Change Fee Question
Jul 17, 2011 | 9:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: MCI/ORD/CDG
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 786
Change Fee Question
On 6/27/2011, I purchased a multicity destination for my family's spring breaK trip on March 2012. ORD-BCN and MAD-ORD.
Due to recent work development, I will need to relocate to MCI before the end of 2011. Therefore, I need to change our flights to be MCI-BCN-MAD-MCI. Not only that, I also need to change the date because the kids' future school's spring break schedule will now be different too.
I understand that I have to pay the different fare price. Is there a way to get out of the $250 change fee/PAX ($1250 for family of 5)? Or am I SOL?
I am currently Gold with Continental?
Due to recent work development, I will need to relocate to MCI before the end of 2011. Therefore, I need to change our flights to be MCI-BCN-MAD-MCI. Not only that, I also need to change the date because the kids' future school's spring break schedule will now be different too.
I understand that I have to pay the different fare price. Is there a way to get out of the $250 change fee/PAX ($1250 for family of 5)? Or am I SOL?
I am currently Gold with Continental?
Jul 17, 2011 | 9:44 am
#2
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
On 6/27/2011, I purchased a multicity destination for my family's spring breaK trip on March 2012. ORD-BCN and MAD-ORD.
Due to recent work development, I will need to relocate to MCI before the end of 2011. Therefore, I need to change our flights to be MCI-BCN-MAD-MCI. Not only that, I also need to change the date because the kids' future school's spring break schedule will now be different too.
I understand that I have to pay the different fare price. Is there a way to get out of the $250 change fee/PAX ($1250 for family of 5)? Or am I SOL?
I am currently Gold with Continental?
Due to recent work development, I will need to relocate to MCI before the end of 2011. Therefore, I need to change our flights to be MCI-BCN-MAD-MCI. Not only that, I also need to change the date because the kids' future school's spring break schedule will now be different too.
I understand that I have to pay the different fare price. Is there a way to get out of the $250 change fee/PAX ($1250 for family of 5)? Or am I SOL?
I am currently Gold with Continental?
Jul 17, 2011 | 9:45 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
My experience has been $250 on INTL.
Jul 17, 2011 | 9:45 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,316
You can probably buy mci-ord rt for less than 250, so if you can keep the same dates (once you know) you can get more miles!
Jul 17, 2011 | 10:02 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,722
OP, you are SOL. Unless you bought a fully refundable/chnageable ticket (or 5 of them) the fee is part of the rules of the ticket. It is the barrier that keeps some people from buying discounted tickets and using them as non-discounted tickets. Sorry, but that is the way almost all airlines structure their pricing models.
Jul 17, 2011 | 10:16 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
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Otherwise, as noted, you are pretty much out of luck with respect to the fees. What you could do is 'hope' for a schedule change between now and and a few months. Any schedule change, even a minute, allows you to not accept, and cancel the tickets without a penalty.
Jul 17, 2011 | 11:51 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,316
I don't think you understood the previous poster's comment. He indicated to buy a separate ticket MCI-ORD-MCI outside of the original ticket, and not to touch the original. Which I think is the smartest thing to do in this instance, if you can let your kids not attend school in your new town (due to the spring break issues).
Otherwise, as noted, you are pretty much out of luck with respect to the fees. What you could do is 'hope' for a schedule change between now and and a few months. Any schedule change, even a minute, allows you to not accept, and cancel the tickets without a penalty.
Otherwise, as noted, you are pretty much out of luck with respect to the fees. What you could do is 'hope' for a schedule change between now and and a few months. Any schedule change, even a minute, allows you to not accept, and cancel the tickets without a penalty.
Jul 17, 2011 | 5:10 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,920
On 6/27/2011, I purchased a multicity destination for my family's spring breaK trip on March 2012. ORD-BCN and MAD-ORD.
Due to recent work development, I will need to relocate to MCI before the end of 2011. Therefore, I need to change our flights to be MCI-BCN-MAD-MCI. Not only that, I also need to change the date because the kids' future school's spring break schedule will now be different too.
I understand that I have to pay the different fare price. Is there a way to get out of the $250 change fee/PAX ($1250 for family of 5)? Or am I SOL?
I am currently Gold with Continental?
Due to recent work development, I will need to relocate to MCI before the end of 2011. Therefore, I need to change our flights to be MCI-BCN-MAD-MCI. Not only that, I also need to change the date because the kids' future school's spring break schedule will now be different too.
I understand that I have to pay the different fare price. Is there a way to get out of the $250 change fee/PAX ($1250 for family of 5)? Or am I SOL?
I am currently Gold with Continental?
Jul 24, 2011 | 9:53 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: MCI/ORD/CDG
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 786
I am not finding the information or rules that will allow me to cancel and get a refund when a change in flight occurs. Would a change in flight departure or arrival, even for just a minute, really allows me to cancel and ask for a refund? How about change in gates, flight #, etc?
Aug 2, 2011 | 3:12 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Austin
Programs: 1K MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, AA Exec. Plat
Posts: 404
The change fees with continental are one of the most irksome policies they have
Aug 2, 2011 | 5:05 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I am not finding the information or rules that will allow me to cancel and get a refund when a change in flight occurs. Would a change in flight departure or arrival, even for just a minute, really allows me to cancel and ask for a refund? How about change in gates, flight #, etc?
As for schedule changes, you will have to keep checking your reservations to see if one occurs, as no notification is sent. Any schedule changes will be highlighted in red, & you will be asked to 'confirm' the changes. At this point, you would need to call into CO reservations & request the change or cancellation (w/no fee) due to the schedule change.