Free upgrade to Flex after price drop?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AC*E50K, CX Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
Free upgrade to Flex after price drop?
I purchase a non-stop flight from YVR to BKK on Standard fare earlier. The price has dropped since then and now the Flex fare on the same flight is cheaper than the Standard fare I've paid. Am I allowed to upgrade to Flex for free? I'm trying to do that online and even though the system is quoting $0 for the upgrade, the transaction just cannot go thru for some reason.
Anyone has previous experience with this?
Anyone has previous experience with this?
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,725
Call and ask about the cost to "up-fare" to Flex. Use that word, not "change" or "rebook".
Normally in this situation that would come with an ADCOL, but if pricing is as you say, that should work out to zero.
Normally in this situation that would come with an ADCOL, but if pricing is as you say, that should work out to zero.
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
If it's actually less, you could even price out higher Flex booking classes. No point letting $100 evaporate. You won't get the SQD.
And then there are things like upgrade priority, etc.
And then there are things like upgrade priority, etc.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,358
#6
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,136
Called in and was quoted a change fee.
Did a bit more research, and found this post indicating upfare within the same cabin isn't subject to change fee: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27576115-post20.html
However, noted it's a few years out of date. Policy may have changed. Saw some more recent anecdotal posts indicating that they were able to get the change fee waived, although in a couple cases supervisor intervention was required.
I may try calling back tomorrow to see if I can get any further. Is ACPedia still a current resource that agents use?
#8
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,358
I had the exact same situation as OP.
Called in and was quoted a change fee.
Did a bit more research, and found this post indicating upfare within the same cabin isn't subject to change fee: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27576115-post20.html
However, noted it's a few years out of date. Policy may have changed. Saw some more recent anecdotal posts indicating that they were able to get the change fee waived, although in a couple cases supervisor intervention was required.
I may try calling back tomorrow to see if I can get any further. Is ACPedia still a current resource that agents use?
Called in and was quoted a change fee.
Did a bit more research, and found this post indicating upfare within the same cabin isn't subject to change fee: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27576115-post20.html
However, noted it's a few years out of date. Policy may have changed. Saw some more recent anecdotal posts indicating that they were able to get the change fee waived, although in a couple cases supervisor intervention was required.
I may try calling back tomorrow to see if I can get any further. Is ACPedia still a current resource that agents use?
I don’t know that I would be using. 6 year old post to challenge a res agent.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
I've successfully updated within a cabin without a change fee a couple times, but I'm not sure it was ever within the rules.
As far as I know, it's always been an upgrade of cabin that officially had change fees waived.
As far as I know, it's always been an upgrade of cabin that officially had change fees waived.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Titanium & LTP, NEXUS
Posts: 613
I booked YVR-FRA-MAD in P class, with FRA-MAD on LH (AC code share). 48 hours after booking I realized that FRA-MAD was in Y class.
The fare difference to P is $1 and reservations quoted me the same - but with a $500 change fee. They wouldn't budge on the fee.
My mistake for booking the code share in the first place, but this seems like a reasonable request that is not technically a "change" but an "upfare".
The fare difference to P is $1 and reservations quoted me the same - but with a $500 change fee. They wouldn't budge on the fee.
My mistake for booking the code share in the first place, but this seems like a reasonable request that is not technically a "change" but an "upfare".
#12
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 33
Similar issue
I purchase a non-stop flight from YVR to BKK on Standard fare earlier. The price has dropped since then and now the Flex fare on the same flight is cheaper than the Standard fare I've paid. Am I allowed to upgrade to Flex for free? I'm trying to do that online and even though the system is quoting $0 for the upgrade, the transaction just cannot go thru for some reason.
Anyone has previous experience with this?
Anyone has previous experience with this?