Perhaps it has something to do with the public good implied by the idea of being able to go somewhere and come back at less than double the cost of going somewhere and making up your own sweet mind about whether or not you go back. People who want it both ways are jeopardizing the service for those that really need it. And cheap travel is not such a non-trivial thing that 'underutilizing the service' should be contemplated lightly.

Fair enough, but I have never used a ticket like that, so why should I be discriminated against on the basis that I look like others who have?

BP:
I agree that HIS is not faultless. If HIS had thought this thing through, then they could have easily come up with a better solution (several of which have been proposed on this thread). But ANA and the ministry seem to be saying "nothing to do with us", which I think is crap.
HIS has basically come up with another version of the soapland argument mentality here ala "No Gaijin can come( )in here because all Gaijin have big Penis'"
Depending on your situation, this is either a offensive moral issue, or sound economic policy.

The only real answer is as snobee says, and do away with this type of ticket. Seems logical, but you know as well as I do, what may seem logical to many of us doesn't sit well with these 50-something mid level managers.

Everyone here pretty much agrees that the idea of getting penalized for not using a seat that you have already paid for is senseless. But it is one of the conditions on the fare. Just because it is stupid doesn't make it any less valid when it comes to the contract you enter into when you purchase the ticket. All HIS had to do was make this clear to the buyer when they purchased the ticket.

That's pretty much all I wanted to hear you say Miso!

Is HIS and No1 the same?
And,do other similar companies do this?

HIS is the mother ship of No.1.

I see, thanks. But do other companies not do this as well, not just No1?

I'm not sure, but HIS is about the only one the really specializes in discount air tickets. Most travel generate income other ways. The international discount air fares are about the only product that sells where the agent is free to add whatever they like as a mark up. Almost everything else is on a commission type basis (i.e. X% of the sale price) and included in the rate on the brochure.

i use HIT travel because you can search their website for the airlines quoted prices.

When I have asked around in the past they all seemed to quote exactly the same price.

Same here. Either they are all doing it or not with me.

if the company is showing the airline's price online they must not being doing it.

Isn't it actually cheaper for the airline if you don't use the return portion of your ticket?

They have the possibility of giving your seat to someone else. If they don't do that, they still use 1 less meal (which they'll probably save and serve to someone else later), plus the fact that you and your baggage are not on board will make the plane (negligibly, I know) lighter and thus save on fuel!

This penalty is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard of!

It does all sound very silly.

I never really understood the concept of reconfirming flights. Is it necessary? And if you don't reconfirm on some flights, do you get your seat snatched away from you if you don't turn up XX minutes before the flight or something?

Anyone able to shed light on that particular issue.

Curt: Most airlines have given up the reconfirmation process.
I imagine it was to do with over booking. Most airlines book about 120% and then hope for no shows. With the reconfirmation clause they were giving themselves an excuse to bump you from an overbooked flight.

Works the otherway to, as if you show up early and ask if the flight is overbooked you can get upgraded to business. Esp good if you are flying to somewhere in the USA and they want to reroute you.

I never did that, even when I was supposed to. Always forgot.