Changing return flight booked on Expedia
Jun 15, 2014, 9:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Changing return flight booked on Expedia
I recently booked a trip to Thailand for 12 days. I was initially wanting to book a longer trip, but my wife had something she had to be back for at work. We just found out that her meetings had been rescheduled to a later date. So, we were wanting to extend the vacation a few days.
We booked the flight through Expedia. I called Expedia and explained the situation and asked about changing the return date. They did some checking and said there would be no change fee, just a fare difference that would be owed. They quoted me at the time and the fare difference was going to be about an $800 difference for each ticket - $1600 total. This is from moving the flight from a Tuesday 7/8 to Thursday 7/10. This seemed really high to me, but maybe it is normal?
What I was wondering is if it would be cheaper to wait until after the departure to change the return date? That way the whole fare wouldn't be changing, just the return portion. If anyone has any experience with this or advice, I'd appreciate it.
We booked the flight through Expedia. I called Expedia and explained the situation and asked about changing the return date. They did some checking and said there would be no change fee, just a fare difference that would be owed. They quoted me at the time and the fare difference was going to be about an $800 difference for each ticket - $1600 total. This is from moving the flight from a Tuesday 7/8 to Thursday 7/10. This seemed really high to me, but maybe it is normal?
What I was wondering is if it would be cheaper to wait until after the departure to change the return date? That way the whole fare wouldn't be changing, just the return portion. If anyone has any experience with this or advice, I'd appreciate it.
Jun 15, 2014, 10:06 pm
#2
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
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Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,558
Welcome to Flyertalk, lkj2345. As your query involves Expedia I am moving your thread to the Online Travel Booking Forum.
Please follow there..
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Please follow there..
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Jun 16, 2014, 1:30 am
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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Posts: 31,452
Changing return flight booked on Expedia
It really depends on the fare rules applicable to the ticket you bought. What has happened since you bought the tickets is that the fare category you originally night has sold out, so you need to move to the next higher category. It sounds like that one has also sold out so you've gone even higher. The length of your holiday extension is not relevant, just what seats are still available for sale on the flight you want to take. Try a few days later, or if you like send the airline and travel dates and we can have a look for you to see what fares are still available.
Jun 16, 2014, 7:32 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Travel dates are as follows:
Departure:
6/28 OKC to Los Angeles via AA.
Los Angeles to Shanghai via China Eastern Airlines
Shanghai to Phuket via China Eastern Airlines.
Return:
7/8 Phuket to Shanghai via China Eastern Airlines
Phuket to Los Angeles via China Eastern Airlines
Los Angeles to OKC via AA.
Would like to change the return date to Thursday (7/10)
I checked on Expedia to see flights available on 7/10 and they have 2 different flights at this time.
Departure:
6/28 OKC to Los Angeles via AA.
Los Angeles to Shanghai via China Eastern Airlines
Shanghai to Phuket via China Eastern Airlines.
Return:
7/8 Phuket to Shanghai via China Eastern Airlines
Phuket to Los Angeles via China Eastern Airlines
Los Angeles to OKC via AA.
Would like to change the return date to Thursday (7/10)
I checked on Expedia to see flights available on 7/10 and they have 2 different flights at this time.
Jun 17, 2014, 11:23 am
#5
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"Available flights" does not mean that the flights are available in particular (cheap) fare classes.
Try checking the cost of returning Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, etc. You might find that one of these days is a relative bargain. Look also at alternative routings, perhaps MU through PEK rather than PVG on this itinerary. It could be useful to look at your fare rules to determine whether the MU-AA combination is required. For instance, CZ also serves PVG-LAX, IIRC with an A380.
Try checking the cost of returning Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, etc. You might find that one of these days is a relative bargain. Look also at alternative routings, perhaps MU through PEK rather than PVG on this itinerary. It could be useful to look at your fare rules to determine whether the MU-AA combination is required. For instance, CZ also serves PVG-LAX, IIRC with an A380.
Jun 17, 2014, 1:53 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Here are a couple of things I found regarding the fare rules.
"When changing your reservation, the new flights selected must be on the same airline. It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the alternative flights available prior to calling"
Also,
From: Oklahoma City, OK (OKC-All Airports)
To: Phuket, Thailand (HKT-Phuket Intl.)
Fare Basis Code: N3MNBZ
PE.PENALTIES
FOR N3MNBZ TYPE FARES
NOTE -
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE USD 100.00 OR EQUIVALENT FOR REFUND.
