Changing final segment on return flight--Suggestions?
 

I'm leaving tomorrow LRD-MAD. Because my car had "issues" when I went to Corpus last week, it remains there at the shop & (hopefully) should be ready by the time I return from my trip 9/28. I called CO yesterday to see if I could change the last segment home from IAH-LRD to IAH-CRP. The agent was very polite, but mentioned that because of the fare rules, if I make a change to one portion of the itinerary, the entire unused portion gets reticketed & I'd have to pay the fare difference. (Right now, that's over $900.) He did try several re-ticketing options, but he said none of them looked better than what he had originally found.

He gave me several suggestions, such as changing my ticket once I get to Madrid or even Newark. He said I could even wait until I got to IAH to see if I could change the last segment there, but that may be pretty risky price-wise & seat-wise. Currently, OW IAH-CRP is $36; OW LRD-CRP is $110.

Would I have the option of purchasing a OW ticket to CRP & missing the LRD segment? The agen wasn't too clear on that. If I did, would I lose any OP miles I would have earned up to that point? I don't need to check a bag on my return trip, so getting my bags isn't an issue.

The worst case scenario is that I'll have to beg another ride to the airport Saturday morning for a OW LRD-CRP, but I'd rather simplify things & just go straight to CRP.

TIA for any other suggestions/advice you have. I've never had to change a ticket before.

Buy a OW IAH-CRP for $36.

Just ditch the last segment. Your miles up until that point should post.

Yes, and buy the IAH-CRP fare.

With no checked bags this should work!

Travel plans change...... and have to sometimes.

Thanks to you both! :) I'm going to snag that fare. Usually one gambles that one will make a tight connection, not that you will leave & depart from the same city. This time, however, my car had other plans. :D

Just in case CO may find that you're booked on a IAH-LRD and a IAH-CRP at the same time (though rare), I'll not put in your Onepass number for the new ticket. Just add the number at the gate.

And don't mention this at MAD when you commence your return trip.

Since the OP did post yesterday that their flight is today and were flying MAD-LRD, I kinda think they already Notified CO what they will be doing. OK at least Scott. Dont think there will be many on that MAD flight going to LRD, but just the same best adding the OP# at the gate or forgetting about it all together

We'll see what happens. My OP # is on both reservations (oops), but for less than $50, I'll take my chances with getting to CRP instead of LRD. After all that's happened, being told I can't board the flight to CRP & must board the LRD is the least of my worries. I hope. Thanks for all the advice!