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
Oct 31, 2022, 7:27 am
#3076
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,806
I had originally booked it on the Delta website. Tried in both I and Z class over chat/phone. Not possible to rebook online. In both cases there was a significant fare difference. Didn't try J class now. Guess I'll just not take that flight...
Oct 31, 2022, 8:13 am
#3077
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,451
You mean you asked them to try Z and I [and they were both available]? I don't think J will help - it's the highest level so if I/Z were available but still cause a reprice you're probably out of luck. I rearranged our last flights about a month ago, made sure I was available and didn't have issues. Of course now the Wife's work have thrown a spanner in the machine so I may have to try again. Certainly want to get the XPs if I can.
Oct 31, 2022, 8:18 am
#3078
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,806
Yeah, KLM's (extremely rude and condescending) chat agent first put me into Z and quoted a high fare difference. Refused to even look at I class.
I then contacted DL's chat and they reached out to their KLM partner desk and explicitly tried I class and came back with the same quote.
I don't know if it was handled by the same KLM people in the end or what, but I wasn't getting anywhere. That said, the ticket has been rebooked a lot of times by both Delta and KLM (including at AMS), so it was probably a mess.
At least we flew SEA-AMS in C class in the end, which would have earned 400% on VS, if I had been able to change my frequent flier number.
I then contacted DL's chat and they reached out to their KLM partner desk and explicitly tried I class and came back with the same quote.
I don't know if it was handled by the same KLM people in the end or what, but I wasn't getting anywhere. That said, the ticket has been rebooked a lot of times by both Delta and KLM (including at AMS), so it was probably a mess.
At least we flew SEA-AMS in C class in the end, which would have earned 400% on VS, if I had been able to change my frequent flier number.
Nov 1, 2022, 2:29 am
#3080
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Le ClubAccor Gold
Posts: 775
Last WE, i finally spent a couple of days in Budapest with a left over ticket. Very nice city.
With DL tickets from the beginning, I was booked in “I” class on the two AF flights. I had absolutely no problem changing the dates a few months before. When calculating the fare difference, it was coming back with 0…
Miles and XP did not post on flying blue but a retro claim with boarding pass and it was solved easily. I don’t know how they have calculated the miles but I got 4208 miles which is huge for NTE-CDG-BUD…
All in all, with 3 tickets to YUL,YVR and LAX (HNL ticket got cancelled by AF 😞, i racked up 446xp (including double credit of some flights for some reasons).
With DL tickets from the beginning, I was booked in “I” class on the two AF flights. I had absolutely no problem changing the dates a few months before. When calculating the fare difference, it was coming back with 0…
Miles and XP did not post on flying blue but a retro claim with boarding pass and it was solved easily. I don’t know how they have calculated the miles but I got 4208 miles which is huge for NTE-CDG-BUD…
All in all, with 3 tickets to YUL,YVR and LAX (HNL ticket got cancelled by AF 😞
, i racked up 446xp (including double credit of some flights for some reasons).
Last edited by canadavid; Nov 1, 2022 at 2:39 am
Dec 3, 2022, 5:53 am
#3081
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
My ticket was booked and "parked" from Mar. 2020, and was told I will have to use it (fly it) by 12/31/2022. However, earlier this year I saw the expiration was extended to 12/31/2023. Just called a DL agent and she told me I can rebook my itinerary by 12/31/2023. Has anybody heard the same thing?
Dec 3, 2022, 10:19 am
#3082
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,451
My ticket was booked and "parked" from Mar. 2020, and was told I will have to use it (fly it) by 12/31/2022. However, earlier this year I saw the expiration was extended to 12/31/2023. Just called a DL agent and she told me I can rebook my itinerary by 12/31/2023. Has anybody heard the same thing?
That said, I’d be extremely nervous about having a parked ticket at this point - they must be vanishingly rare and that could lead to agents refusing to believe that the rebooking was ever allowed even if they read the policy. At least one poster seems to have had this issue up thread - if you get an agent willing to rebook it I’d get it done.
Dec 3, 2022, 12:38 pm
#3083
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: M&M
Posts: 992
What the policy update did is extend the ticket validity, ie you don't lose the value on Jan 1, 2023. What it did not do is extend Bulletin 6 rebooking dates which is still Dec 31, 2022. This is the fly by date but you might find a careless agent who interprets it as a book by date (see above for example).
Also Etiene is correct in saying that "parked" tickets have less chance now because 1) the policy is almost 3 yrs old and 2) any non-parked ticket (ie with flights in it) have been reissued so many times due to sched changes etc that they will simply not bother to track down what's what and just keep doing even exchanges as long as classes match. With a parked ticket they do have to look at rules to know what to do with it in the first place.
Also Etiene is correct in saying that "parked" tickets have less chance now because 1) the policy is almost 3 yrs old and 2) any non-parked ticket (ie with flights in it) have been reissued so many times due to sched changes etc that they will simply not bother to track down what's what and just keep doing even exchanges as long as classes match. With a parked ticket they do have to look at rules to know what to do with it in the first place.
Dec 3, 2022, 2:13 pm
#3084
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,451
What the policy update did is extend the ticket validity, ie you don't lose the value on Jan 1, 2023. What it did not do is extend Bulletin 6 rebooking dates which is still Dec 31, 2022. This is the fly by date but you might find a careless agent who interprets it as a book by date (see above for example).
Also Etiene is correct in saying that "parked" tickets have less chance now because 1) the policy is almost 3 yrs old and 2) any non-parked ticket (ie with flights in it) have been reissued so many times due to sched changes etc that they will simply not bother to track down what's what and just keep doing even exchanges as long as classes match. With a parked ticket they do have to look at rules to know what to do with it in the first place.
Dec 3, 2022, 6:00 pm
#3085
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
Thanks both for the inputs. Frankly, the ticket has been parked for almost 3 years and I am not quite interested to fly this ticket any more (plus the cost of positioning from the States to BUD is quite high these days). When I called DL last night, I was trying to refund the ticket if the agent told me I should fly before 12/31/2022, which I was informed back in Mar. 2020. Now that she assured me I can still fly by 12/31/2023, I will just leave it "parked" until next summer, in case I want to travel to Europe by then.
Another reason I decided to postpone canceling/refunding this ticket is because the exchange rate of HUF/USD is 20% lower than Mar. 2020, which means if I refund the ticket now, I will lose 20% what I have paid when purchased this ticket. Anyhow, the DL agent told me as long as this ticket is a refundable fare (which it is indeed), I can ask for a refund any time when I opt to do so.
Another reason I decided to postpone canceling/refunding this ticket is because the exchange rate of HUF/USD is 20% lower than Mar. 2020, which means if I refund the ticket now, I will lose 20% what I have paid when purchased this ticket. Anyhow, the DL agent told me as long as this ticket is a refundable fare (which it is indeed), I can ask for a refund any time when I opt to do so.
