France, Singapore, Qatar Airways and Swiss International Air Lines.

 

Flybe pledged to make some changes, however, it has not removed its “no-show” clause completely.

 

Caroline Normand, Which? director of advocacy, said: “It’s totally unreasonable for an airline to cancel a passenger’s return flight – often without warning – simply because they’ve missed the first leg of their journey.

 

“Airlines have been able to cash in with this tactic for too long – leaving people miserable, stranded and hundreds if not thousands of pounds out of pocket.

 

“If airlines are not going to do the right thing and stop this disgraceful practice on their own, the Civil Aviation Authority should step in and ban these rip-off clauses.”

 

The consequences for Secret Flying fans would be huge if airlines did scrap the “no-show” clauses.

 

For example, London-based fans would be able to take advantage of our insanely cheap British Airways Scotland to USA deals, like this Inverness, Scotland to Los Angeles, USA for only £234 roundtrip deal.