Travelling is extremely common these days. We literally seize every possible long weekend and annual leave to get out of our hometowns.
Unfortunately, life is not a bed of roses and unexpected circumstances do strike us when we least expect it. This means our travel plans have to come to a halt and we would have to cancel our flight itineraries at the very last minute. More often than not, most travellers will instead choose to simply not show up at all.
Which brings us to our next point – did you know that passengers might face a penalty fee for missing their flight?
Depending on the type of your air ticket, travellers might have to pay a fine for not showing up for his/her flight. Additionally, their remaining connecting flights associated with that particular booking would too be cancelled altogether. While this might seem unfair, it is necessary for airlines to minimise wastage of seats.
Here comes it – you are planning your overall finances for an upcoming trip i.e. accommodation, meals and shopping. Little did you know that you too have to set aside an amount of money in the event where you are unable to turn up for your flight. This might seem unfamiliar to most people, but is actually not new news.
THE VARIOUS AIR TICKET TYPES & ITS PENALTY
To set the context right, this no-show fee is not applicable to all airlines, but it is essential to know that major popular airlines such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines do have a no-show clause in their terms and conditions.
For instance, those who have purchased either an economy-flexi-saver or an economy-flexi ticket from Singapore Airlines, the penalty for failing to show up is US$150 per pax.
Business, suite and first class ticket holders would too have to pay a few hundred dollars for no-show on Singapore Airlines – depending on your destination. On the other hand, those who have bought an economy-saver ticket from Singapore Airlines will not encounter any charges for no-show.
Similarly, Emirates also has a no-show penalty for its passengers, but even costlier. By not showing up for your flight, you are subjected to pay an additional fee of at least US$400 and US$800 for economy class and business class respectively. First class ticket holders will not be charged for no-show.
IF YOU MISS YOUR FIRST FLIGHT, YOU WILL MISS THE SUBSEQUENT ONES TOO
Regardless of the type of your Singapore Airline ticket, one rule applies for all – once you have failed to show up for your first leg of the flight, you will not be able to board your remaining/ connecting flights.
Take for example – your original Singapore Airlines booking will have you flying from Singapore to San Francisco, with Hong Kong as a layover. If you miss the first SIN-HKG leg, Singapore Airlines automatically extends your no-show to your next flight. Which means your flight from HKG-SFO would be forfeited as well.
Missing the second leg of your flight is already bad, but that is not all. You are still subjected to a minimum fee of US$150 to Singapore Airlines for not showing up.
And in the case of Emirates, your return flight will too be cancelled. In other words, even if you book the next flight out to your destination, you would still have to purchase a separate return ticket.
WAIVER FOR SPEICAL CASES AND EXCEPTIONS
Singapore Airlines do accept a waiver of such penalty fees under certain special conditions – where they will be negotiated on a case-to-case basis.
These scenarios include falling sick or being involved in an accident etc. Medical documents and other relevant files are required as evidence.
This might seem ridiculous to most passengers, but it is actually an essential move for the airline to survive in the competitive aviation industry. Simply put, your no-show ticket cannot be used and airlines cannot resell the ticket to someone else.
The no-show fee implementation encourages passengers to inform the airline earlier should they need to change their flight itinerary and consequently allow planes to protect their pricing structure.
Whether or not your travel insurance could cover these unnecessary exorbitant fees would ultimately depend on your insurance provider’s varying policies.
OF POSSIBLE CANCELLATIONS AND PROPER PLANNING
So why do travellers not show up for their flights?
The most common reason boils down to the fact that changing of flight details can be a costly process – especially when one books his/her flight during a promotional airfare sale or through third-party travel agents.
The rebooking fees cost at least half or even the same amount as the original air tickets most of the time! Shockingly, it could be more cost-effective to forfeit the airfare altogether and to purchase a new one instead. However, do remember to factor in the cost of no-show fees the next time you decide to do a no-show.
Before making any drastic amendments to your flight itinerary, do consider your flight situation and the remaining options you have on hand.
For example, changing of your open-flight on major full-service airlines might not cost much. You might even get a substantial amount of refunds for early cancellations!
Last but not least, good news to all budget travellers – most low-cost carriers do not impose a no-show fee. Hurray!
I don’t understand this. If I paid for a ticket, does it matter what I choose to do with it? The airline has already made money off me. Why am I being penalised if they lose the opportunity to sell it to another customer?
TIA for thr clarification.
I agree with the comment above. How is this essential for the airline to survive?? If you turn up and fly it would cost the airline more than if you don’t show up. All this is, is another way for the airline to make even more money.
They do not lose money by you not showing up, or please explain if I am wrong?!?!?
Agreed as well. The airline will do some benefits on gaz, drink etc and the seat is already pay.
What is stupid (but marketing justify the low price of fix ticket) is wis a policy of possible change for a low price a lot of people would informed the airline and so the seat could be sell “twice”
I guess the point is, if you choose to buy another ticket, you might well buy the ticket from another airline. While if you simply change the original ticket, you’ll have to stay with the original airline. That’s where that original airline could potentially lose money by your no-show. Otherwise it indeed makes no sense.
I was just on my way to buy a tickets for my family for vacation using Emirates, when I noticed this strange “no-show” thing. Thanks God I red about it and now I understand new step in greedy. It has nothing to do with airline economics. It is just way to use people in unfortune and show something written with small letters. I’ll newer fly with Emirates or Singapure Airlines. I don’t want to take risk I’ll miss plane in my complicated route through south-east Asia and instead for help I will got pennalt from these greed Emirates.
Hi there, I just got charged by Singapore Airlines S$980 for no show for 2 persons. Is there any way I can appeal. I can accept paying some penalty but charging this much is ridiculous. Please advise many thanks. Fyi, our ticket is just economy.
It all depends on the jurisdiction you are subject to. In most countries consumer protection laws void such clauses or at least make it unenforcible for the Airline to charge you in addition to the lost flight&evtl. return.
You simply need to decline the airline bill and defend this…
Agree, the logic that the airline is losing money if a passenger misses the flight is hog wash! I recently missed my Singapore flight from Delhi to Singapore because I was stuck at domestic airport – the flight got delayed an hour an a half which meant that I wouldn’t arrive in Delhi on time to catch my DEL to SIN flight.
Consequently I had to fork out more money to book on another’s airline so I could fly into Singapore – three hours later – which was better than waiting for 24 hours at Delhi Airport with a ton of luggage!
However, upon checking in to my “second” leg, the return flight to home (SIN to LAX), I was required to pay $68 as a service charge and $300 no show fee.
How utterly ridiculous! First, I had to fork out $200 to buy another ticket just to get to Singapore because I missed my flight,. Then, I was expected to fork out another $368 because I didn’t check in to the first flight? Explain how isn’t that recouping airplane losses!!! If anything, they are getting double my fare. One, I already paid for a seat, in addition to the extra leg room I bought, boot got forfeited when I missed the flight. Then, I was expected to pay for missing the flight!!! This is just another way for their airline to gauge from consumers because they know we have no choice an de must get to our destinations. I will be contesting these charges with the airlines and with my credit card company.
I’m also a victim of this”no-show” airline clause with SQ. It’s absurd. I paid for the round-trip ticket and I’m not allowed to take the return flight.
Why doesn’t someone start a class action against these airlines. A fee to cover their potential lose of in flight purchases may be valid but not the fees that are being quoted. I have just no showed on an all inclusive holiday to Tenerife. Which cost £1300 . I am now in Spain feeling a lot safer for obvious reasons. This cost an additional £1000.
An anxious traveller Clem