Rqst advice on ticket change
 

I bought a ticket in June MEM-DCA-DTW-MEM for $407 all-in. I just found out about a new meeting and thus should change the MEM-DCA leg to the previous day.

NW has quoted me $435 to change that one leg to the previous day (about $30 less than re-purchasing the entire ticket!). There is a $100 change fee on the ticket.

I am a little miffed that my ticket is essentially worthless now! Is there anyway around this astronomical change fee? FWIW I am NW Gold, WorldClubs member, etc.

If I buy a OW ticket MEM-DCA on another airline, will NW let me use the remaining two legs on my existing ticket or would they just cancel the entire reservation when I missed the first flight? (that option would only be $160).

Any creative suggestions would be appreciated!

<searched NW forum, couldn't find relevant info>

That can't be correct. If a new ticket is $465, you owe them $158 ($100 change fee + $58 fare difference). Call back and find out what's going on.

Hmmm, well that worked better (~$170). Funny, both DCA staff and NWA.Com had quoted me way over $400 for the change fee. Thanks for the help, Channa.