Tips for changing your flight day
Nov 8, 2005 | 4:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Tips for changing your flight day
Hi all. First time poster... sorry, I'm sure this must have been covered somewhere before, but I searched the forums high and low and couldn't find anything.
I have a roundtrip American Airlines flight (SAT to STL) booked for Saturday December 17th (return the 26th) and I'd like to move it from the 17th to Sunday the 18th. The ticket originally cost approx. $220, and I'd certainly be willing to pay more for the change. But when I call and ask about changing it (I've tried twice), they want an additional $360 for the change, on top of the original $220. That's more than a new flight booked today costs alone!
I imagine this is a problem many of you have had to deal with before? Can anyone offer any tips on how to solve this? Sorry about asking a question that is probably too common, I searched Google too but came up empty.
I have a roundtrip American Airlines flight (SAT to STL) booked for Saturday December 17th (return the 26th) and I'd like to move it from the 17th to Sunday the 18th. The ticket originally cost approx. $220, and I'd certainly be willing to pay more for the change. But when I call and ask about changing it (I've tried twice), they want an additional $360 for the change, on top of the original $220. That's more than a new flight booked today costs alone!
I imagine this is a problem many of you have had to deal with before? Can anyone offer any tips on how to solve this? Sorry about asking a question that is probably too common, I searched Google too but came up empty.
Nov 10, 2005 | 2:26 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, HH Gold, dirt loads of places.
Posts: 1,657
Originally Posted by rkkwan
Just throw away that ticket you have and book it anew, since that's the cheaper way, as you said. Really no other way around it.
Nov 10, 2005 | 6:03 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: TK*G, UA*S, PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Life Platinum
Posts: 4,717
Originally Posted by chartreuse
More than once I've called up to change a cheap ticket and the agent's said "You know, with change fees & everything it would be cheaper for you to just cancel this ticket and buy a new one."
LH seems to do the exact opposite, by the way: a couple of weeks ago I read here that one poster, trying to get back fees and taxes on the unused return leg was told he should be happy that they won't charge the one-way fare now that they know he won't use the return leg...
HTB.
[edited for: correction of wrong English -- at least in parts]
Last edited by htb; Nov 10, 2005 at 6:05 am
Nov 10, 2005 | 7:27 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
Actually, most airlines will issue a voucher (minus change fee) for future travel. So, you don't lose your $220 totally. The change fee may be up $100, maybe $150. But you still get something back. If you're getting the new flight on the same airline, then you can apply that voucher towards it. If not, save it for later time. They are usually good for a year from original purchase.
Nov 10, 2005 | 8:39 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, HH Gold, dirt loads of places.
Posts: 1,657
Originally Posted by htb
Yes, but do you really feel like canceling a flight you paid for and not get anything back? I'd rather just be a no-show until the airlines give some kind of appreciation for telling them that a leg will not be used.