Point taken. I wonder when their terms became that explicit regarding using round-trip tickets for one-way travel. I’m pretty sure airlines weren’t quite that draconian in the past.
As a kid, I used to go ski plagging almost every winter when I visited my grandparents in the Black Forest.
They’ve been this way for a long, long while. At least since I was a kid in the 80s. I was bored and traveled a lot due to parental divorrce and whenever I flew a new airline I requested the printed CoC (as a collector’s item).
Back in 2003 I had a dispute with AA (surprise, surprise) in which I was (legitimately) unable to make the first leg of a round-trip flight, so they canceled the second leg. I asked for credit, which of course they denied, writing that according to AA policy, “If the original ticketed flight is not changed prior to that flight’s departure time and the customer does not take the flight, the entire ticket will have no further value.”
My counter was that their policy did not explicitly state that, but rather it said, verbatim, “if any part of the ticket is unused it has no value after ticketed departure date.”
I saw some clear wiggle room here: I interpreted “it” to mean just the unused part of the ticket (i.e. my first leg): just because the unused part no longer has value, does not mean the other part has no value.
Furthermore, American Airlines’ policy does not state that I must fly on the plane, merely that the ticket must be “used,” which I did exactly the way I wanted to: by retaining possession of it.
Hey, you can’t blame me for trying, right? 
If you’re curious, here’s the complete agreement that was provided to me when I purchased my flight (sorry about the wonky formatting):
*** Fare Basis Code: LA14SPNNR ***
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Penalties: CANCELLATIONS TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. NOTE - IF ANY PART OF THE TICKET IS UNUSED IT HAS NO VALUE AFTER TICKETED DEPARTURE DATE. CHANGES CHARGE USD 100.00 FOR REISSUE. NOTE - ON/PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE DATE OF EACH FLIGHT/ CHANGES ARE PERMITTED - USD 100 CHANGE FEE APPLIES. CHANGES REQUESTED AFTER THE TICKETED FLIGHT DATE ARE NOT PERMITTED AND THE TICKET HAS NO VALUE. — FARE DIFFERENCE AND CHANGE FEE MUST BE PAID AND TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED AT THE SAME TIME A VOLUNTARY CHANGE IS MADE. — IF MULTIPLE CHANGES ARE MADE AT THE SAME TIME/ ONLY ONE CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY PER TICKET. IF FARES WITH DIFFERENT CHANGE FEES ARE COMBINED ON THE SAME TICKET/ THE HIGHEST FEE FOR THE FARE COMPONENTS IN THE CHANGED PRICEABLE UNIT/S/ WILL APPLY. — I. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE - CHANGES TO ORIGINATING FLIGHT ON THE TICKET - THE ENTIRE TICKET MUST BE REPRICED WITH CURRENT NONREFUNDABLE FARES. ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW NONREFUNDABLE FARE I.E. ADV RSVN/ MIN/MAX STAY/ ETC MUST BE MET. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED. IF THE REPRICE RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE/ THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES LESS THE CHANGE FEE MAY BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER VALID FOR TRAVEL VIA AA/AX ONLY. THESE FARES MAY NOT BE UPGRADED TO A REFUNDABLE FARE TYPE. — II. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE - CHANGES TO CONTINUING/ RETURN FLIGHTS WHEN THERE IS NO CHANGE TO ORIGIN/DESTINATION OR STOPOVERS. — A. CHANGES MAY BE MADE ON/PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE DATE OF EACH FLIGHT FOR THE CHANGE FEE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE ADVANCE RSVN OR DAY/TIME REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED THE CHANGE MEETS ALL OTHER FARE RULES. FLIGHT SPECIFIC FARES ARE EXCLUDED AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE TIMES SPECIFIED FOR THAT FARE. — B. WHEN THE CHANGE VIOLATES THE TICKETED FARE RULES I.E. MIN/MAX STAY/ BLACKOUT DATES/ SEASON/ ETC THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND THE LOWEST SOLUTION WILL APPLY. — B1. REPRICE THE CHANGED CONTINUING/RETURN FARE COMPONENTS WITH A COMBINABLE NONREFUNDABLE CURRENT FARE. THE CURRENT FARE MUST BE EQUAL TO OR HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL TICKETED FARE VALUE FOR THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED. THE ADVANCE PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REPLACEMENT FARE MUST BE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ON THE ORIGINAL PRICEABLE UNIT. — B2. THE ENTIRE TICKET MAY BE REPRICED USING CURRENT NONREFUNDABLE FARES. