AF Rebooking Discount Glitch?

Old Dec 28, 2021, 8:50 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: MUC/PAR/MIA
Programs: LH SEN; DL PM; Hertz PC; Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 196
AF Rebooking Discount Glitch?

I was surprised to have stumbled across this today while making a change to a booking I had previously made. Essentially, I was able to "rebook" onto the same flight I was originally on for a reduced price. Naturally, this should only work if the price you originally paid for a leg was higher than the one currently offered. In my case this was a MUC-CDG round trip, originally Jan 5 - Jan 17. I wanted to change the inbound leg to Jan 18, so I started the rebooking process in the AF app. It asked me which (or both) of the two legs I wanted to change, and I selected both as I was curious about the other flights on Jan 5. When the flights for Jan 5 came up, I saw my original flight listed as "-$14". I selected this, and proceeded to pick a flight on Jan 18. Due to timing constraints, I had to pick one that was "+$10", but this still produced a net total of -$4 of a change fee. The rebooking went through, and I was emailed, telling me that my $4 refund was on the way. This is major news if it works across the board, as you could "rebook" yourself onto lower fares on the same flights. Since the trip length changed from 12 to 13 days, I can't imagine that a lower fare was triggered due to MSR. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
pdeut is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2021, 10:17 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum For Life; ALL Platinum
Posts: 203
I didn"t try myself but you could also cancel the ticket get the voucher and rebook with the voucher which will result in the creation of a new voucher with the fare difference.
I do not think it was possible to do it a few months ago as I remember I tried, but for AF it saves ressources from the booking center.
pdeut likes this.
pascalgr is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2021, 10:28 am
  #3  
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,321
Nice find. It does require a very special set of circumstances, but could be useful. Take advantage of it while you can! Please do report back if you do actually receive a refund for that fare difference.

The method mentioned by @pascalgr definitely works. I had to rebook an AF fare last month where the total fare of the original ticket plus the fare difference would be more than the fare of a new booking. Booked the new flight, and requested a refund for the old one. Received the voucher not long after.
pdeut likes this.
Xandrios is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2021, 7:41 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,957
Originally Posted by pdeut
I was surprised to have stumbled across this today while making a change to a booking I had previously made. Essentially, I was able to "rebook" onto the same flight I was originally on for a reduced price. Naturally, this should only work if the price you originally paid for a leg was higher than the one currently offered. In my case this was a MUC-CDG round trip, originally Jan 5 - Jan 17. I wanted to change the inbound leg to Jan 18, so I started the rebooking process in the AF app. It asked me which (or both) of the two legs I wanted to change, and I selected both as I was curious about the other flights on Jan 5. When the flights for Jan 5 came up, I saw my original flight listed as "-$14". I selected this, and proceeded to pick a flight on Jan 18. Due to timing constraints, I had to pick one that was "+$10", but this still produced a net total of -$4 of a change fee. The rebooking went through, and I was emailed, telling me that my $4 refund was on the way. This is major news if it works across the board, as you could "rebook" yourself onto lower fares on the same flights. Since the trip length changed from 12 to 13 days, I can't imagine that a lower fare was triggered due to MSR. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Fares change all the time. Demand is lower than expected due to Omnicron.

There's no glitch. You simply rebooked at current prices. Always has been possible. However as change fees were more than the savings from rebooking, no one did it. (In most cases) No change fees means There's nothing to prevent rebooking for lower cost.
pdeut likes this.
flyerCO is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2021, 4:30 am
  #5  
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,321
I'm pretty sure that rebooking for lower cost didnt used to be possible though. Definitely rebooking into a lower fare class didnt used to be possible.
pdeut likes this.
Xandrios is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2021, 5:43 am
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,957
Originally Posted by Xandrios
I'm pretty sure that rebooking for lower cost didnt used to be possible though. Definitely rebooking into a lower fare class didnt used to be possible.
Yes was entirely possible. Just as stated it didn't happen often as change fee charged was more than any drop in fare.

Example paid $500 for ticket. Fare drops $100. You could rebook ticket for $400. However there was a change fee of $200. Rebooking to $400 fare thus meant you lost $100. Thus no one did it.

There's no more change fees. Thus rebooking to the $400 fare no longer costs you $100, rather saves you $100.
pdeut likes this.
flyerCO is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.