Mar 15, 2020, 10:29 am
Last edit by: Maestro Ramen
FARE RULES:
I pulled down the DL fare rules (these are BUD-SEA but they all appeared nearly identical). I posted them on a share. We can easily grab the AF and KL variants if others need those.
Q: This is a fully flexible fare with free changes. Does that mean I can change the flight dates as I want without paying anything extra?
A: No. The airline simply doesn't charge a change fee. But depending on the fare rules, you will still need to pay the difference to the new price.
Q: But I read that some people could change their flights for free...?
A: The rules for this fare (linked to above) specify that historical pricing shall be used if either at least one flight from the ticket has been taken or the outbound remains the same. In other words, in order to be able to change your flights for free, you must have flown at least one flight from your booking. Otherwise, you can only change the inbound. The outbound has to remain the same or you will be charged the fare difference.
Q: Can I change the rest of the itinerary after flying the first segment without any other charges or additional fare differences?
A: Yes this is possible according to the fare rules where after completing the first segment, you can change the rest of the flights for free (with the condition that the same fare class is available- I-class - in this case. According to the fare rules, after flying the FIRST segment (in the case here BUD-XXX) the historical fare is used. Possible to use the first stopover at AMS or CDG (see post #830).
Q: But some people could change their outbound flights for free!
A: They got lucky. It was probably a bug on the website/in the app. When no flight from the ticket has been flown, the fare rules do not allow changing the outbound without repricing.
Q: Ok, ok, so I can only change the inbound for free. How do I do that?
A: You search for availability for alternative flights on ITA Matrix using "F ..I2FFHU" in the extension codes. You must search for round trip flights as this is a round trip fare. Then you ignore the outbound result (as long as you haven't flown at least one flight from your ticket) and just try to rebook your inbound on the website/app.
Q: I have found availability on ITA Matrix, but the app/website doesn't show me those flights!
A: Keep trying. Sometimes you may have to serach in a different way (split up the searches, e.g. HNL-LAX and LAX-BUD), sometimes you just have to repeat the search several times. But that's no guarantee the desired results will turn up (and without repricing).
Q: It doesn't work. Can I just call the airline to make the changes?
A: Please don't unless you need to. Calling can increase the risk for all of us that they'll change their mind and disallow all further changes, or simply cancel everyone's tickets. However, as this fare has now been running for months and has seen many calls made about it, it is reasonable to expect that calling will not cause issues at this stage. As best practice, avoid attracting attention on the low price paid, and avoid making additional demands or tempting your luck. Remember you get to fly a J ticket for the cost of a Y fare.
Q: How many times can I make changes?
A: In theory, as often as you like, but you can't make more than two changes online/in the app. After that, you'd have to call, which we are trying to avoid.
Q: I've changed my mind. Can I get a refund?
A: Yes, the fare was fully refundable. Just contact the airline or fill out a refund form online.
Q: Due to Coronavirus, I need to extend my travel plan beyond the original expiry date. What can I do?
A: For Delta tickets (starting with 006) you can travel at any point until December 2022. Changes to flights within a 10 month window can be done at any point on the app, following the rules above. If you want to fly later than 10 months from now, you can call Delta and ask them to "park" your ticket. You will receive a ticket number that ties to an eCredit which can be used later to buy tickets. As long as you keep the original itinerary, or if you have flown at least a segment, you will not be charged a fare difference. Bear in mind that the eCredit may only be refundable if your original flight was cancelled (which is very likely in those day and times). Note that only Delta in the US are able to do this so do not call the EU numbers (use Skype to save money on international calls). According to user feedback: iMessage agents seem to also be able to do this, but twitter agents not.
I pulled down the DL fare rules (these are BUD-SEA but they all appeared nearly identical). I posted them on a share. We can easily grab the AF and KL variants if others need those.
Q: This is a fully flexible fare with free changes. Does that mean I can change the flight dates as I want without paying anything extra?
A: No. The airline simply doesn't charge a change fee. But depending on the fare rules, you will still need to pay the difference to the new price.
Q: But I read that some people could change their flights for free...?
A: The rules for this fare (linked to above) specify that historical pricing shall be used if either at least one flight from the ticket has been taken or the outbound remains the same. In other words, in order to be able to change your flights for free, you must have flown at least one flight from your booking. Otherwise, you can only change the inbound. The outbound has to remain the same or you will be charged the fare difference.
Q: Can I change the rest of the itinerary after flying the first segment without any other charges or additional fare differences?
