I have a United ticket that I bought on Travelocity and need to leave 11 days earlier. They want $100 to change the ticket plus the price difference. Can I show up at the airport and say some magic words to get them to let me fly earlier and not charge me? THanks!

Good luck. Look, you knew that was a non-refundable ticket when you bought it. You knew that there was a $100 fee to change it. You bought it anyway.

Maybe if the flight is empty, they'll let you do it. Maybe. But don't count on it.

You are the one who made the mistake. Don't expect the airline to bail you out.

Check if the rules allow standby. They probably do. Also if they have a schedule change then rescheduling for when you want will probably be easy.

If the flight is not full and you don't have anything to check in, then you should try going "stand by".

Otherwise, you will have to pay the difference in fare (if you are lucky, you might be able to get them to wave the $100 change fee).

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Sagy

You cannot stand by for a flight 11 days in advance. What would be the point of advance purchase fares?

Codex, sorry but you're just going to have to cough up the $100 change fee plus fare difference. The fare rules are very clear about changing your plans.

Welcome to FT!

I know this sounds awful.. not even sure if it works, but you can hope that United makes some schedule change to your itinerary -- either canceling a flight and/or changing your flight time(s) around.. depending on how drastic the change is, you can use that basis to change days. I think only when UA cancels a flight or something, then you can change your itinerary without the penalty.
Abusing the system, I know. :P

Have you thought about looking into just getting another ticket? Price it out, it may be less what what they are asking to change the one you have.

I don't think you have a prayer with the one you have.

Whoa! How far are you from the airport and do you have status, so you don't have to wait in a long check-in line?

Why not show up, like tommorrow even, for the same flight [time] and just try something. Say, smiling, no worries, "I'm a litle early ... uh, I was wondering if you have room on the plane so I could take my flight today instead of [insert original ticket date]."

They may just want to get rid of you to avoid having to deal with you at a later date. Why? Its called delays, cancellations, etc. and, in the more than slight chance that it will happen, you would be yet another person they'd have to deal with. Right now, there's room and no problems. In fact, you would be doing them a favor by getting yourself out of the way, letting them be done with you once and for all (at least for this trip).

You'll know if the airline thinks this way by how the TA answers your question. Yes, or Yes, but I'll have to charge you (in this case, you probably didn't smile enough) or a flat No.

The best part is you can come back and post to FT what happened. You would be doing a service to us all.

Fuhgeddaboutit! If one could do this NOBODY would ever buy the outrageously priced typical business ticket. We would just buy a cheapie Q, T etc fare, smile nicely and hang out at the check-in line.

If you have ff miles, then this is a great way to save mucho $$$$. BTW you would probably have the same problem on your return (you did not specify dates, fare class etc). Oh yes and good luck.

MisterNice

There is a reason why there are different fare classes and different prices. One of those is flexibility. You bought a cheap fare for travel on a specific set of days over a given route. Just because you change your plans does not mean the airline must accommodate you unless you are willing to pay for that flexibiltiy to change.

Standby is permitted on some fares free of charge on the day you are ticketed, but not any other day you care to fly.

The airline has every right to demand you pay the appropriate fare for the time you wish to travel. Caveat emptor, airlines are not out to cheat you, they are in business to make money. They are not in the business of subsidizing your travel at your wim.

Why do you think they have fully flexible fares? These are designed for those who are likely to make changes, and they pay for the privilege. If the airline let you do what you want, who would pay the higher tarrif? And if nobody paid the higher tarrif, they wouldn't be in business very long.

Pay up, or stay at home.

codex- why don't you give us all the info? what when why etc. do you want to change the return also? say i'm [or party of n] are going from a to b on x date on ticket w/? fare basis and returning on y date. i want to change it to [whatever] for this reason. there's a much better chance that you will get accurate info fron the experienced people here.

Yes, I just want to add to what Shareholder has said here - I mean, you didn't pay $4,000 for a ticket, so you will not get $4,000 worth of flexibility from the airline.

You got a low price for a low traffic time, according to how the airline is evaluating its load and sales curve at the point in time in which you made your purchase. I have had routes go from $400 down to $250, then up to $712 and then back to $400 all the the span of a few days - and I cannot expect the airline to give the price I preferred when I did not book at the lowest point, and likewise, when I do book, I run the chance that my plans will change - that is why there are "flex fares" at higher cost, and travel insurance.

Grin and bear it - you should be glad that the planes are flying and that people can be travelling again.

Well there are quite a few negative nellies here today...

I'd say definitely try. If there's standby room, they will almost always let you on.

Everyone is getting a little too upset here. The big difference here is that you're not GUARANTEED a flight. When you pay $4000 for a ticket, you're guaranteed a flight. Here, you're at their mercy. It doesn't mean that you don't deserve to fly then, just that you're not ENTITLED to fly then.

So go for it!

Yes, that is the message - you are not ENTITLED - but almost anything is worth a try.

I would not say they almost always let you on. Sometimes, probably towards the lower percentage, especially outbound.

And, what happens if they do not let you fly? Do you have to be there that day?