Changing flight and paid upgrade...can I avoid the $25 change fee?
Jul 29, 2012, 9:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 624
Changing flight and paid upgrade...can I avoid the $25 change fee?
My son without status was flying home and had to change his flight. He was charged $25 to change his flight.
He asked me to check him in to get him a seat, and I was offered a paid upgrade for $50, which was a no-brainer as he was checking bags.
My question is should he have been able to change flight and upgrade to avoid the change fee? In the past, when I have to make a change (prior to departure day), I've been able to avoid change fees by upgrading to First class.
I realize this is a different scenario, but I wanted to find out if it's worth a call to customer care?
He asked me to check him in to get him a seat, and I was offered a paid upgrade for $50, which was a no-brainer as he was checking bags.
My question is should he have been able to change flight and upgrade to avoid the change fee? In the past, when I have to make a change (prior to departure day), I've been able to avoid change fees by upgrading to First class.
I realize this is a different scenario, but I wanted to find out if it's worth a call to customer care?
Jul 29, 2012, 9:45 pm
#2
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,732
The paid upgrade you were offered was specific to a particular flight, and is not a way to avoid a past or future change fee. Even after upgrading, a flight change would still incur a $25 same-day change fee, since upgrading to first does not make your ticket flexible or exempt you from change fees.
You've paid the right amount in this situation and no refund is necessary. I would be glad that AS has such flexible policies and reasonable fees.
You've paid the right amount in this situation and no refund is necessary. I would be glad that AS has such flexible policies and reasonable fees.