<p>I think I have this (more or less) taken care of, but I am wondering if there’s a better way that I didn’t think of …</p>
<p>My son was originally scheduled to fly overseas tonight to compete in an international sporting event, followed by a short vacation. Total time out of the country, around 4 weeks. He is a recent college grad.</p>
<p>Due to unforeseen circumstances involving heat waves, power outages, and business emergencies, with the ultimate result a canceled and rescheduled big deal important job interview, he needed to change his flight at the last minute.</p>
<p>Between the change fees and the increase in ticket price – because it’s now a last minute flight instead of a 7 day advance purchase … the airline wants $1400 on top of the $950 we have already paid them. </p>
<p>What I ended up doing was canceling the flight and rebooking through my credit cards reward program … burning my entire (very substantial) rewards points balance plus an additional substantial chunk of change … which is more or less equal to the credit the airline will give me for the canceled flight. Which has to be used by him, not me.</p>
<p>I find this absolutely totally ridiculous and unreasonable on the part of the airline … I consider the rewards points to be free money … but it’s free money that I have earmarked for a specific purpose; said purpose will now have to be funded in another manner, like real dollars.</p>
<p>Are there any better ideas on how to change the flight for less than half the cost of the original ticket … as opposed to an ultimate cost of more than double the original ticket? Note we are talking in <em>thousands</em> of dollars.</p>
<p>Changing a flight for the even same price as the original flight is very difficult to do, so rebooking for LESS than the original cost would get written up in Ripley’s Believe it or Not. </p>
<p>I assume your original ticket was refundable since you did cancel it and rebook. The only other option I can think of that might have been cheaper than what you ended up paying would be to cancel and then rebook on a cheaper airline and/or on different days.</p>
<p>When you are changing things at the last minute your options are very limited.</p>
<p>My understanding with airline insurance is that you have to prove extenuating circumstances such as a death in the family or an illness. Is this correct?</p>
<p>Then Southwest should have a page in there that I’m missing ;)</p>
<p>Although the OP is talking about an international flight and Southwest only operates (currently) domestic flights within the US, they do allow flight changes without a change fee. And even the “non-refundable” portion of one’s ticket is usable as funds for the new purchase (for up to a year after the original purchase date). People who fly Southwest regularly use the practice of booking and then rebooking flights when the same flight shows up cheaper. Say the flight cost $300, but now it’s listed for $200. The person could rebook for that new price and would have a value of $100 to use on a future flight.</p>
<p>But I digress…</p>
<p>I agree with the trip insurance idea for next time. I rarely purchase it myself, but I do when I know there is any potential for a change in flight (if I’m not flying Southwest). It’s really the only way to possibly avoid those high change fees. But do make sure to read all of the fine print as what one travel insurance considers an emergency could differ from what you consider an emergency.</p>
<p>After one big expensive flight change due to a mistake (thankfully on my friend’s dime and not mine as she made the error on our tickets), I always seriously consider travel insurance now. She never told me the final cost, but it was easily twice the amount of our original non-refundable tickets.</p>
<p>Also, something to look into is whether you have travel insurance through the credit card you used already. When I use my favorite card, my trip is already protected in the case of extreme emergencies.</p>
<p>The insurance we purchased wouldn’t have covered a flight change for a job interview. The emergency was all on the prospective employer’s end. </p>
<p>I was more worried about him getting hurt across the pond and needed to be medically evacuated to the US and missing the latter part of the trip.</p>
<p>OTOH … if he gets the job it will all be worth it! </p>
<p>What I meant though, was I’d have been willing to pay an additional say … $250 or $300 to change the flight. When they asked for $1400 I about choked. And cashed in my chips, i.e. my rewards points.</p>
<p>Southwest is amazing! I had to cancel a airline flights (more than once) when my father became ill and had no problem in getting my money back. Plus, no charge for bags…I hate paying for bags.</p>
<p>I know that when we booked flights through credit card points two years ago, for all four of us, I was able to purchase some kind of cancellation insurance. Because we were working with four people, I was afraid if, for some reason any one of us had to change our plans (D was interviewing for jobs out of college), we could reschedule. I don’t remember what the restrictions were, but I know it was for something more than illness… it seemed fairly liberal.</p>
<p>We are using credit card points again for Hawaii this December and I plan on purchasing the same insurance.</p>
<p>I don’t know if there were any cheaper flights available, but it is rare to get a last-minute fare that is is comparable in cost to an advance purchase fare, even more so with international travel. When there is a less-expensive option available, it is often a more complicated itinerary than the single airline, single connection flights people are used to.</p>
<p>Domestically, change fees range from $0-$150 plus the difference in fare. Internationally, you are usually looking at $250 plus the difference in fare. Southwest’s free ticket changes are nice assuming that fares haven’t risen and for last-minute travel, fare increases are likely, though student fares (only available by calling them) may be available. In situations like this, it is best to be flexible on times, connections, and airlines. You can use your travel credit for a future flight.</p>
<p>I just had to book a change for an international flight and it set me back nearly $500…and the flight isn’t even scheduled to depart for another 6 weeks! Very necessary and a little frustrating, but it will be needed for getting my son to school on time back from a study abroad program.</p>
<p>It’s just what it is.</p>
<p>Airline points programs aren’t designed to be convenient for the consumer. Just like blackout periods can cause higher rates for air travel, so can changes to flights.</p>
<p>Southwest has student/youth fares, but they are usually more than the advance purchase (Wanna Get Away?) fares. You do have to call Southwest (1-800-I-FLY-SWA) for them.</p>
<p>When shopping for tickets, it never hurts to check the change fees that apply to the fare you want to purchase. This is especially necessary when you think there is a good chance that you will have to change your ticket.</p>
<p>If he is q college grad, he wouldn’t be eligible for student fares, unless he booked before graduation- but I agree- forewarned is forearmed.</p>
<p>I don’t fly and my kids always book their own flights but I agree that shopping around is better than just rebooking with an airline that you aren’t happy with.</p>
<p>The good news is that it was a GREAT interview … and probably, I hope, worth changing the flight to get the in-person interview. </p>
<p>I do want to report however that the baggage check in at the airport tonight did NOT go smoothly, due to uneducated and rude baggage agents working for American Airlines. He’s traveling with sporting equipment – their own website delineates just exactly how to charge and account for these specific items.</p>
<p>I was at work, had to pull up their website and quote it to the baggage agent over the phone on how <em>they</em> handle specific items under <em>their</em> rules. Also copy and paste text from their website and email it to my son’s and husband’s blackberries. And then, because their agents are still clueless on how to find the rules for these specific items, had to request a supervisor. </p>
<p>I could hear my son in the background being very patient but persistent because he knew the rules, and the baggage agent losing it. The supervisor was apparently more competent. I am SO not amused … and I am willing to tell the world about it. Hopefully American is reading their bad press.</p>