Emirates Skywards - Best way to get flexible flights (changes) - Flex doesn't seem to be it?

I'm wanting to book a return flight ex-UK, using EK, but want some flexibility to change the return date (and possibly the outbound). Whats the best way to go about this? Fares seem to have different change fees etc, and also seem subject to a 'fare recalculation'.

I would rather pay a bit more up front and be able to change easily, than pay a cheaper price and have to pay change fees + recalculations, which may be much more expensive?

The 'Flex' fare seems to relate to miles more than actually being flexible?!

Thanks for any assistance.

Making a change before the 1st sector is flown is going to cause a fare recalculation regardless of how flexible it is

You can get fares which have no change fees, but Ex UK they are likely to be a fair bit more than those with the GBP75 change fee, that unless you expect to make several changes it is probably better to pay the change fee.

I think the OP's other concern is about fare bucket availability and the potential for nasty & expensive surprises if only the higher ones are available at the time of the change.

The only certain way to avoid this is to book the most expensive one, but this does seem like a very expensive insurance premium ...

Thanks.
If I have flown the first sector and need to change the second, does that require a fare recalculation? If not it would just be the £75 fee?

Yes I was hoping to avoid a fare bucket change, but as I'm learning, there doesn't seem to be a simple way to avoid such things?

You can't 'avoid' a fare bucket change. Why would you buy the most expensive ticket rather than just pay up for whatever cheapest fare bucket is available? You'd save money either way. You can only really avoid the change fee.

And no, once you've commenced the itinerary the fare won't be recalculated (ie if the same fare bucket is now more expensive you won't be charged more).

Thanks.
If I have flown the first sector and need to change the second, does that require a fare recalculation? If not it would just be the £75 fee?

Yes I was hoping to avoid a fare bucket change, but as I'm learning, there doesn't seem to be a simple way to avoid such things?

There is no fare recalculation after departure.

You can avoid booking class change causing a fare increase as long as you select flights where that booking class is available. If you are booked in, say, W you just need to book on a flight where W is available. If only Y is available and you want that flight , then you need to pay the difference. If the flight is full in all classes then you can't get on at all

Dave

Thanks guys. Must seem simple to you.

So if I buy a return, fly the outward journey, and want to change the return leg, all I pay is the change fee? If its an economy booking, I can change to any flight with an economy seat available?

In terms of timing, am I restricted to the return being within 12 months of the outgoing (as per fare rules) - or is there any other small print worth looking at?

Thanks.

Thanks guys. Must seem simple to you.

So if I buy a return, fly the outward journey, and want to change the return leg, all I pay is the change fee? If its an economy booking, I can change to any flight with an economy seat available?

In terms of timing, am I restricted to the return being within 12 months of the outgoing (as per fare rules) - or is there any other small print worth looking at?

Thanks.

Potentially yes. You can change to any flight with the same booking class available; e.g. if you have a B class booking , you need to find a flight with B class availability; if booked in W, then need W etc.

If the required booking class is not available , then you will need to pay the extra to the lowest available class

If the fare rules allow 12 month stay, then isn't much to worry about there