Changing/Canceling/Replacing a ticket costing less than the change fee?
Oct 2, 2013, 11:14 am
#1
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Changing/Canceling/Replacing a ticket costing less than the change fee?
I've got a family member booked to travel with me on a domestic flight. It looks like a work conflict will prevent him from going. The change fee is more than the ticket cost. Is there any reason to cancel the reservation? And should I just assign him the middle seat, check him in, and hope the seat stays free for some extra elbow room? In the meantime, I guess I could "hope" for a flight irregularity (which, of course, would be bad for me!) and then try to get him a refund.
That seems to be the problem with the now huge change fees. I don't see what the incentive is to cancel and enable the airline to resell the seat.
That seems to be the problem with the now huge change fees. I don't see what the incentive is to cancel and enable the airline to resell the seat.
Oct 2, 2013, 11:25 am
#2
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I've got a family member booked to travel with me on a domestic flight. It looks like a work conflict will prevent him from going. The change fee is more than the ticket cost. Is there any reason to cancel the reservation? And should I just assign him the middle seat, check him in, and hope the seat stays free for some extra elbow room? In the meantime, I guess I could "hope" for a flight irregularity (which, of course, would be bad for me!) and then try to get him a refund.
That seems to be the problem with the now huge change fees. I don't see what the incentive is to cancel and enable the airline to resell the seat.
That seems to be the problem with the now huge change fees. I don't see what the incentive is to cancel and enable the airline to resell the seat.
However the cheap guy that I really am, would root for the change and refund.
Oct 2, 2013, 11:26 am
#3
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Chris Elliot the Consumer advocate posted on facebook looking for what people think about doing it out of prinicpal. It really doesnt matter what you do. Considering overbooking is so common they have probably already sold the same seat twice.
Oct 2, 2013, 12:24 pm
#4
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Oct 2, 2013, 12:32 pm
#5
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Don't cancel - if there were significant mx or wx delays, it's possible to get a full refund for a "trip in vain." Nothing to lose if that doesn't occur since the change fees are more than the value of the ticket.
Oct 2, 2013, 1:11 pm
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Oct 2, 2013, 1:56 pm
#7
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UA doesn't really care whether you cancel or not, but a fellow traveler might. At T-15, when your friend hasn't showed up, his seat goes to a standby. Exactly why UA and other carriers overbook.
But, it's a nice turn to a fellow traveler to cancel a couple of hours earlier. Someone who really doesn't have the time to standby may well appreciate an open seat and being able to SDC positive space.
As others note, if there's a significant change or a cancellation, your friend will be able to cancel for a full refund.
But, it's a nice turn to a fellow traveler to cancel a couple of hours earlier. Someone who really doesn't have the time to standby may well appreciate an open seat and being able to SDC positive space.
As others note, if there's a significant change or a cancellation, your friend will be able to cancel for a full refund.
Oct 2, 2013, 2:25 pm
#8
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Are you at least Gold and you booked the ticket on the same PNR? If so, you may be able to same day change his ticket for free after splitting off from yours. If you do this enough times, you may get lucky and have that ticket hit a wx and be entitled to a full refund.
Oct 2, 2013, 2:29 pm
#9
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no go on either -- the is a specific protocol and ticket naming ( search "EXTRASEAT") for the situations you are referring to.
Oct 2, 2013, 2:47 pm
#10
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Might be worth it on a really bad weather day, but otherwise it's probably a lot of effort for a longshot chance.
Oct 2, 2013, 3:02 pm
#11
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Wow -- that's a pretty sophisticated strategy. So keep an eye on bad weather and try to same-day-change the ticket to the flight most likely to hit a weather delay and, perhaps, a misconnect?
Might be worth it on a really bad weather day, but otherwise it's probably a lot of effort for a longshot chance.
Might be worth it on a really bad weather day, but otherwise it's probably a lot of effort for a longshot chance.
Oct 26, 2013, 1:28 pm
#12
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Cancelling a ticket instead of doing nothing when not taking a flight
I've a one-way ticket (in booking class K) that cost $100 that I don't plan to take. Is there any benefit to calling United to cancel the ticket instead of doing nothing and simply not taking the flight?
Oct 26, 2013, 1:42 pm
#13
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Not really. But look out for delays or waivers - where you can cancel and get a refund. Hence, wait to cancel until the very end.
Oct 26, 2013, 1:45 pm
#14
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Canceling also opens up seats for others to use if the flight is full. UA doesn't automatically cancel your reservation until shortly before departure which limits the use of your seat by others to those who are standing by.
Oct 26, 2013, 1:53 pm
#15
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