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED. IF THE REPRICE RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE/ THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES LESS THE CHANGE FEE MAY BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER VALID FOR TRAVEL VIA AA/AX ONLY. ADVANCE PURCHASE IS MEASURED BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE AND THE DEPARTURE DATE OF THE PRICEABLE UNIT. — III. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE - CHANGES TO CONTINUING/ RETURN FLIGHTS WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE TO ORIGIN/DESTINATION OR STOPOVERS. — A. THE ENTIRE TICKET SHOULD BE REPRICED WITH CURRENT NONREFUNDABLE FARES. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE SHOULD BE COLLECTED. IF THE REPRICE RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES LESS THE CHANGE FEE MAY BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER VALID FOR TRAVEL VIA AA/AX ONLY. ADVANCE PURCHASE IS MEASURED BETWEEN THE REISSUE DATE AND THE DEPARTURE DATE OF THE PRICEABLE UNIT. — WHEN A NONREFUNDABLE FARE CANNOT BE FOUND/ THE PASSENGER MUST PURCHASE A NEW REFUNDABLE FARE TICKET. — IV. AFTER DEPARTURE - WHEN THERE IS NO CHANGE TO ORIGIN/DESTINATION OR STOPOVERS. — A. CHANGES MAY BE MADE ON/PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE DATE OF EACH FLIGHT FOR THE CHANGE FEE WITHOUT REGARD TO ADVANCE RSVN OR DAY/TIME REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED THE CHANGE MEETS ALL OTHER FARE RULES. FLIGHT SPECIFIC FARES ARE EXCLUDED AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE TIMES SPECIFIED FOR THAT FARE. — B. WHEN THE CHANGE VIOLATES THE TICKETED FARE RULES I.E. MIN/MAX STAY/ BLACKOUT DATES/ SEASON/ ETC THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND THE LOWEST SOLUTION WILL APPLY. — B1. REPRICE THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WITH A COMBINABLE NONREFUNDABLE CURRENT FARE. THE CURRENT FARE MUST BE EQUAL TO OR HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL TICKETED FARE VALUE FOR THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARE PLUS THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED. THE ADVANCE PURCHASE REQUIREMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT FARE MUST BE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ON THE ORIGINAL PRICEABLE UNIT. — B2. PRICE THE FLOWN FARE COMPONENTS USING HISTORICAL ONE WAY FARES. PRICE THE UNFLOWN FARE COMPONENTS USING ONE WAY CURRENT FARES. COMPARE THE TOTAL FROM THE ORIGINAL TICKET TO THE NEW TOTAL OF THE FLOWN AND UNFLOWN FARE COMPONENTS. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED. IF THE REPRICE RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE/ THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES LESS THE CHANGE FEE MAY BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER VALID FOR TRAVEL VIA AA/AX ONLY. — V. AFTER DEPARTURE - CHANGES TO CONTINUING/RETURN FLIGHTS WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE TO ORIGIN/ DESTINATION OR STOPOVERS. — A. PRICE THE FLOWN FARE COMPONENTS USING HISTORICAL ONE WAY FARES. PRICE THE UNFLOWN FARE COMPONENTS USING ONE WAY CURRENT FARES. COMPARE THE TOTAL FROM THE ORIGINAL TICKET TO THE NEW TOTAL OF THE FLOWN AND UNFLOWN FARE COMPONENTS. ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED. IF THE REPRICE RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES LESS THE CHANGE FEE MAY BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER VALID FOR TRAVEL VIA AA/AX ONLY. — VI. PASSENGERS MAY STANDBY FOR EARLIER/LATER SAME DAY AA NONSTOP AND/OR CONNECTING FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE SAME ORIGIN AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS. — A. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST PROVIDED THE FLIGHT/S/ AND ROUTING ARE APPLICABLE FOR THE FARE CHARGED. — B. IF THE CHANGE IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR THE FARE CHARGED I.E. INVALID ROUTING/AIRPORT/DEPARTURE TIME/ ETC THEN THE PASSENGER MUST PAY THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE. — C. UNLESS RESTRICTED BY THE FARE CHARGED/ WHEN TICKETED FROM/TO CHI/HOU/NYC/WAS THE PASSENGER MAY CHECK-IN AND STANDBY FROM/TO ONE OF THE AIRPORTS LISTED BELOW. CITY - AIRPORT CHI - MDW/ORD HOU - HOU/IAH NYC - EWR/JFK/LGA WAS - DCA/IAD APPLICABLE FARE DIFFERENCE AND/OR CHANGE FEE FEE AS OUTLINED IN B ABOVE WILL APPLY. — VII. AFTER EACH TICKETED DEPARTURE DATE 1. NO CHANGES PERMITTED. 2. TICKET HAS NO VALUE. 3. NO STANDBY PERMITTED.
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Sales Restrictions: TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED: BY AA ISSUE IN OBZ NOTE: TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED VIA ORBITZ WEB SITE ONLY.
