options for changing return date? (EVA airlines)
 

When I purchased my ticket I was told I could change my return date for no charge so long as the flight had an open seat but that the ticket needed to be used in three months. I am considering extending my stay in SE Asia for a couple of months past my current return date, but if I do that it will put me over the three month mark. Is it usually posible to do this after three months for a fee or would my return ticket expire and become useless, so that I would need to purhase another (one way) ticket when I wanted to return home?

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on the subject!

Moving thread to Airlines of Asia Forum
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Basic rule would be "free to change within 3 months" and ticket must be used within 3 months. Ie no provision to come back later.

I would call the issuing office and ask. They might charge you the difference between the 3 month ticket and a longer ticket. Or they might be able to make a refund in respect of the unused portion which you could put towards a single. Do you have the fare rules? Does it say anything about unused return portions?

I had this situation a few years ago - but decided it was all too much hassle and returned within the 3 months.

I'm afraid the answer will probably be "you lose the ticket".. but I wouldn't necessarily believe the first answer you get.

Personally except for very short predictable trips (where I buy discounted tickets), I only get 12 month tickets now for precisely this reason. I've found the difference in price for 3/6 month compared with 12 month is not so great PLUS 12 month tickets often book into a bucket where availability is easier. Also means I can buy a ticket within a ticket if the opportunity arises. (Eg right now I'm in TPE. I bought a 12 month SGN-TPE-LHR return, but whilst in London needed to come back to Taiwan for a few days. So got a discounted inflexible return ticket LHR-TPE. EVA don't seem to mind you doing this.)

Thanks for your reply jimbo. I don't see any fare rules in the emails I received from Eva. I purchased the ticket from an agent. In the email he sent me it says: ticket is refundable with cancelation fee. $300.
Date change fee 150 per outbound plus fare difference if any (but he said no fee for date change, if seat available).
Maximum stay: three months.
Nothing about unused return portions.

I'll contact the agent and see what I can find out.

Is length of stay determined by ticket price, the cheapest being the shortest time?

Tickets need to be used within 3 months of your departure date.

Tickets can be changed infinite amount of times given there's a seat for your fare code at no service charge. A fee may apply if a higher fare code seat is required to get you a seat.

If you must extend your stay longer than 3 months, then you can call and see how much it costs to extend the ticket to 6 months or 1 year. A change fee will then apply because you are changing the validity of the ticket (and not simply the dates of return) and the fare differences.

thanks coolfish. very helpful info.