I have an upcoming BOS-> HKG -> BOS trip booked directly with UA next month and I might need to change the return flights (HKG->NRT-HND->IAD->BOS) after taking the first flight to HKG. I have some questions about change fees and price differences that I hope someone could answer.
1. If I understand the discussion here correctly, there will be no change fee because the trip originates from the US, is that correct? (I read the terms in the fare rules (copied and pasted below) but they are not written in the clearest way, so I wanted to be sure.)
2. Given that the ticket I bought was heavily discounted (fare classes K and X/K), say priced at ~$1,000, I expect to pay a price difference if I ended up having to change my return flight. I understand that if the price difference is more expensive than booking a new HKG->BOS flight, I could always cancel the return ticket and use the credit for the ticket to book the new flight, right? In that case, Is there any way for me to find out in advance how much credit I would get?
Thanks!
PENALTIES
CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND. NOTE - FOR WHOLLY UNUSED TICKETS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION POLICY APPLIES -------------------------------------------------- TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME OR FOR NO SHOW -------------------------------------------------- YQ/YR INTERNATIONAL SURCHARGES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE - US/ZP/XF TAXES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE -------------------------------------------------- WHOLLY UNUSED TICKETS MAY BE USED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW TICKET AT CURRENT FARE LEVELS - TRAVEL ON NEW TICKET MUST BEGIN WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE -EXCEPTION- TICKETS ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12/31/22 TRAVEL MUST COMMENCE BY 12/31/23 -------------------------------------------------- CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE. NOTE - TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME OR FOR NO SHOW -------------------------------------------------- --- CHANGES TO 1ST TICKETED FLIGHT COUPON ---- -------------------------------------------------- TRAVEL ON NEW TICKET MUST BEGIN WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE -EXCEPTION- TICKETS ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12/31/22 TRAVEL MUST COMMENCE BY 12/31/23 -------------------------------------------------- REPRICE USING CURRENT FARE LEVELS -------------------------------------------------- RESIDUAL VALUE-IF ANY- WILL BE FORFEITED/IGNORED -------------------------------------------------- TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED AT TIME VOLUNTARY CHANGES ARE CONFIRMED -------------------------------------------------- NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE -------------------------------------------------- --- CHANGES TO OTHER THAN 1ST TICKETED --- --- FLIGHT COUPON --- -------------------------------------------------- PARTIALLY USED TICKET VALIDITY IS VALID FOR TRAVEL ONE YEAR FROM COMMENCEMENT DATE ON ORIGINAL TICKET -------------------------------------------------- REPRICE USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT AT TIME OF ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUANCE OR CURRENT FARES BASED ON FARE RULES -------------------------------------------------- WHEN NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR ALL PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL TICKETED FARE BASIS CODE / BOOKING CODE - IGNORING ADVANCE RESERVATIONS AND TICKETING REQUIREMENTS THEN REPRICE USING FARE ON ORIGINAL TICKET -------------------------------------------------- IF NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR ORIGINAL TICKETED FARE BASIS CODE - BUT RESULTS IN DIFFERENCE DUE TO DAY OF WEEK TRAVEL / SEASONALITY / CHANGE TO FARE BREAK POINT -RESULTS IN HIGHER FARES - COLLECT DIFFERENCE IN FARES AND TAXES -OR- -RESULTS IN LOWER FARE - RESIDUAL VALUE WILL BE FORFEITED/IGNORED -------------------------------------------------- IF NEW ITINERARY NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR ORIGINAL TICKETED FARE - RECALCULATE NEW EQUAL OR HIGHER FARE FROM POINT OF ORIGIN USING FARES APPLICABLE AT TIME OF ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUANCE. -------------------------------------------------- FOR AUTOMATED PROCESSING DETAILS SEE CATEGORY 31
VOLUNTARY CHANGES
IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 2. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON/FARE BREAKS 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU SAME FARE CLASS ARE USED 4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. UA K- FARE FAMILY AND ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. ANY CARRIER NORMAL FARES WITH ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 4. UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU SAME FARE CLASS ARE USED 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. SAME FARE ON 1ST FARE COMPONENT IS USED 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 4. UA K- FARE FAMILY AND ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 2. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 3. UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 2. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 3. ANY CARRIER NORMAL FARES WITH ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS.