OWE change to first flight
 

I have another reissue question. Booked an AONE5 GIB-LGW-LHR-BKK-SYD... First international sector is GIB-LGW. Called QF to change the LHR-SYD flight and they said they couldn't as the ticket was issued by BA. I'm sure this ain't right, but it gets better.

Asked BA if I could leave one day earlier, and reroute LHR-SIN-SYD. They said NO changes to first international sector permitted under any circumstances! I'm not rerouting it, just changing it by one day.

Checked other threads and Fewmiles' site (the Star is ambiguous) and told BA: agent said he had got it straight from the horse's mouth. No changes to the first flight. Is this right? Or do I just need to keep trying different OW airlines/agents? The agent also said I could probably do it if I haven't paid for the ticket yet. I told him it would only be a reissue question whether or not I had actually paid for it, after all I can cancel altogether for nothing. Got told no changes again.

Help!

Just tried BA again. This time the agent told me that for legal reasons, BA could not change the first flight as it was booked by a travel agent. They could change anything else except the first international.

I could probably live with that if it were true. Anyone have any insight?

I can tell you that I did recently change the date of the first flight of a AOWE, on BA, on a ticket made by a travel agent. On the one hand, the person who arranged the change was a friend of mine-- but OTOH, he said that his BA supervisor said the change was allowable-- despite the impression I was under that it was not. So it's difficult to ascertain with certainty if I was done a favor or not. In any case I think it is BA you will have to get to make this change-- not another OW carrier.

Like it or not, the airlines do seem to have a rule that if a TA was involved, you're supposed to have the TA do the change until the first segment has been flown. Why not just have the TA do it?

to change the first flight, u have to reissue the ticket.
(mainly because the tkt validity - 1 year -- changes accordingly)

to reissue, it is free of charge.
it just takes up about an hour at the ticket office. this is equivalent to a refund and a new ticket (plus the fare does not change)and there is no charge.

I was recently told by QF that they could not change anything on my itinerary until I completed my first flight.

they r simply wrong!

once you started your 1st segment,
you have to pay $75 for any re-ruote/reissue.

call any other OW airline to do rebook/reissue

Sounds like it is the TA thing rather than a rule.

JohnAx the TA is my next port of call, but its the weekend!

Thanks everyone for your help.

You are absolutely correct for tickets originating in area 2 and 3; the rule is different for area 1 (surprise, surprise). For area 1 (Americas) no changes of any kind are allowed to the first international segment (or prior segments, if any). The original question was for a ticket originating in GIB, which is area 2, hence changes in date and routing are allowed without charge prior to departure. BA's claim that the issuing TA must make the change is plausible (but I'm not an expert to make that determination).

but even in TC1,
what would prevent me from simply refund and issue a new ticket if the whole ticket has not been used.

is it AA, or TC1 issue?

AA agent sometimes do not abide by the rules. they always insist a change of carrier of the same route requires reissuance of the ticket, which is wrong.
(e.g. ORD-LHR, you wanted to board a BA flight instead of AA. AA will make it very difficult, but BA/CX has no will just happily take the coupon)

Just so you know, the TA made the changes, no problem. It must be something to do with commissions. I know I have often been bounced back to the TA by airlines when trying to change a normal ticket, I just thought the OWE had more flexibility. I guess it does, just not on the first international leg.

Next stop, a 3 hour wait at BA's ticket desk for reissue...

About that 3hr wait - isn't issuing the ticket part of the TA's job? I don't claim any expertise, just an occasional experience, and in that case I assume the ta pushes a button on the computer, waits for the ticket printer to do its job, stuffs 'em in an envelope with your name on the front, and next day they're in your box.

not sure if i understand this TA issue

1. the TA who issued your ticket can do the changes (and should). he will deal with the airline for rate approval/etc.
(this is what the commission is for)

2. the airline (in fact, all OW airline, not just BA) should be able to (and is obliged to) do the changes.

it should be your choice of who you would go to. the case is basically no different from when when bought a full far Y/J/F ticket from a TA and ask the airline to reissue.

but i think you will save time by asking the TA to do it. (waste his time, he is making 5-7% of your fare)

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 11-13-2002).]

The folks here who are in the travel business seem singularly unwilling to actually speak up with some facts about TA commissions, which worries me a bit - I've asked a couple of related questions and gotten zip for answers - but.... it's my understanding that the day of 5%-7% commissions is as dead as the legendary dodo bird. If I'm not being too badly smoked, your TA is going to earn between zero and $300 max from most of the OW carriers. So be nice to him/her.

I'd sure like it if someone who *knew* this stuff would correct me if I'm spreading bad rumors.

how can it be "zero" ? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

days of 7% was gone, but many still get around 5%.

the new deal is complicated, and they cannot give you a single number.
in fact for many TAs there is a % table according to how much they sell. there are also other incentives.
while for corporations the TA are also proposing some scheme of "fixed service fee".

anyway, i believe on average the business TA are still making a few percentages, and perhaps with a cap of, like you say, e.g. $300 (likely smaller)