Skiplagging group travel

[jozgr]

Hi all,

I am travelling with family from ZRH – JFK via LHR with BA. My family lives in Switzerland I live in London. So we can travel together it was all booked as one trip. I will start with them in ZRH but thinking if I can just exit in LHR and leave them to go onwards by themselves to ZRH. Is there any risk for them not being able to fly if their group in not complete?

Also in term of fares, flying this route is more expensive than direct LHR – JFK so shouldn’t worry about BA coming after me for price increase?
Thanks all

[ChrisBCN]

You won’t have any issues. If they get asked, I’m sure they can just say you weren’t feeling well so decided to stay over in London for 24 hours…

As long as you don’t do this regularly, BA won’t come after you.

[JDB]

@jozgr – exactly as above, but you need to be HBO as any luggage attributed to you won’t exit with you at LHR, although it should be offloaded from the ZRH flight when you no-show. While you could theoretically ask BA at JFK to short check your bag(s) to LHR it’s against company policy so they will likely refuse and obviously alerts BA to the issue.

[AJA]

You will have to travel HBO as any checked luggage in your name will go to ZRH. Trying to retrieve it at LHR is a pain.

In addition to what ChrisBCN says I would recommend your relatives actively tell the gate staff that you left the airport due to feeling unwell otherwise your absence will hold up the departure of the ZRH flight while they reconcile the passenger manifest.

Edit JDB said it before me

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Any bags would be removed at LHR once the OP fails to board. They wouldn’t travel to ZRH.

[Matt]

I wouldn’t bother getting your relatives to make up an illness – just “jozgr isn’t taking this flight, he’s changed his plans” would be fine.