“A few years ago I was flying from Detroit to Charlotte. Prices were higher than I would have liked, so I checked a couple of other nearby destinations.
Found that a flight to Greensboro (two hours away by car) was much cheaper, yet somehow still connected through Charlotte (Detroit -> Charlotte -> Greensboro). So I said screw it, bought a one-way, and carried on my bag, with plans to abandon the flight in Charlotte. All went well.
As I was walking through Charlotte airport, I passed the Greensboro gate and heard the agent asking for volunteers (the flight was oversold). So with a heavy heart and Oscar-winning sympathy for the gate agent’s predicament, I agreed to give up my Greensboro ticket for an extra $200 in vouchers.
Then I skated out of the airport feeling as though I’d beat the unfathomable system for once.” – leaflitterer