Originally Posted by
Bdubz
I'm sure this info is on here but it's a bit difficult to sift through all the threads. Feel free to post a link to any helpful information.
I am flying on AA from AZO to MCI on December 14th Flight 4025 (11:05am). Because of a meeting change I need to fly in December 13th 4025 (2:25pm).
I called AA to see what my options were and the first piece of information was what I expected. $150.00 change fee along with $62.00 in additional charges. My flight is booked through a company and cost $324.00. My girlfriend is also booked on this same round trip flight for the same rate but I used a couple vouchers I had and paid the difference. Before the phone call ended the agent told me that I also had the option to change flights the day of for $75.00 as long as it was 12 hours or less before takeoff. He said I could just call ahead or go to the airport and change as long as seats were available.
Can someone explain his second option in more detail? I will take this option as a last resort, but It seems really last second. Do a lot of people do this? Also, is there any other ways around the AA change fees? I read in another forum that it is possible to change flight dates as long as the times and locations the same..
Sure. The agent was referring to "same day confirmed", which lets you confirm a flight change within 12 hours of the desired flight for $75, if there's sufficient availability.
Unfortunately, the agent either misunderstood or mis-communicated. As the name suggests, it can only be used for
same day changes. You could change an 11 am flight for a 7 am one, but you can't change to the day before.
"I read in another forum that it is possible to change flight dates as long as the times and locations the same." probably refers to award tickets, which allow you to change dates and times, as long as the origin and destination remain the same. That doesn't apply to paid tickets, though.
If you need to fly the day before, the only real option is to pay the fees to do that. The additional $62 you were quoted is a fare difference, and it's subject to change (and probably increase) until you lock it in and pay to confirm the change, so if you do make the change, it's best to do it soon.