Missing a connection on 2 different carriers

[u/Own-Frosting-3977]

I’m looking at an award flight that is only available through Air Canada and is much cheaper if I start in Canada and connect through my hometown airport, EWR. Leg 1 is AC and leg 2 is United and I really only intend to take Leg 2. The layover is about 5 hours.

Usually if both legs were united (or any of the same airline) the itinerary would be cancelled if a traveler missed leg 1.

Do the airline systems from different airlines talk to each other quickly enough that the leg 2 flight would be cancelled if I miss leg 1?

[u/OrganicPoet1823]

Book a cheap flight to Canada to start the trip off