Flight Changes in UK
Apr 21, 2006 | 12:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 9
Flight Changes in UK
Hi all,
Somebody on Fodors suggested I posted this here. I bought a RT ticket on Continental last week to London (returning July 12). I have just received news that I may have to return a week earlier than expected. I called Continental and they said it would cost $225 to change the ticket which, as a student, I am not in a position to pay. Do you think if I showed up at the ticket counter in London a week before my original return date, say on July 6,and beg, they may be more sympathetic? If there is space on that earier flight, do you think they will be understanding and let me switch flights without charging me the hefty penalty?
P.S. I don't know why, but I imagine that the people at the ticket counters are much nicer in the UK than they are in the US.
Somebody on Fodors suggested I posted this here. I bought a RT ticket on Continental last week to London (returning July 12). I have just received news that I may have to return a week earlier than expected. I called Continental and they said it would cost $225 to change the ticket which, as a student, I am not in a position to pay. Do you think if I showed up at the ticket counter in London a week before my original return date, say on July 6,and beg, they may be more sympathetic? If there is space on that earier flight, do you think they will be understanding and let me switch flights without charging me the hefty penalty?
P.S. I don't know why, but I imagine that the people at the ticket counters are much nicer in the UK than they are in the US.
Apr 21, 2006 | 12:14 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Posts: 2,596
Nope sorry. I think they would make you pay. Also considering at the airport they are contracted agents. Good luck. But Welcome to FT 
Apr 21, 2006 | 12:24 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: IAH
Posts: 536
As a student, you know that $225 is a LOT less expensive than hanging around London for an extra week, so just consider it a lesson learned.
P.S. It's hard to plead poverty and mention a trip to London during the high-season at the same time, so I don't know how much sympathy any Continental staff will have for your case.
P.S. It's hard to plead poverty and mention a trip to London during the high-season at the same time, so I don't know how much sympathy any Continental staff will have for your case.
Apr 21, 2006 | 12:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: UK
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, United Premier Exec, Virgin Gold
Posts: 329
You could always leave it until you get to the UK and call the UK line where they're always lovely.
Apr 21, 2006 | 12:37 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United LT-GS, AA LT-Plat, Hyatt LT-Globalist, Hilton LT-Diamond, Marriott LT-Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 15,826
I don't think you have a chance
Originally Posted by bbpiano11
Hi all,
Somebody on Fodors suggested I posted this here. I bought a RT ticket on Continental last week to London (returning July 12). I have just received news that I may have to return a week earlier than expected. I called Continental and they said it would cost $225 to change the ticket which, as a student, I am not in a position to pay. Do you think if I showed up at the ticket counter in London a week before my original return date, say on July 6,and beg, they may be more sympathetic? If there is space on that earier flight, do you think they will be understanding and let me switch flights without charging me the hefty penalty?
P.S. I don't know why, but I imagine that the people at the ticket counters are much nicer in the UK than they are in the US.
Somebody on Fodors suggested I posted this here. I bought a RT ticket on Continental last week to London (returning July 12). I have just received news that I may have to return a week earlier than expected. I called Continental and they said it would cost $225 to change the ticket which, as a student, I am not in a position to pay. Do you think if I showed up at the ticket counter in London a week before my original return date, say on July 6,and beg, they may be more sympathetic? If there is space on that earier flight, do you think they will be understanding and let me switch flights without charging me the hefty penalty?
P.S. I don't know why, but I imagine that the people at the ticket counters are much nicer in the UK than they are in the US.
The argument that Continental can use is that they now provide insurance to cover such contingencies. I think you're out of luck on this one.
Apr 21, 2006 | 3:05 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 9
Thank you all for your help. I was really hoping that the airline reps in the UK would be nicer, but I guess I must admit that money, for better or worse, makes the world go round.
Apr 21, 2006 | 7:01 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United LT-GS, AA LT-Plat, Hyatt LT-Globalist, Hilton LT-Diamond, Marriott LT-Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 15,826
You can try
Originally Posted by bbpiano11
Thank you all for your help. I was really hoping that the airline reps in the UK would be nicer, but I guess I must admit that money, for better or worse, makes the world go round.
You can always try. The people at the airport have a lot of power. You can try walking up to the counter and spinning some kind of tale (with the concomitant tears) as to why you have to race back to the US. If you American, look for someone who is English and vice versa: an accent adds veracity to whatever you say!
