Changing a flight costs
 

So my girlfriend is over visiting me in the UK and wanted to change her ticket to the 09/01 from 05/26. We got a nasty surprise when they said they wanted $670.00 to do so.

Having made this trip a few times on the midweek days i know that the flights are no where near full and that it seems rather expensive to change, her 2 way ticket was only $560.00.

I understand that she got an economy ticket with more restrictions but is there anyway around this? Can I use my miles to buy a one way fare for her?

Its annoying as we will be making a fair few TA flights between us and I got her to switch to CO from BA, and now she's cursing them.:(

Apparently you've forgotten about Labor Day, which would account for the huge jump in fare.

Haha, i'll mention that to her, being English i would have no idea about US national holidays.

Maybe i'll try the week before as well.

They're very easy to keep track of. I think there's only 3. :rolleyes:

(Sorry, thought you were an expat)

Tell her to try the week after. That's when most schools start classes and loads fall off a cliff.

OK, we don't have as many holidays as, say, Italy but we have a few more than three national holidays...

All Americans pretty much observe at least the following list:

1. New Year's
2. Memorial Day
3. July 4
4. Labor Day (actually 9/7 this year, FYI)
5. Thanksgiving
6. Christmas

I was talking about "unique" US holidays of which Labor, Memorial, and Independence Day all fit. I had forgotten about Thanksgiving.

Regarding the date of Labor day this year. Good to know. I had no idea it was that late this year. @:-)

Given the price difference, why not just buy another ticket and have her visit twice? A good portion of the cost of the change is the change fee -- which is almost certainly at least $250.

great suggestion -- those change fees could definitely go towards a new tkt instead!

Be sure to put a u in it -- Labour Day -- so she understands.

The other reason the fare goes up a lot, if you are changing from a short stay to a long stay in the UK, is that most CO cheap fares have a 1 month maximum stay. Staying longer raises the price around $100 each way for EWR-LHR. Add that to a $250 change fee and the fact you got a cheapish fare to start with, and there's your explanation. BA and VS don't seem to have as much of a jump, if any, to go from a 1 month maximum stay to a 12-month maximum stay.

I would add February's Washintgon's birthday (as in George Washington, pictured on the US $1 bill), a holiday that is commonly known as President's day.

Agreed. I didn't include Presidents' Day because not every American gets this as a holiday

Minor holidays like these offer an extra day off for bank, postal service and government workers. They also provide an excuse for stores to have "sales" that encourage consumer spending to pile up credit card debt.

We could pile on Good Friday, Columbus Day, St Patrick's Day, etc., but in reality most people have to work on those so-called holidays.

You can click on the +- 3 days to see prices that are cheaper. That's what I do to go to the UK. Also it seems to be a bit more expensive when you fly on a sat or sun. I think if you try to book after labor day then it should be cheaper. it's not summer anymore and children go back to school.