Huge cost to move dates

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mikeo

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Feb 28, 2007
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Long time reader first time poster. Well took myself to the Flight Centre travel expo in Sydney a few weeks ago & purchaed 4 "cheap" tickets 2xAdult & 2x Children to SFO departing Sept 2007 . Since then my wifes employer has changed the rules on when staff can take leave no holidays between Sept 1 & March 1 2008...

Well i call fly centre to change the dates knowing there would be some charge to change the dept date. I was informed the cost would be $625pp :evil: to change. Not only does the airline, but flight centre throw in a cost as well.
 
I suggest you try to get a copy of the fare rules for the tickets you purchased. It is quite common for agents to add their own change fees on top of what the actual fare change fees may be. The change fees for the fare will be defined in the fare rules.

For example, the cheapest QF published fare for SYD-LAX return is NKBBUS for A$1657. For that fare, there is a $200 change fee, providing N fares are available on the date to which you are changing.

It may also be that the particular cheap fare you purchased is not available on the date to which you want to change, so not only do you have to pay the change fee but you also have to pay to "upgrade" to the lowest available fare on that day, plus any change service fee the agent has included in your contract.

So ask FC for the following information:
  • The fare basis for the tickets (its a code such as the NKBBUS I quoted above)
  • A copy of the fare rules and look for the section called "Penalties"
  • A breakdown of the change fee they have quoted (fare penalty, upgrade to next available fare, FC-imposed service fees etc)
Then if the fee does include an upgrade to the next available fare, ask what days around the time you want to travel, the original fare type is available. Perhaps being flexible with dates may save some money.
 
NM said:
I suggest you try to get a copy of the fare rules for the tickets you purchased. It is quite common for agents to add their own change fees on top of what the actual fare change fees may be. The change fees for the fare will be defined in the fare rules.

For example, the cheapest QF published fare for SYD-LAX return is NKBBUS for A$1657. For that fare, there is a $200 change fee, providing N fares are available on the date to which you are changing.

It may also be that the particular cheap fare you purchased is not available on the date to which you want to change, so not only do you have to pay the change fee but you also have to pay to "upgrade" to the lowest available fare on that day, plus any change service fee the agent has included in your contract.

So ask FC for the following information:
  • The fare basis for the tickets (its a code such as the NKBBUS I quoted above)
  • A copy of the fare rules and look for the section called "Penalties"
  • A breakdown of the change fee they have quoted (fare penalty, upgrade to next available fare, FC-imposed service fees etc)
Then if the fee does include an upgrade to the next available fare, ask what days around the time you want to travel, the original fare type is available. Perhaps being flexible with dates may save some money.

Thanks for that, i was given the dates i could move to for that fare so no problem there, i will check the fare rules though.
 
Welcome to AFF mikeo :)

FC may have had a special fare arranged for the expo (eg they got a special deal with the airline and/or cut their commissions). So there may well be an upfare on top of any change fees built into the fare, and as NM points out FC may also charge their own change fee (which they should have advised you of at the time of original purchase). And if the new fare is seasonal (many cheap fares are, your new date may require a high or shoulder season surcharge - find out if this is the case since sometimes moving the date of first flight by a few days can make a big difference in price).

Having been in the situation of holidays being cancelled by work I do sympathise. But may not be much you can do about it. At least it isn't being cancelled at the last minute, meaning there is a chance to find availability for cheap (as of now) fares. The later the changes the higher the fares.
 
If your wife had approved leave then i would ask nicely that they pay the difference or she still takes the leave.

Ok i know it sounds selfish but i have done it before, when i was asked to work when i had leave i said i had booked travel and it would cost X to cancel or Y to change and they agreed to pay. result: everybody happy.

But as you have just found out often costs a lot to change, i was stuck in Korea today until tomorrow even though i wanted to be home because there was just no economy fares at all for my connection and when i looked at the cost it was by far cheaper for me to stay an extra day.

Evan
 
Just one thing, would travel insurance cover such things as "work does not allow annual leave anymore" so have to change flight times/date? First thing on the top of my head is "no".

Maybe u can have other excuses so that travel insurance can pay for it?!

That's the price to pay for cheap tickets I guess.
 
edison said:
Just one thing, would travel insurance cover such things as "work does not allow annual leave anymore" so have to change flight times/date? First thing on the top of my head is "no".
Certainly no cover if the leave was not already approved. And if approved leave was cancelled then there is reason to ask the employer to cover the extra costs.

generally, travel insurance only covers such things when medically related.
 
Yes i no there a risks with low cost tickets, but how can they justify $625pp. I would like to no what makes this total up. I dont have an issue paying some type of penalty but $625pp.
 
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mikeo said:
Yes i no there a risks with low cost tickets, but how can they justify $625pp. I would like to no what makes this total up. I dont have an issue paying some type of penalty but $625pp.
Then you need to ask FC what makes up the $625. Only they can answer that question as we have no idea what fare type you booked, the associate change penalties on that fare, and the agent service fees you agreed to at the time of booking.
 
NM said:
Then you need to ask FC what makes up the $625. Only they can answer that question as we have no idea what fare type you booked, the associate change penalties on that fare, and the agent service fees you agreed to at the time of booking.

and what booking class, whether that is available anymore, seasonality of the fare, etc, etc.
 
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