US Airways Dividend Miles - change fee on return for award ticket ?

I need to make a change on return date (still same city) for award ticket, is there a fee for this?
The agent told me before when issuing ticket, there is no fee for changing return date, but now customer service told me there is $250/person, :mad:

Is this a new policy change?

thanks

"Changes to the point of origin, destination, stopover, class of service and award are permitted, provided the new itinerary is still within the valid travel areas allowed by the original award. A service fee will be charged for any such changes. A fee applies to changes to flight times and/or dates. This includes changes to connecting points.

The change fee is $150 ($250 for transatlantic/transpacific itineraries)."

I need to make a change on return date (still same city) for award ticket, is there a fee for this?
The agent told me before when issuing ticket, there is no fee for changing return date, but now customer service told me there is $250/person, :mad:

Is this a new policy change?

thanks


This is a policy change, but I'm not sure when the policy changed. When did you reserve the ticket?

This policy took effect in early August 2008. That's why there was a scramble of many of us booking awards before new fees took effect, and why we have posts about people rightly trying to avoid paying such fees for awards booked prior to the new terms that agents insist are required.

"Changes to the point of origin, destination, stopover, class of service and award are permitted, provided the new itinerary is still within the valid travel areas allowed by the original award. A service fee will be charged for any such changes. A fee applies to changes to flight times and/or dates. This includes changes to connecting points.

The change fee is $150 ($250 for transatlantic/transpacific itineraries)."

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe CP's are exempt. At least for changing the dates/times (can't change the city pairs) since I just used an award ticket for MAD. Not sure where williamx falls as far as the preferred levels.

Are there so many US CPs here that no one seems to care about this fee?

The fee is much higher than some other programs, and in some cases other airlines charge nothing to merely change dates and times. Compared to paid tickets awards are uniquely difficult in getting correct dates and times, so it's natural to want to change times as a travel date approaches. I guess I'm just surprised by the lack of outrage.

Actually, according to the website, it's only cancel / redeposit fees that are waived:

We waive the mileage redeposit fee of $150 ($250 for transatlantic/transpacific itineraries) for totally unused award tickets for our Chairman's Preferred members.

In theory you could make a change by canceling the ticket, redepositing the miles, and rebooking again with your new itinerary. However, you'd risk not being able to book your new itinerary and US probably would want to charge the award booking fee again too. You're also out of luck with this offer if you want to make a change after beginning travel.

The fees do seem to be on the high end compared to what other airlines charge, but that seems to be the M.O. for US these days -- the way to profit is through fees. OTOH, they are pretty upfront about the charges (on the website and when you book), and at least in my experience I've had rather good luck in using miles to get international award tickets in the first place. For me, I'm willing to risk the chance of paying higher fees if I also have been luck at award availability.

For me, I'm willing to risk the chance of paying higher fees if I also have been luck at award availability.Well I have international awards for 2, and if I need to change something I'm out $500. I think if I cancel I'm out $600 since I had to pay $50 pp phone fee. I'm willing to put up with fees if the award availability is better like you said, but that's pretty steep.