When traveling internationally to US can you stay in your lay over city and not get on the connecting flight without consequence?

== == Technically no - if it is your final return flight that you skip to your destination the airline can't do anything about it, but you cannot get a refund for an unused ticket. If you are originating and skip a flight your ENTIRE itinerary and ticket are subject to cancellation. That also depends on the fare code and its restrictions. Most of the time when you book the cheapest fare, it includes a non-refundable clause. However, you can use the funds to apply against a future ticket. Typically, that is good one year from the time that you were originally scheduled to fly. CAUTION: Remember to keep track of your ticket information! Not all reservation systems keep track of your information in real time. Without the ticket information, it's nearly impossible for them to retrieve your itinerary from the archives.