I was booked on SFO-DEN-AUS, and wanted to change to an earlier SFO-AUS nonstop. I was hoping to do the same day confirmed change, which I know isn't strictly allowed on the routing change, but at times I have had a helpful agent do these kind of confirmed changes as recently as February. Here SFO-DEN was asking for VDBs and SFO-AUS had open space, so I thought they might be flexible.

Unfortunately, I placed my bet on the SFO Intl RCC agents, and the person there while very nice, was normally a GA, and these particular fare/flight changes were not in her normal ops. She mention she had tried to do this recently, and couldn't work it through then, either. A call to, I believe, a supervisor had here ask about the VDB situation being an exception, and she got back, "Not at this fare class (S), charge $100". I couldn't get what fare class would have been ok - i.e. H or Y/B.

I asked what this was for. It was not a upfare to a new fare class and then confirmed same day change. It was not some alternate same change. It was claimed as some kind of normal ticket change, however - the receipt is not the receipt I get when I do ticket changes, and there the fee is $150 and fare diff. There was nothing that showed that kind of math. She couldn't explain why it wasn't like a regular change I'm used too, this was just the change fee.

The receipt is titled "Special Service Ticket / Customer Receipt". After my name and Ticket number, it says "Items: Service charge base fee (7) $100.00", and then later "Additional Remarks: TKT CHANGE". No other indications on the receipt.

I'm thinking what happened is that she just did the magic bits to do the change, with the notes/justfication or whatever allowed it as the fee she collected. Asking about any profile details didn't help, as really she didn't know, she was doing what she was told. She was a wizard at getting me the best E+ seat in the plane, so she's clearly a good GA and was as helpful as she could be. No complaints at that.

Anyone know what that fee actually is, and where I could find a description of the rule I fell under for doing this change this way? Do people think the best bet for a "helpful agent" is the 1K agents out front - or where else?