I'm booked on a flight tomorrow (August 18) and need to change the dates (non-refundable ticket booked through a travel agent). Unfortunately, the TA seems to have gone missing! I managed to talk to her around noon yesterday, but since then she has not answered her phone, and there is no voice mail option. It just rings and rings before cutting off finally.

As of a few minutes ago, the itinerary had not been changed by her, as I can still see it online and Emirates phone reps can pull it up. They say they can't make any changes unless the TA authorizes them (which I can understand).

A phone agent I just talked with said that they can cancel the outbound leg so I am not charged a no-show fee. When I asked her about a residual credit for the itinerary for future rebooking, she said they do not issue those. But I (actually, the TA) was issued one before when I had to make an itinerary change:

EMIRATES TICKET:

AIR TOTAL USD 1400.34

EXCHANGE TICKET NUMBER 176-XXXXXXXXXX USD -866.34

AIRLINE CHANGE FEE USD 400.00

EMIRATES INVOICE TOTAL USD 934.00

I don't know whether we were not on the same wavelength, and she though I was asking about a refund for the canceled ticket, or whether they don't issue the credit in such a case to the passenger but only to the TA, or what she meant. But it certainly happened a few months ago.

Is there anything else I can (or should) do at this point that I'm not thinking of? If I don't hear from the TA tonight, I will book a totally new itinerary myself (probably not on Emirates, as at this point they cost more for the dates I now need than other carriers do) and ask Emirates to cancel at least my outbound leg tomorrow. And I know a new itinerary on another carrier can be canceled within 24 hours if I do hear from the TA and learn she has rebooked me on Emirates.

I suppose I will have to take up the issue of getting a refund from the TA if she fails to change the itinerary in time. Any advice on how to approach that?

Thanks!