~airlines w/ flexibility in changing return dates
 

are there any Chinese airlines that are more flexible with changing return dates

I realize most US airlines charge a CHANGE FEE and FARE DIFFERENCE

Is this the same w/ Chinese/asian airlines or are some more flexible????

Thanks!:confused::confused:

Sometimes domestic open tickets are cheaper than return tickets. Search on ctrip and select open for return.

If, for example, you want to fly from NYC to SH, you can shell out $6,000, and do whatever you please with your return ticket (i.e. you'll be treated like a king).

But, most rationale humans prefer to spend $1500 for the ticket, plus $150 for the change fee, plus $200 for the fare difference (which is a non issue, most of the time).

Short answer is: nearly all airlines are going to charge you a change fee for date changes, US airlines are not the exception to this. Only the most expensive and unrestricted economy fares (like full Y) might come with a free date change. Discounted economy fares on nearly all airlines come with a change fee.

But here's a possible secret: even on the same airline, the change fee can differ depending on where the ticket was issued. For instance, about 4 years ago I flew United from Singapore to Hong Kong to San Francisco. Then a separate ticket on another airline to my final destination in the USA. But I needed to make a date change on the westbound return TPAC San Francisco to Hong Kong (on United). Because I had bought the ticket online through United's Singapore site (using US bank-issued credit card), the change fee was only the equivalent of US $50. The United phone agent I spoke with commented that wow! if I'd bought in the USA change fee would have been US$150.

Similarly, my TG tickets issued in China (or Thailand) to LAX come with a $75 change fee, whereas the same ticket issued in the USA comes with a fee double that.

I am not sure if this "loophole" has been closed by now, or if it exists on other airlines.