A: Yes this is possible according to the fare rules where after completing the first segment, you can change the rest of the flights for free (with the condition that the same fare class is available- I-class - in this case. According to the fare rules, after flying the FIRST segment (in the case here BUD-XXX) the historical fare is used. Possible to use the first stopover at AMS or CDG (see post #830).
Q: But some people could change their outbound flights for free!
A: They got lucky. It was probably a bug on the website/in the app. When no flight from the ticket has been flown, the fare rules do not allow changing the outbound without repricing.
Q: Ok, ok, so I can only change the inbound for free. How do I do that?
A: You search for availability for alternative flights on ITA Matrix using "F ..I2FFHU" in the extension codes. You must search for round trip flights as this is a round trip fare. Then you ignore the outbound result (as long as you haven't flown at least one flight from your ticket) and just try to rebook your inbound on the website/app.
Q: I have found availability on ITA Matrix, but the app/website doesn't show me those flights!
A: Keep trying. Sometimes you may have to serach in a different way (split up the searches, e.g. HNL-LAX and LAX-BUD), sometimes you just have to repeat the search several times. But that's no guarantee the desired results will turn up (and without repricing).
Q: It doesn't work. Can I just call the airline to make the changes?
A: Please don't unless you need to. Calling can increase the risk for all of us that they'll change their mind and disallow all further changes, or simply cancel everyone's tickets. However, as this fare has now been running for months and has seen many calls made about it, it is reasonable to expect that calling will not cause issues at this stage. As best practice, avoid attracting attention on the low price paid, and avoid making additional demands or tempting your luck. Remember you get to fly a J ticket for the cost of a Y fare.
Q: How many times can I make changes?
A: In theory, as often as you like, but you can't make more than two changes online/in the app. After that, you'd have to call, which we are trying to avoid.
Q: I've changed my mind. Can I get a refund?
A: Yes, the fare was fully refundable. Just contact the airline or fill out a refund form online.
Q: Due to Coronavirus, I need to extend my travel plan beyond the original expiry date. What can I do?
A: For Delta tickets (starting with 006) you can travel at any point until December 2022. Changes to flights within a 10 month window can be done at any point on the app, following the rules above. If you want to fly later than 10 months from now, you can call Delta and ask them to "park" your ticket. You will receive a ticket number that ties to an eCredit which can be used later to buy tickets. As long as you keep the original itinerary, or if you have flown at least a segment, you will not be charged a fare difference. Bear in mind that the eCredit may only be refundable if your original flight was cancelled (which is very likely in those day and times). Note that only Delta in the US are able to do this so do not call the EU numbers (use Skype to save money on international calls). According to user feedback: iMessage agents seem to also be able to do this, but twitter agents not.
{prem fare gone}: AF/KL/DL/VS: BUD-US from $750 R/T
Sep 15, 2020, 4:04 am
#1921
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,475
My initial BUD-AMS leg got changed to a day before (from 17/12 6.30 am to somewhere afternoon on 16/12).
I'm thinking to await the US situation (am EU citizen) and hope it might allow us to travel by December. If not, I probably move it to next December if they allow.
I believe this change of the initial leg would allow me to move this flight, right?
I'm thinking to await the US situation (am EU citizen) and hope it might allow us to travel by December. If not, I probably move it to next December if they allow.
I believe this change of the initial leg would allow me to move this flight, right?
The coronavirus policies allow moving the flight - the details depend on who you ticketed with.
Last edited by etiene; Sep 15, 2020 at 5:02 am Reason: typo
Sep 15, 2020, 8:15 am
#1922
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Germany
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 417
According to EU regulation, the customer can choose between one of the following options if a flight was cancelled:
- (a) reimbursement within seven days [...]
- (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity; or
- (c) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at a later date at the passenger's convenience, subject to availability of seats.
Sep 15, 2020, 8:38 am
#1923
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,475
That's not the entire truth. EU laws also give passengers the right to change travel dates in this case.
- (c) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at a later date at the passenger's convenience, subject to availability of seats.
Sep 15, 2020, 8:56 am
#1924
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Germany
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 417
I can't imagine them allowing booking season (and it might fall into "availability of seats" anyway). However I heard that KLM isn't allowing changes further than November 2020 without paying the fare difference. In this case it might help to insist on you laws.
