Originally Posted by
efis123
I just had to book an award ticket without really knowing the return date so figured I would book well past the expected return and change it later. I called the Diamond desk to make sure you can still change the return flight as long as it is at least 72 hours prior.
The Diamond desk rep said yes but had me hold on for a minute while he looked at a new policy update he said they had just gotten in the last day or so. He came back on the line and said that you can now change an award ticket within 72 hours (still with no fee for Diamond and Platinum). Didn't think to clarify if that was only for the return segment or if that also applied to the initial segment and to cancellations or just to changes.
As much as I hope this is indeed fact I'm still a bit skeptical because when I did the online booking it still had the old 72 hour cancellation policy warning but it wouldn't be a big surprise to me if they haven't gotten around to updating the website.
So maybe all our complaining had an effect. I guess we'll see.
Looks to be slightly more complex as an overall matter, but
return does appear to be more flexible (cut & pasted from delta.com):
Changes to Award Ticket Travel must be made at least 72 hours prior to the departure time of the flight being changed. Award Tickets booked within 72 hours of departure are nonrefundable and cannot be redeposited or reissued unless prohibited by local law. No changes will be permitted to the originating of Award Tickets booked within 72 hours, however
changes to the return are permitted if the return flight is not within 72 hours and the change is made at least 72 hours prior to the departure flight. Fees apply for any changes. Please visit delta.com/fees for our current fee schedule. Changes to the return portion of an Award Ticket is permitted at least 72 hours prior to the departure flight. Taxes and fees will apply. Changes to Pay with Miles tickets are determined by the fare rules of the ticket purchased.