*A awards...why no changes permitted
 

Why are no changes permitted to itineraries booked as Star Alliance awards...regardless of class?

Can one pay a change fee?

Thanks

No, if you could pay a change fee then changes would be permitted.

andrew

If you're an AP member and booked a reward on AC, then you can change your itinerary by paying a change fee. If you booked another *A airline, then no changes permitted.

I believe it's the same for most other FF programs.

Is it at least possible to cancel award tickets booked on Star Alliance carriers (maybe for a fee) and then rebook subject to availability?

Yes, you can cancel for $75 and then rebook if seats are available.

One of the reasons why there are no changes permitted on Star Alliance awards is because the large amount of people going after those tiny amount of award seats. By not allowing changes, it will force people to make up their mind before booking (so there's a high probability that they will travel). I do agree - it's very inconvinient.

And BA is worse, with the new rules as of July 1, if you have a partner segment you can't even return the ticket for recredit of the points!

(Pure-BA flights booked using BA points now have the same restrictive rules at Star Alliance awards booked with AC points).

andrew


[This message has been edited by Andrew Webber (edited 08-07-2003).]

Hmm, not all airline FFPs have change restrictions. US doesn't restrict changes for awards on QF (at least not this past July) and the changes on my CX140A award from AA seems t be free of restriction. If I reticket my current itinerary, I even get a refund on taxes!

But as Andrew Webber says, BA EC sucks. Any change in flights results in a reissue with reissue fees.

And to emphasize terenz last point, that's on a pure-BA itinerary!

andrew

SK allows members to modify reservations up to 1 week before departure, and even delete segments if needed after departure. For FREE!