Changing return portion of reservation
Sep 16, 2015 | 5:44 am
#16
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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Bumping this thread because it seems to be the most closely relevant thread to my situation. I am due to fly on the following routing: HKG-HND//NRT-LAX-JFK where the stop in TYO is <24 hrs, but the onward happens the next calendar day.
I would like to take the flight HKG-HND, but then change the ticket to add a stopover at a later date. Effectively cancelling NRT-LAX-JFK before the NRT flight departs, and plan to change the dates at some point in the future when I have firmer plans.
The fare (HKG-NYC) permits stopovers en route at 100 USD.
However, 1K/Rate Desk is telling me that all changes have to be made before I fly HKG-HND, and I can't insert a stopover once I've flown HKG-HND, and I would lose the remaining value of the ticket if I didn't fly onward from TYO.
This last part seems incorrect to me. My experience with other airlines is that provided the original fare rules permitted, I could change dates en route and pay the applicable fare difference & change fee. Forfeiting the value seems incorrect provided I let them know in advance of the NRT-LAX-JFK flights that I wouldn't be flying.
Any UA experts that can chime in here?
I would like to take the flight HKG-HND, but then change the ticket to add a stopover at a later date. Effectively cancelling NRT-LAX-JFK before the NRT flight departs, and plan to change the dates at some point in the future when I have firmer plans.
The fare (HKG-NYC) permits stopovers en route at 100 USD.
However, 1K/Rate Desk is telling me that all changes have to be made before I fly HKG-HND, and I can't insert a stopover once I've flown HKG-HND, and I would lose the remaining value of the ticket if I didn't fly onward from TYO.
This last part seems incorrect to me. My experience with other airlines is that provided the original fare rules permitted, I could change dates en route and pay the applicable fare difference & change fee. Forfeiting the value seems incorrect provided I let them know in advance of the NRT-LAX-JFK flights that I wouldn't be flying.
Any UA experts that can chime in here?
Not sure how many international carriers would be much different. When you specify the difference in what other carriers would do - do you normally have the new date ready? Unless you do, it normally needs to be canceled and a credit issued unless they allow open ticketing.
Sep 16, 2015 | 7:04 am
#17
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NY, NY, USA
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Posts: 2,001
Hmm... Interesting points you raised.
I feel like I have done this at least once before on AA where they re-calculated the fare from the original fares that were in the market even after having flown the first segment of my return journey. The last time I was in this situation, I had a fare DUB-NYC and flew DUB-LON only. I ultimately wound up having to change LON-NYC to a future date a couple of months later.
That said, I don't remember if they added a stopover, or re-priced using end-on-end fares DUB-LON and LON-NYC. What I definitely knew though was waiting to make my decision until LON didn't forfeit the remaining value of the ticket.
I see your point though, that it may be difficult to argue retroactively inserting a stopover on a HKG-NYC fare after the first segment has flown.
Though at the very least, a retroactive end-on-end fare construction to determine the future add-collect should still be possible. i.e. I shouldn't have to lock down my dates tomorrow, but just be prepared to pay a difference in fare down the road applying the residual value of the ticket to the new price.
That last part is what the agent insisted was correct and I am struggling to believe she was right.
I feel like I have done this at least once before on AA where they re-calculated the fare from the original fares that were in the market even after having flown the first segment of my return journey. The last time I was in this situation, I had a fare DUB-NYC and flew DUB-LON only. I ultimately wound up having to change LON-NYC to a future date a couple of months later.
That said, I don't remember if they added a stopover, or re-priced using end-on-end fares DUB-LON and LON-NYC. What I definitely knew though was waiting to make my decision until LON didn't forfeit the remaining value of the ticket.
I see your point though, that it may be difficult to argue retroactively inserting a stopover on a HKG-NYC fare after the first segment has flown.
Though at the very least, a retroactive end-on-end fare construction to determine the future add-collect should still be possible. i.e. I shouldn't have to lock down my dates tomorrow, but just be prepared to pay a difference in fare down the road applying the residual value of the ticket to the new price.
That last part is what the agent insisted was correct and I am struggling to believe she was right.