Extending Return Date on AP Award Ticket?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
Extending Return Date on AP Award Ticket?
I'm currently on vacation (family of 4) in BC; flights (YYZ-YVR) were booked using AP points. I'd like to extend the trip by a couple of days. Is this possible? What are the fees? I'm also Elite, if that matters in any way.
Many thanks in advance.
Many thanks in advance.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
I know that is the case for STAR awards but I do believe AC ones are a bit more flexible in this regard. Of course, finding four AE award seats between BC and YYZ at this time of year will be next to impossible at the Classic rate and Classic Plus might be as costly in miles as the initial return.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
Programs: AC Aeroplan, ANZ Airpoints
Posts: 43
I had no problem changing the return date of my award travel, which was an aeroplan award but involved flights on AC, UA, and ANZ. I paid a change fee but it wasnt much. In fact since I was unsure of my exact return when I phoned to extend, the Aeroplan agent changed my ticket to open return date and then I just phoned to book the date when I knew it, that saved me paying twice to change the date.
#6
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 2,337
*Star Rewards - once the journey has commenced, the only changes they will allow you to make will be those to date/time only and then only if you hold an E-Ticket. No changes of any kind permitted on paper tickets for Star once journey commenced.
No changes to routing on a Star Reward once journey started, regardless of ticket type. You can change routing on an AC reward even after journey has started.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: AC*SE; AC 2MM; Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 621
Changes are permitted on Star Alliance awards after travel begun
I know that is the case for STAR awards but I do believe AC ones are a bit more flexible in this regard. Of course, finding four AE award seats between BC and YYZ at this time of year will be next to impossible at the Classic rate and Classic Plus might be as costly in miles as the initial return.
I'm in the middle of a rather extensive *A award and yesterday made a change one of the remaining segments. Had the pay the $55 change fee.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
Thanks for clarifying the issue vis a vis STAR awards. The key issue remains whether there are any award seats available for such mid-trip changes.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,145
From what I have heard from others who needed to change their dates on an AE award ticket, it is much easier to change the return date than it is for the outbound or any of the other sectors in between (if exist).
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,101
Maybe they made a mistake. They were very clear with me about this when I booked a few days ago (*A tix). Also ms. who is a SE couldn't change from AC SYD-HNL-YVR-YYZ to SYD-LAX-YYZ on UA (UA opens up flights closer to date) a few months ago because they said no routing changes allowed. Lucky you!
#11
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: AC*SE; AC 2MM; Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 621
To clarify ...
Maybe they made a mistake. They were very clear with me about this when I booked a few days ago (*A tix). Also ms. who is a SE couldn't change from AC SYD-HNL-YVR-YYZ to SYD-LAX-YYZ on UA (UA opens up flights closer to date) a few months ago because they said no routing changes allowed. Lucky you!
2. I was able to change ROUTING BEFORE travel had begun
3. I did not try and change ROUTING AFTER travel had begun so can't comment on if this is permitted.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Morin Heights, AC*SE, UAPE
Programs: ACMM 50K, UA Platinum
Posts: 298
Was in Italy with my family in May. They were returning home on Swiss Air from Geneva. While we were there, I tried to change their flights. I was told that no changes could be made to routing once travel had commenced. The rules quoted to me were:
On AC - if available, routing, dates, time, etc. can be changed for a change fee at any time - before or after departure.
On *A - if available, routing, dates, time, etc. can be changed for a fee BEFORE departure. Date and time can be changed after departure, but NOT routing.
I have made changes to *A aeroplan bookings in the past and in fact did that with these flights BEFORE departure. However, I only changed the departure dates, not the ROUTING, so I cannot attest to a routing change actually being allowed before departure. For sure, it is NOT allowed after the trip has commenced.
On AC - if available, routing, dates, time, etc. can be changed for a change fee at any time - before or after departure.
On *A - if available, routing, dates, time, etc. can be changed for a fee BEFORE departure. Date and time can be changed after departure, but NOT routing.
I have made changes to *A aeroplan bookings in the past and in fact did that with these flights BEFORE departure. However, I only changed the departure dates, not the ROUTING, so I cannot attest to a routing change actually being allowed before departure. For sure, it is NOT allowed after the trip has commenced.