I'm scheduled on the red-eye leaving LAX for PHL on 12/12. As it turns out, I may need to stay that night. What's my best strategy for leaving the next day without having to pay too much extra? Thanks in advance.

I'm tempted to say eat the cost and change it in advance as that's probably the least risky (in terms of potential cost) strategy.

OTOH, if you "happen" to get "stuck in traffic" and show up late, you could find a sympathetic GA. Or you could get a dragon who makes you buy a walkup ticket and/or charges you difference between your fare and walkup plus change fee. All depends on how much you want to risk.

I'm scheduled on the red-eye leaving LAX for PHL on 12/12. As it turns out, I may need to stay that night. What's my best strategy for leaving the next day without having to pay too much extra? Thanks in advance.

Show up late for the flight. Say you got stuck in traffic, or a tire blew or something. Look desperate and angry? They will rebook you on the next flight out.

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

Show up late for the flight. Say you got stuck in traffic, or a tire blew or something. Look desperate and angry? They will rebook you on the next flight out.

Showing up late and hoping to be rebooked can be problematic for a red eye flight. If you show up too late, check in will likely be closed. If you just show up the next morning, it could be hard to convince the check in agents that you were really attempting to get to the airport for your flight the previous night. You could try to call reservations to be rebooked onto the next flight, but that's more of a gamble.

If you want to fly the next day, personally I'd say your best bet is to pay the change fee.

I'm not sure what your change fee would be, but the price for a one-way ticket from LAX to PHL on 12/13 is $322, which is the same price on Southwest. If that fare is not refundable on US, it may pay to book it on Southwest. That way, if you can get the agent to schedule you the next day, you can get your money back.

Not the ideal solution, but perhaps the potential for the least expense.

The "extra" refundable one-way is a great idea, especially if the value of your original ticket is less than the change fee.

Also, re: showing up late, you not only run the risk of checkin being closed but also the risk that the flight is delayed and they want your butt on it.