need help with a change fee

[yulhammeryyz]

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Here's the situation; bought T+ tickets YTZ-YUL-LGA on morning of Jan 18 AC 7510 & AC 746 for 2 people

I found out that I need to be in YTZ that day and need to move to a later flight.

I got these tickets on sale for ~236ai, the change fee seems to be 300+ for the 2 tickets

My options:

1) Eat the fee / buy new tickets and eat the loss

2) Wait until the day of and same day switch to a later flight for $75 (can that even be done) and is it only at the airport?

3) Hope for a schedule change and switch flights for free

4) Hope for bad weather and switch the flight for free

Anything I'm missing?
What would you do?

[margarita girl]

I'd go for number 2 and pray for 3 or 4.

[yulhammeryyz]

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Originally Posted by margarita girl

I'd go for number 2 and pray for 3 or 4.

That's what I'm thinking as well. I've never same day switched to a later flight. And it would be very inconvenient if I had to show up at the airport to make that change

[RCyyz]

I just did a same-day change. I was flying YYZ-EWR on a flight in the afternoon and needed it switched to the morning flight that went wheels up 08h30.

1) I actually went to YYZ at midnight since that would count as "same-day". Only to find out that there isn't a single AC person working at YYZ at midnight. Wasted effort! Even called AC from YYZ ("Hi, I'm calling from Pearson Airport") only to be told that I can make the change but only if I go to the airport.

2) The 08h30 flight was J6Y8 so it was clear (to me) I could get seats. But we were a party of 3 pax and the agent had all kinds of problems processing the 3rd. Eventually she gave me 2 confirmed changes @ $75 per pax and the 3rd one as standby (also @ $75).

3) I was later told by someone on FT that YYZ-[New York] is now free standby! That's right - no same-day change fee if you fly standby. So AC ripped me off by at least $75 and likely by $75 x 3 by charging for what should have been $0. Obviously I'll write to AC for that and probably get 5% off.

[californiadreamin']

Two distinct airport programs are offered:

- Same-day STANDBY is offered free to most fares (NYC-YYZ);
- SDCF (Same-day-change for fee of $150/$75) is for a CONFIRMED change to another flight on the same day ticketed. Offer is subject to capacity available.

Both are valid at check-in only (web/kiosk/counter) on day-of-flight and neither is available via Res or travel agency.

On the other hand, changes that are charged as per fare rules (change fee plus any applicable fare adjustment) are available via Res or travel agency.

[Symmetre]

I've done same day changes at the airport a few times. Keep an eye on the loads. As long as there are seats, you're usually golden (you're essentially a stand-by customer on the new flight). Having to be at the airport to do the change is no biggie, since you have to go there anyway to get on the plane.

Obviously, keep praying for options 3 and 4.

[ChrisA330]

Originally Posted by RCyyz

I just did a same-day change. I was flying YYZ-EWR on a flight in the afternoon and needed it switched to the morning flight that went wheels up 08h30.

1) I actually went to YYZ at midnight since that would count as "same-day". Only to find out that there isn't a single AC person working at YYZ at midnight. Wasted effort! Even called AC from YYZ ("Hi, I'm calling from Pearson Airport") only to be told that I can make the change but only if I go to the airport.

2) The 08h30 flight was J6Y8 so it was clear (to me) I could get seats. But we were a party of 3 pax and the agent had all kinds of problems processing the 3rd. Eventually she gave me 2 confirmed changes @ $75 per pax and the 3rd one as standby (also @ $75).

3) I was later told by someone on FT that YYZ-[New York] is now free standby! That's right - no same-day change fee if you fly standby. So AC ripped me off by at least $75 and likely by $75 x 3 by charging for what should have been $0. Obviously I'll write to AC for that and probably get 5% off.

Why would you go to the airport when you can do the same thing on OLCI?

[yulhammeryyz]

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Originally Posted by ChrisA330

Why would you go to the airport when you can do the same thing on OLCI?

Keep in mind I want to change to a later flight, not an earlier one

My flight is at 11am whereas now I need to fly out after 5pm

I'd need to show up at the airport around 7am to change to an evening flight and then make it to my appointment at 830am in downtown YTZ

So far no one has confirmed that they've been able to Same Day Confirm a later flight

[CdnRW]

Originally Posted by yulhammeryyz

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Keep in mind I want to change to a later flight, not an earlier one

My flight is at 11am whereas now I need to fly out after 5pm

I'd need to show up at the airport around 7am to change to an evening flight and then make it to my appointment at 830am in downtown YTZ

So far no one has confirmed that they've been able to Same Day Confirm a later flight

I've did that a few weeks ago. Flying out of YYT - scheduled in the morning, but later found out I had to be there during the day. Called AC SE Reservation number and they bumped me to a later flight. Wasn't charged a fee, but it was a T+ fare so I should have paid a sameday fee. Didn't argue when I wasn't charged tho...

[yulhammeryyz]

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Originally Posted by CdnRW

I've did that a few weeks ago. Flying out of YYT - scheduled in the morning, but later found out I had to be there during the day. Called AC SE Reservation number and they bumped me to a later flight. Wasn't charged a fee, but it was a T+ fare so I should have paid a sameday fee. Didn't argue when I wasn't charged tho...

Hopefully they'll be as generous to an E like me

[Antonio8069]

Originally Posted by RCyyz

3) I was later told by someone on FT that YYZ-[New York] is now free standby! That's right - no same-day change fee if you fly standby. So AC ripped me off by at least $75 and likely by $75 x 3 by charging for what should have been $0. Obviously I'll write to AC for that and probably get 5% off.

I have asked this question a number of times, and the official answer has not changed. There is no complimentary standby for AC flights in and out of NYC.

[margarita girl]

Originally Posted by Antonio8069

I have asked this question a number of times, and the official answer has not changed. There is no complimentary standby for AC flights in and out of NYC.

Apparently this is fairly new. 3 of us stood by for the earlier YYZ-EWR flight (same as RCyyz). I was on a revenue ticket, other 2 people were reward tickets. We went to different agents. No one asked us to pay the $75 fee, and we all got on the earlier flight.

[hearna]

Originally Posted by Antonio8069

I have asked this question a number of times, and the official answer has not changed. There is no complimentary standby for AC flights in and out of NYC.

Mis-information...

http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index_us.html

Same-day airport standby

Available on flights between Toronto Pearson and JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports on T+ tickets

[californiadreamin']

Originally Posted by yulhammeryyz

Keep in mind I want to change to a later flight, not an earlier one

My flight is at 11am whereas now I need to fly out after 5pm

I'd need to show up at the airport around 7am to change to an evening flight and then make it to my appointment at 830am in downtown YTZ

So far no one has confirmed that they've been able to Same Day Confirm a later flight

It can be done, however, you risk the flight filling up if you don't do it "early" enough. Once paid for and done, however, you're confirmed.

[californiadreamin']

Originally Posted by Symmetre

I've done same day changes at the airport a few times. Keep an eye on the loads. As long as there are seats, you're usually golden (you're essentially a stand-by customer on the new flight). Having to be at the airport to do the change is no biggie, since you have to go there anyway to get on the plane.

Obviously, keep praying for options 3 and 4.

Incorrect. STANDBY (free) and confirmed SAME-DAY CHANGE (fee) options are two distinct programs.