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
Mar 30, 2020, 3:26 am
#571
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,485
Chaos at KLM 
Had to call three times today:
1) to change the flight. Agent: "sure, no problem". I did only receive one out of two etickets for two passengers though (ticket no. had changed for the passenger in question). So I had to...
2) call again. This time the agent confirmed that everything was okay. Second eticket would arrive in my mailbox in 15 minutes. Nothing, so I had to...
3) call a third time. This time the agend was confused and said her colleague made a mistake and that such a change costs 4.000 Euros and this is why only one eticket was re-issued (???!!). So I had to undo all the changes made.
Had to call three times today:1) to change the flight. Agent: "sure, no problem". I did only receive one out of two etickets for two passengers though (ticket no. had changed for the passenger in question). So I had to...
2) call again. This time the agent confirmed that everything was okay. Second eticket would arrive in my mailbox in 15 minutes. Nothing, so I had to...
3) call a third time. This time the agend was confused and said her colleague made a mistake and that such a change costs 4.000 Euros and this is why only one eticket was re-issued (???!!). So I had to undo all the changes made.
Mar 30, 2020, 4:09 am
#573
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,485
For the one itinerary I can modify online I can only get a sensible change cost from modifying the inbound [and even then only the TATL portion, not the detached final leg to BUD]. Puzzled because my reading of the fare rules plus the fact that others have reported changing the first flight suggests that any leg ought to be changable if the appropriate fare class is available - hence trying to work out what others have/haven't been able to do.
Mar 30, 2020, 4:17 am
#575
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Fortune Wings Club Gold
Posts: 358
Just got a call from Delta as well as I changed my itinerary 4 days ago and It did not go through... They asked for 3500 USD per person for the change... Im speechless (the summary was 250 usd per person lol)
So I told them to reset the itinerary into the original one and Im stuck with my BUD LAX RT for now.. (I didnt catch the HNL fare)
So I told them to reset the itinerary into the original one and Im stuck with my BUD LAX RT for now.. (I didnt catch the HNL fare)
Mar 30, 2020, 4:17 am
#576
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 170
Chaos at KLM Had to call three times today:
1) to change the flight. Agent: "sure, no problem". I did only receive one out of two etickets for two passengers though (ticket no. had changed for the passenger in question). So I had to...
2) call again. This time the agent confirmed that everything was okay. Second eticket would arrive in my mailbox in 15 minutes. Nothing, so I had to...
3) call a third time. This time the agend was confused and said her colleague made a mistake and that such a change costs 4.000 Euros and this is why only one eticket was re-issued (???!!). So I had to undo all the changes made.
Had to call three times today:1) to change the flight. Agent: "sure, no problem". I did only receive one out of two etickets for two passengers though (ticket no. had changed for the passenger in question). So I had to...
2) call again. This time the agent confirmed that everything was okay. Second eticket would arrive in my mailbox in 15 minutes. Nothing, so I had to...
3) call a third time. This time the agend was confused and said her colleague made a mistake and that such a change costs 4.000 Euros and this is why only one eticket was re-issued (???!!). So I had to undo all the changes made.
if so, then surely these tickets are valid, ie ok to fly?
Mar 30, 2020, 4:22 am
#577
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MUC
Programs: TK Elite, FB Gold
Posts: 315
I wanted to extend my trip a bit and tried changing the first flight to a few days earlier. Everything worked, I was even supposed to get a refund of 5k HUF per passenger but then the payment confirmation page gave me an error and the option to change flights become unavailable afterwards. Any idea why?
Mar 30, 2020, 4:23 am
#578
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Western Europe
Posts: 205
Mar 30, 2020, 4:25 am
#579
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,812
I wanted to extend my trip a bit and tried changing the first flight to a few days earlier. Everything worked, I was even supposed to get a refund of 5k HUF per passenger but then the payment confirmation page gave me an error and the option to change flights become unavailable afterwards. Any idea why?
I guess you'll have to contact them.
Mar 30, 2020, 4:25 am
#580
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,485
Mar 30, 2020, 4:33 am
#581
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Western Europe
Posts: 205
The fare rules are visible online in my KLM/AF account. See attachement.
edit: the "basis" for her statement was apparently a talk to your supervisor, I was on hold for about a minute. I did not press her for a change free of charge on that call.
Mar 30, 2020, 4:46 am
#582
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,485
Agent said what? The agent said that what her colleague did ("yeah, no problem", changing free of charge, only one eticket received) was a mistake and they had to charge me 4.xxx Euros. So I had them undo the change.
The fare rules are visible online in my KLM/AF account. See attachement.
[SNIP]
The fare rules are visible online in my KLM/AF account. See attachement.
[SNIP]
Have discovered that I can swap my open jaw around too, in addition to changing the date of the start of the return - but I can't change the date of the outbound TATL at all nor the final leg to BUD [as mentioned that's a few weeks later - the start from BUD is a few weeks before the TATL portion too]. I really don't have a solid picture of what's going on, TBH.
Mar 30, 2020, 5:35 am
#583
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Western Europe
Posts: 205
Chaos at KLM Had to call three times today:
1) to change the flight. Agent: "sure, no problem". I did only receive one out of two etickets for two passengers though (ticket no. had changed for the passenger in question). So I had to...
2) call again. This time the agent confirmed that everything was okay. Second eticket would arrive in my mailbox in 15 minutes. Nothing, so I had to...
3) call a third time. This time the agend was confused and said her colleague made a mistake and that such a change costs 4.000 Euros and this is why only one eticket was re-issued (???!!). So I had to undo all the changes made.
Had to call three times today:1) to change the flight. Agent: "sure, no problem". I did only receive one out of two etickets for two passengers though (ticket no. had changed for the passenger in question). So I had to...
2) call again. This time the agent confirmed that everything was okay. Second eticket would arrive in my mailbox in 15 minutes. Nothing, so I had to...
3) call a third time. This time the agend was confused and said her colleague made a mistake and that such a change costs 4.000 Euros and this is why only one eticket was re-issued (???!!). So I had to undo all the changes made.
However and again, for one out of two passengers only. This probably won't end well
edit: called again to request the eticket for the second passenger, got it (updated itinerary) and I'm going to hide now until departure
Last edited by altalk08; Mar 30, 2020 at 5:46 am
Mar 30, 2020, 5:56 am
#584
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Prague
Posts: 46
I have my tickets for September booked both on delta.com and airfrance.com. Today I logged in and realized the HNL-LAX leg is canceled with no option given and no notification. So my itinerary now consists of BUD-AMS-YVR-HNL and LAX-CDG-BUD. Sounds weird, right? The flight HNL-LAX is still bookable online so it might be some kind of glitch. I will wait for several days and then try to solve it. Who do you think is better to contact? AF or DL service center? Does anyone of you have a similar problem? And do you think guys I will be able to make a week layover in YVR when the change occurred?
Mar 30, 2020, 8:00 am
#585
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: SE+, OWS
Posts: 373
What change did you make? I also booked BUD-LAX RT via delta.com and want to change the first leg from 5/31 to 9/30. Online it looks good (even get a small refund in credit), but I definitely don't want to try to change it if they'll ask for an additional 3500 USD for the change.