What a mess. Daughter is in Peru for school. Left on a cheap IAD-LIM ticket in July with the return in Dec. Now she wants to stay until Sept 2012. Fare rules say "all travel must be completed one year from departure", which I interpret to mean that I lose the value for the return unless she comes back in July. If I just toss the return, the OW is $1100 (what I paid for the RT) and the cost doesn't seem to be affected at all by date of departure (no "cheap" OW seats EVER). Have also checked all carriers for OW fare and, surprise, they are all $1100. The fare rule probably has no leeway (otherwise one could just push dates back forever). Thought about OW through a consolidator but I can't imagine I'd save more than 10% vs direct purchase from the airline. Am I in the toilet with this?

When did she depart?

Perhaps you could change it to December and see if she wants to come home for the holidays. Then buy another RT to get back with the new date in September.

July 2011 (as in OP)

The original plan was just that, but then she decided that XMAS in Peru was a better concept than in DC.

Just looking NOT to have to gift $500 to my favorite airline......

Thanks.. I read a few times.. but now I see it..

Arrival must be flown within a year of departure, so if she left in July, then she would have approximately 365 days (or whatever the T&C states) to have the flight arrival flown..

I guess why won't she come and visit back for the holidays? That would probably make the most sense, and send her on the way back on another ticket..

Edit: Posts crossed.. could you cancel and get credit for arrival portion of your ticket? You can then use the credit towards a future ticket..

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Just use frequent-flyer miles for the one-way back from LIM. Depending on the day of travel, a Coach one-way can be had for as few as 15,000 AAdvantage miles (subject to award-seat availability, of course).

If you don't have AAdvantage miles, check the FT MilesBuzz! forum for the Citi/AA Visa card offer that yields 75,000 AAdvantage miles after charging $1,500 to the card.

In markets where one-way fares are very high, one-way frequent-flyer awards can often provide excellent value.

Here's your cheap solution: If she is mature enough to kick around Peru for a year or more, she is mature enough to pay for it herself.

I was on the 'come back in July, or pay your own airfare' wavelength too!

you paid $1100 for her ticket to return in dec.....wouldn't there be another $1100 or so for her to go back?.....so a 1 way for $1100 is just an irritant rather than extra expense!....

of course, the real downer to many of us is the loss of the ff mi for the 2nd trip....good luck...

Agreed, I'm heading to Peru next wednesday and the one way was only 15k on AA. The return is on UA and was 17.5k, not quite as good a deal as AA but still quite a bargain for what you're getting IMO.

the award ticket is a good idea....check out the cost to buy the mi, for a 1 way saver and any time award....also look into the cc deals for the applicable ff programs...

I will be in Per� at Christmas if you would like me to hunt your daughter down and give her a stern talking to.

Two ideas.

1) Your ticket is presumably a bit flexible, so changes can be made. If you wanted her to come back in Sept 2012, could you not just call and change the tix and they would re-price it into a fare bucket without the one year restriction?

2) If you absolutely must pay for her to get home in Sept 2012 then cheaper than a one way will be LIM IAD UIO tossing away the return segment to UIO, that will save you about $400.

I'd keep my powder dry if I were you, your daughter sounds flighty and booking it a year ahead will give her ample time to fall in love with an Inca potato farmer, marry him and set up a missionary church.

Keep your eye out for deals, you have a year for a bargain to come along

I'm confused, why would you have to pay anything more?

If your daughter is adult enough to decide that she wants to extend her stay in Peru, she is adult enough to take RESPONSIBILITY for that decision which means she is adult enough to pay for her decision to stay longer in Peru. Done.

Again, to reiterate my edit.. try getting a refund for the unused portion of the ticket, even in the form of a travel credit..

Its' better than nothing and can be used towards another ticket in the form of future travel..