A note about change fees
 

I just booked a $69 one-way SFO-SEA (!!!!!! where the heck did that come from !!!!!) and noticed a little something in the rules.

We have spoken before about potentially changing a ticket from Y to F (no change fee), then canceling said ticket (no cancellation fee for F tickets). Neat idea.

Here's another one. There is no change fee for downgrading from F to Y, with all fare difference being refunded.

From the fare fules:Many have complained about a lack of fully-refundable Y fares. While you still end up with ticket credit rather than CC refund, this is one way (albeit slightly risky, in case Y or F is full on the flight you want to switch to) to skirt that rule.

Thoughts? Also.... $69 one-way SFO-SEA?!?!?! :D

There are never any change fees for first class tickets, no matter what you do with them. In fact, that's how I give people "gift cards". I buy them an F ticket somewhere that costs approximately the value I want to give them, and tell them to change it to whatever they want (two coach tickets, a more expensive F ticket, paying the difference, whatever). I had not heard that there is no change fee from Y to F, though. That's news to me.

If you buy up to F, they just credit the amount paid for the Y tix towards the F seat. It's nice, and makes sense, really.

It does make sense, except for the loophole mentioned here! ;-)

hehehe...lovely, delicious loopholes. ;)

Ok, quick question. My mom is flying with me SFO-SEA. On the outbound I booked her in F with me. The flight is still $69 for Y and wide-open in F. Can I change her back to Y ($108 credit) and then pay $50 to upgrade her at 24 hour window? Then use the other part of the credit to upgrade her for her return flight if available?

Thanks.

The answer is Yes.

However, be warned that those seats nearly always get reserved on that route. How far in advance are you looking, and what day of the week/time?

Got it all done. I had to do the "downgrade" on-line, but then called back and they used the credit towards the upgrade fee. Very nice, now we still have enough credit to hopefully upgrade her on the return. It still has 4 seats open. Wednesday outbound. Saturday's return has 7 seats open.

Is that what you Americans call "gaming the system?"

I guess. I don't think I did anything wrong, as I explained exactly what I wanted to do to the VX rep on the phone. I think it is very rare that a flight is so inexpensive within 24hours of flight time, which is the only time this would make sense and/or work.

I think we established before that VX's pricing seems to be like a "bell curve", so that it's actually quite common for prices to be extra cheap within 24 hours.