Sep 15, 2020, 7:13 pm
#1925
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 54
Wanted to give a data point for folks (that might be helpful)
I had a BUD-AMS-SFO scheduled for thanksgiving <-> Xmas bound, but one of the AMS - SFO legs was canceled. Call KLM 800 number and was able to have a new ticket issued for June - Aug 2021 (same route, same class)
I had a BUD-AMS-SFO scheduled for thanksgiving <-> Xmas bound, but one of the AMS - SFO legs was canceled. Call KLM 800 number and was able to have a new ticket issued for June - Aug 2021 (same route, same class)
Sep 16, 2020, 1:59 am
#1926
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,475
I suspect they've interpreted "availability of seats" to mean the "same booking class" when the passenger requested a big date change. But also that they've not had much in the way of pushback because until Covid wrecked the schedules *and* made travel impossible most cancellations would have been reaccomodated within a few days of the original date [in whatever fare class] rather than pushed into the far future.
Sep 16, 2020, 2:26 am
#1927
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London / Amsterdam
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 223
Sep 18, 2020, 4:53 am
#1928
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,475
Just had a quick go at changing origin on iMessage - but agent was only thinking in terms of a fare-difference change rather than whatever drop a leg/300-mile exception others have managed to get. Such is the problem with unpublished stuff like this, I guess. I'll try again over the next few days/weeks to see if I get an agent that's familiar and willing, but any hints/tips from others are welcome.
Sep 18, 2020, 11:39 am
#1929
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 53
Update for everyone:
After flying the first segment I tried to add 1 flight: HNL-OGG and modify the inbound from OGG to LAX instead of HNL-LAX.
This would cost around 6600$. So I denied.
Will try now to change only the inbound from HNL-LAX to OGG-LAX so that I would have to buy an extra flight from HNL to OGG.
Will update you guys.
After flying the first segment I tried to add 1 flight: HNL-OGG and modify the inbound from OGG to LAX instead of HNL-LAX.
This would cost around 6600$. So I denied.
Will try now to change only the inbound from HNL-LAX to OGG-LAX so that I would have to buy an extra flight from HNL to OGG.
Will update you guys.
Sep 20, 2020, 12:43 pm
#1931
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold, Delta Plat
Posts: 186
I have two of these bookings. One BUD to HNL booked with DL and one BUD to LAX booked with AF.
I called DL to change to next year and they sent it away to ticketing for a quote, days later and have received nothing. Went on iMessage and was able to change to the dates I wanted on the spot no questions asked!
Next job is to call AF about the other booking!
I called DL to change to next year and they sent it away to ticketing for a quote, days later and have received nothing. Went on iMessage and was able to change to the dates I wanted on the spot no questions asked!
Next job is to call AF about the other booking!
Sep 20, 2020, 1:08 pm
#1932
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 31
I have two of these bookings. One BUD to HNL booked with DL and one BUD to LAX booked with AF.
I called DL to change to next year and they sent it away to ticketing for a quote, days later and have received nothing. Went on iMessage and was able to change to the dates I wanted on the spot no questions asked!
Next job is to call AF about the other booking!
I called DL to change to next year and they sent it away to ticketing for a quote, days later and have received nothing. Went on iMessage and was able to change to the dates I wanted on the spot no questions asked!
Next job is to call AF about the other booking!
Sep 20, 2020, 2:07 pm
#1933
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
There was a schedule change that I want to confirm (so that I can potentially can make changes again via DL-com). Orbitz issued ticket. Orbitz agent claims the ticket is revalidated and they can see new flight numbers in the ticket. However, i cannot see new flights on:
1) DL.com - receipt section
2) checkmytrip app - flight details, no ticket number for a segment
3) Saudia website
Any ideas what is the reason for such a discrepancy?
1) DL.com - receipt section
2) checkmytrip app - flight details, no ticket number for a segment
3) Saudia website
Any ideas what is the reason for such a discrepancy?
Sep 21, 2020, 4:58 am
#1934
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
There was a schedule change that I want to confirm (so that I can potentially can make changes again via DL-com). Orbitz issued ticket. Orbitz agent claims the ticket is revalidated and they can see new flight numbers in the ticket. However, i cannot see new flights on:
1) DL.com - receipt section
2) checkmytrip app - flight details, no ticket number for a segment
3) Saudia website
Any ideas what is the reason for such a discrepancy?
1) DL.com - receipt section
2) checkmytrip app - flight details, no ticket number for a segment
3) Saudia website
Any ideas what is the reason for such a discrepancy?
Sep 22, 2020, 7:48 am
#1935
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
I tried to make a change via Orbitz and my feeling is that no one will have luck to change unused tickets without repricing (for the return portion only). From what i can see the system adjusts the price for the return portion to the correct fare level while keeping onward under the same promo level, so that the fare difference is 2K and not 4K. I guess this is because the fares are blocked for revalidation/ reissue in Amadeus (not sure how exactly this is achieved but I have seen this many times). If this is the case it will likely be difficult to impossible to make changes after departure without repricing too - if done via Orbitz.