I’d appreciate some help in finding the best path forward for my situation. I bought flights for my family over Xmas on Air France: RDU-CDG-ARN-CDG-RDU. All flights were business except for the initial RDU-CDG leg. It turns out we can’t make the trip on those dates.

I can almost guarantee this wasn’t any type of basic or light fare, but I was completely surprised to learn it was non-refundable. I didn’t expect refundable to original purchase option, but previous experience with many other airlines is that you can always get a travel credit when it’s not a basic/light fare. Although, this isn’t stated on the website, could this be an option if I call in?

My other question/gripe is that I’m able to change the dates of the flights online. But the pricing when changing the flights does not match with the same pricing when buying new tickets. Because most legs are business, It’s showing as very significantly more. Is there a reason for this? Could it be because I was on a split economy/business itinerary? For the return, it’s not allowing me to change to economy.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Probably just call?
fare conditions should be in the booking/ticket confirmation

Most of standard fares are non-refundable and this is clearly stated on the website as part of the conditions of the ticket when you purchase it. If you want refundable, you should usually book a Flex fare.

When buying an airline ticket, you should always read the terms and conditions. Experience with other airlines is irrelevant.

Only Flex fares are refundable. Standard fares are modifiable against a fee but you have to also pay the fare differential.

DId you buy the tickets on AF website or a TA?
It is a bit surprising that RDU-CDG be in Y and CDG-ARN-RDU in J.

ANyway, the fare rules will state if it is non-refundable or you can get a voucher for future travel.

I thought the same reading OP. This is a very unusual fare construction for a cash ticket, for such an itinerary.

With AF, if non-refundable, it's not refundable (no voucher, no cash). Only the Covid period had special rules with vouchers.

directly with AF. I buy mixed fares semi frequently depending on the differences in cost. Ex-Europe typically has some cheap fares in J.

Does anyone have any idea why the fares aren’t matching when I go to change the ticket vs. creating a new booking for the same dates? Same exact flights.

Could the difference you're noticing be the change fee? Last time I was looking to change a flight, that's what it amounted to.

For sure there will be a change fee to pay, per person.

When you book a ticket it has a fare basis (8 letter/numbers). Probably even more complex if a fare construction with a weird RDU-CDG in Y and the rest in J.
When you buy a new ticket, it could have a very different fare basis. But your original ticket and its original fare basis dictates what is available if you change the date on the ticket. It is often different. .

Not unless it’s thousands of $ per ticket. This is just one example, but seems to be pretty consistent with other dates. Original tickets were $6.5k. Change is costing an additional $16k on top of original price. Same flights when booking a new ticket is $10k.

Previous tickets fare likely had an advance purchase requirement