Originally Posted by
angatol
Can anyone confirm that the change fee cannot be taken from the residual value after fare change?
I think this must depend on the fare rules for your current fare.
Taking a random ex-US fare - IRUSJBS for NYC-LON-NYC - the "changes before departure" provisions include:-
PENALTIES
NEW TICKET MAY BE LOWER - EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS AND MUST COMPLY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW FARE BEING APPLIED.
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WHEN THE ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED. ANY APPLICABLE CHANGE FEE STILL APPLIES.
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WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT WILL BE REFUNDED. ANY APPLICABLE CHANGE FEE STILL APPLIES.
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ANY NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT FROM A PREVIOUS TICKET REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE FOLLOWING A CHANGE.
VOLUNTARY CHANGES
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE REFUND RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT
However, the "changes after departure provisions" include:-
PENALTIES
1. IF SAME BOOKING CLASS IS USED NEW TICKET MAY BE LOWER - EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS AND MUST COMPLY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW FARE BEING APPLIED.
2. IF A DIFFERENT BOOKING CLASS IS USED NEW TICKET MAY BE EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS AND MUST COMPLY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW FARE BEING APPLIED.
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WHEN THE ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED. ANY APPLICABLE CHANGE FEE STILL APPLIES.
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WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE CHANGE FEE APPLIES AND NO CREDIT OF THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT WILL BE MADE.
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ANY NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT FROM A PREVIOUS TICKET REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE FOLLOWING A CHANGE.
VOLUNTARY CHANGES
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT
I don't know whether this difference was intentional or whether it's an error. But the difference is clearly there, and the treatment of the residual would seem to depend on the exact rules applicable to your situation.
So do you know what your original fare / fare rules were? If the residual is refundable, then the overall effect would seem to be that the change fee could be paid using part of the residual value.