Easyjet Fare trick
Just read a little piece in Traveller Magazine about switching flights in easyjet. Since April, when you book your flight, and find that the later return flight is a cheaper one, but actually want the earlier flight,book the later one and just go to the airport and ask to be put on the earlier one, if theres space (very likely as the average easyjet flight has 23 empty seats) they will change you for free, no rebooking charge, nothing....
Points to note, it doesnt work the other way round, you cant be rebooked from an earlier flight to a later one, you'd have to pay the £15 and the ticket difference -and do it 2 hours before your flights departure.
You cant be waitlisted for the earlier flight if it turns out its full.
Cant be done for a day in advance, ie only on flights with more then 2 a day.
Cant change airports.
Since its not 100% that there will be space, dont do it if its urgent!!
They reckon that the benefits in attracting passengers, having people on flights that are on schedule (ie less compensation if something goes wrong on the later flight), and having free seats on later flights where they can charge more makes up for the admin costs.
They tried a test with a BA flight to Lyon bought for £34.50, and when they asked to change it for an earlier flight were told sure, for an extra £451.50 plus an extra £15 for ticket issue at the airport.... And they wonder why people want to move from them to the LCCs....