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Blackout Dates: NO BLACKOUT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
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Combinability: CARRIER / RULE / FARE CIRCLE OPEN ROUND BASIS TRIP JAW TRIP SAME / SAME / SAME C C Y SAME / SAME / DIFF C C - SAME / DIFF / SAME C C - SAME / DIFF / DIFF C C - DIFF / SAME / SAME C C - DIFF / SAME / DIFF C C - DIFF / DIFF / SAME C C - DIFF / DIFF / DIFF C C - Y / PERMITTED N / NOT PERMITTED - / DOES NOT APPLY C / SEE TEXT FOR CONDITIONS CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO CIRCLE TRIP/SINGLE OPEN JAW - -MAY BE COMBINED WITH ANY ONE WAY/ROUND TRIP FARE GOVERNED BY AACBR RULE 7999 AND AA85R RULE 7999 VIA AA/AX. -MAY BE COMBINED WITH ANY ONE WAY/ROUND TRIP FARE GOVERNED BY AA85R RULE 7998 VIA AA. -MOST RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS APPLY. NOTE: WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER FARES TO FORM ROUND/ CIRCLE/OPEN JAW TRIPS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS APPLY. THESE INCLUDE MINIMUM/MAXIMUM STAY /RESERVATION/TICKETING REQUIREMENTS/STOPOVER PROVISIONS/AND CANCELLATION/CHANGE PENALTIES/ SERVICE CHARGES OR COMBINATION PROVISIONS. WHEN TWO STOPOVERS ARE MADE IF NO COMBINABLE FARE IS AVAILABLE ON THE SHORTEST SECTOR FLOWN ANY APPLICABLE ONE WAY FARE MAY BE USED END-ON-END AND WILL NOT TAKE ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE FARE. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS APPLY CIRCLE TRIP - -PERMITTED. -MAXIMUM OF 2 STOPOVERS PERMITTED. OPEN JAW - -SINGLE OPEN JAW PERMITTED AT EITHER ORIGIN OR DESTINATION. -THE MILEAGE OF THE SHORTEST FLOWN SECTOR MUST BE EQUAL TO/GREATER THAN THE MILEAGE BETWEEN THE POINTS OF THE OPEN JAW. -THE TWO POINTS OF AN OPEN JAW COUNT AS TWO STOPOVERS. END-ON-END - -PERMITTED WITH ALL FARES, IF COMBINING WITH FARES GOVERNED BY AACBR RULE 7999 AND AA85R RULE 7999 VIA AA/AX. -PERMITTED WITH ALL FARES, IF COMBINING WITH FARES GOVERNED BY AA85R RULE 7998 VIA AA. -MULTIPLE ROUND TRIP FARES BETWEEN THE SAME TWO POINTS MAY NOT BE COMBINED OUT OF SEQUENCE ON THE SAME TICKET TO AVOID MINIMUM STAY REQUIREMENTS. -CONDITIONS APPLY TO THE ADJACENT LINE OF FLIGHT FARE COMPONENTS OF THE JOURNEY. -TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE FARE COMBINATION POINT.
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Transfers: UNLIMITED TRANSFERS AS PERMITTED ON THE ROUTING.
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Refunds/Reissues Carrier Processing Profile: SEE PENALTY.
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Stopovers: NO ENROUTE STOPOVERS PERMITTED. A STOPOVER OCCURS WHEN THE PASSENGER DOES NOT DEPART AN INTERMEDIATE POINT WITHIN 4 HOURS.
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Maximum Stay: RETURN TRVL MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS. MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM ORIGIN TO DPTR FROM LAST STOPOVER POINT.
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Minimum Stay: RETURN TRVL IS VALID ON THE 1ST SUN AFTER 12:01 A.M… MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM ORIGIN TO DPTR FROM THE FARTHEST GEOGRAPHICAL POINT.
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Advance Reservations/Ticketing Restrictions: RES MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE DPTR FROM ORIGIN. TKT MUST BE PURCHASED NO LATER THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE DPTR FROM ORIGIN OR 1 DAY AFTER RES IS MADE, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SGMTS USING THIS RULE MUST BE CONFIRMED.
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Flight Applications: NO FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
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Seasonality: NO SEASON RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
NB the site is named skiplagging but I believe that the action of booking more legs to your voygage than intend to use is “skiplegging.”
Skiplagged is the name of the site. The name of the process is “hidden city ticketing.”
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I don’t doubt that much or most of the contract is enforceable, but that provision looks like the kind of unenforceable bullshit you only find in adhesion contracts.
Anyway, knowing nothing about the specifics of the lawsuit, I’m on Team Skiplagged. 
I’m not taking sides (the whole industry is nuts in the US, and I am really glad that Japanese airlines don’t do pricing that way). I was just pointing out that contractual (legal) obligations exist, as there was some debate on that point.
Yes, I am familiar with the GDS system providers. Which is why I am asking. It seems odd to me that they can do this unless they have some way in to Sabre’s systems themselves. ‘Posing as a consumer’ doesn’t seem like the whole story to me.
Link to the Complaint: American Airlines---pm-49984597_complaint.pdf - Google Drive.
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