TwoDecks

I booked award travel from BOS - LGA, departing yesterday morning and returning Saturday morning. I flew down to LGA in coach yesterday uneventfully (I had thought chairman could get upgraded on award travel, but I was apparently incorrect).

My plans changed yesterday afternoon and I needed to get back to BOS last night. I did a quick check of prices, which were $450 one way (at the cheapest) to book the 7:00pm or 8:00pm shuttle (5pm and 6pm were $750). I also checked Acela options (the many options for LGA-BOS.)

I called the USAir reservations (don't think I called the chairman line - but they connected me to the chairman line). The lady said she had to call someone else and due to weather it would take about 10 minutes. She put me on hold, and every 2 minutes came back and apologized for the wait and told me she didn't forget about me. Makes waiting on hold more reassuring!

Eventually got through and she changed my flight to the 7pm shuttle last night, with no charge whatsoever (thought for sure there would be some ridiculous change fee). When I got to LGA, the 5pm was running late, and I was able to get on that one.

I couldn't have been more pleased. I very rarely use award travel (one of the reasons why I would use points for BOS-LGA), but really impressed with this particular agent and more importantly the fact I was able to change award travel from Saturday to Thursday without any charge whatsoever

PHLisa

Pretty sure that is due entirely to your status. Anyone below Chairmans would have paid $150 in change fees.

swag

The good news is that if and when US adopts the AA award rules, award date changes will be free for everyone, even those with no status.

fordan

Chairmen who have Chairman's Preferred through miles or segments (vs Buyup or challenge) do get upgraded on award travel; it's the 85k/105 segments Special Dividend. http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...ml?c=txt_01173

jcrb

That's one of the things I love about awards on US as CP.
http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...chairmans.html
I don't know if they literally process changes as redeposit then reissue or if they just change the res and cancel the fee, but I've never paid to change an award res, which makes travel planning so much easier, as soon as you think you know you are going somewhere book the tickets and if your plans change it's not a problem.

jfinsocal

Yeah - but there is a rule about no changes to awards after travel has commenced. Maybe this has only been enforced on *A awards but Chariman Preferred do not get this waiver.

guv1976

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

And the better news is that, starting this Monday, BOS-LGA should cost just 4,500 BA Avios + $2.50 one way in Coach. Cancel your award at least 24 hours in advance and you'll merely forfeit the $2.50 to get your miles reinstated. Then, you can just re-book a new award flight for the date needed.

phlwookie

It seems to only apply to partner awards. For awards on US metal only, you can change after departure. I've done it multiple times.