AFTER DEPARTURE
NOT PERMITTED.
AND -
NOTE -
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY
MEMBER. DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
AND -
NOTE -
A.REMARK-
1-PENALTY CHARGE WILL BE WAIVED FOR INFANT
WITHOUT SEAT.
2-CHILD PENALTY CHARGE CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.
3-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
PASSENGER.
4-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.
B.VOLUNTARY REROUTING - NOT PERMITTED.
C.UPGRADING -
MAY BE UPGRADED TO ANY HIGHER APPLICABLE FARE
RECALCULATED FOR THE POINT OF ORIGIN.
THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE MUST BE COLLECTED.
From: Oklahoma City, OK (OKC-All Airports)
To: Phuket, Thailand (HKT-Phuket Intl.)
Fare Basis Code: L1YNBZ
PE.PENALTIES
FOR L1YNBZ TYPE FARES
NOTE -
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE USD 200.00 OR EQUIVALENT FOR REFUND.
AFTER DEPARTURE
NOT PERMITTED.
AND -
NOTE -
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY
MEMBER. DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
AND -
NOTE -
A.REMARK-
1-PENALTY CHARGE WILL BE WAIVED FOR INFANT
WITHOUT SEAT.
2-CHILD PENALTY CHARGE CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.
3-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
PASSENGER.
4-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.
B.VOLUNTARY REROUTING - NOT PERMITTED.
C.UPGRADING -
MAY BE UPGRADED TO ANY HIGHER APPLICABLE FARE
RECALCULATED FOR THE POINT OF ORIGIN.
THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE MUST BE COLLECTED.
It looks like the same airline has to be used when changing flights.
I also checked a couple of other days (Wednesday and Friday) and the fare difference is pretty similar to the one originally quoted.
I had one person I spoke with at Expedia tell me to change the return flight once I arrived at Phuket. Has anyone ever done this before? Change the return date after departure?
"When changing your reservation, the new flights selected must be on the same airline. It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the alternative flights available prior to calling"
Also,
From: Oklahoma City, OK (OKC-All Airports)
To: Phuket, Thailand (HKT-Phuket Intl.)
Fare Basis Code: N3MNBZ
PE.PENALTIES
FOR N3MNBZ TYPE FARES
NOTE -
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE USD 100.00 OR EQUIVALENT FOR REFUND.
AFTER DEPARTURE
NOT PERMITTED.
AND -
NOTE -
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY
MEMBER. DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
AND -
NOTE -
A.REMARK-
1-PENALTY CHARGE WILL BE WAIVED FOR INFANT
WITHOUT SEAT.
2-CHILD PENALTY CHARGE CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.
3-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
PASSENGER.
4-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.
B.VOLUNTARY REROUTING - NOT PERMITTED.
C.UPGRADING -
MAY BE UPGRADED TO ANY HIGHER APPLICABLE FARE
RECALCULATED FOR THE POINT OF ORIGIN.
THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE MUST BE COLLECTED.
From: Oklahoma City, OK (OKC-All Airports)
To: Phuket, Thailand (HKT-Phuket Intl.)
Fare Basis Code: L1YNBZ
PE.PENALTIES
FOR L1YNBZ TYPE FARES
NOTE -
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE USD 200.00 OR EQUIVALENT FOR REFUND.
AFTER DEPARTURE
NOT PERMITTED.
AND -
NOTE -
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY
MEMBER. DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
AND -
NOTE -
A.REMARK-
1-PENALTY CHARGE WILL BE WAIVED FOR INFANT
WITHOUT SEAT.
2-CHILD PENALTY CHARGE CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.
3-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
PASSENGER.
4-PENALTY CHARGES WILL BE WAIVED FOR DEATH OF
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER.
B.VOLUNTARY REROUTING - NOT PERMITTED.
C.UPGRADING -
MAY BE UPGRADED TO ANY HIGHER APPLICABLE FARE
RECALCULATED FOR THE POINT OF ORIGIN.
THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE MUST BE COLLECTED.
It looks like the same airline has to be used when changing flights.
I also checked a couple of other days (Wednesday and Friday) and the fare difference is pretty similar to the one originally quoted.
I had one person I spoke with at Expedia tell me to change the return flight once I arrived at Phuket. Has anyone ever done this before? Change the return date after departure?