Originally Posted by AlisoninAlaska
I am curious what happened when you called back? The entire conversation didn't sound right, but then again, that happens sometimes. I am the queen of missed flights, my experience has been they just have to put you in the same fare class and if you go into a different fare class they will charge you more in addition to the change fee. The agent sounds like they were trying to book you a completely new ticket, not just change an existing reservation.
I think changes to the ticket before the first segment is flown can only be made if you can still satisfy the minimum advance purchase requirement (along with any day of week and minimum stay requirements) AND the original fare class inventory is available on your new flights. For example, if you buy a ticket that requires a 14-day advance, you cannot call 7 days before the flight to change the outbound portion by one day. You'd have to cancel this ticket and buy a new one.
The return is another story. Once the first segment is flown you can change the return as long as the original fare class is available.
The logic behind such a restriction would appear to be to prevent one from buying several cheap tickets months in advance and then using those tickets for last minute travel.
I think this is correct but I'm not entirely sure. Missy/RASMguy, please let me know if I'm incorrect about this.