Changing a Flight Reservation...

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:16 pm

Yeah, so I just booked my flight to Japan tonight, Aug 21, and I sent all the information about the flight to my "boss"... and she writes me back saying "It should be on September 22, not August, right?"

She *clearly* said August in a previous email: "It would be nice for you to arrive at Nagoya prefecture airport or Chubu International airport on August 20th or 22nd." She even said that I'd be able to go see the end of the World Expo, which ends on the 25. But do you think she originally meant to say September rather than August? She mentioned that the 23 was a national holiday... ????

Soo... I'm still waiting to hear back from her what she wants me to do. I can change the reservation, but I'm afraid of the fees...

Does anyone know about how much an airline charges you for changing the date of a flight? I looked online at the website and they don't give any solid figures, citing that it depends on the flight.

I'm both a bit relieved and pissed off that I might be going at the end of September rather than August now. I'm relieved because it will give me more time to get my visa ready, but I'm also upset that I'll miss the World Expo...and the extra moneys that I'll be out.

I feel like an idiot.

klet · Post by **klet** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:32 pm

I'd imagine the fees will be cheaper since you'll be changing the flight far in advance . . . but I have no experience with international flying.

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:35 pm

Yeah, you'd think. I'm really starting to go a bit crazy. The ticket prices have been fluctuating all day. First it was $2000 one way... then it went down to $500... now it's back up to $2000, and when I tried to change the date of the reservation, the fees added up to $1600!!! That'd be over twice what the original ticket would have been..... I feel really, really ill... maybe I should just try again tomorrow...after I tell my mom. She's going to freak. But it wasn't my fault!! The lady was the one who made the error.... ahhhh

kittens · Post by **kittens** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:41 pm

Wow..... That price is too much!!

I think the fee depends of the air carriers.....

But this is my tip for saving up airplane ticket

I usually but cheap ticket from HIS travel. http://debut.his-usa.com/1-800-ASK-4-HI ... AirTickets

They have usually super cheap ticket..... So it might be too late for you but you might also be able to buy a new ticket for $500.....

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:01 pm

If it's far enough in advance, you should be able to change the ticket with only minimal (if any) fees. For a cheaper ticket I would suggest JTB (http://www.jtbusa.com/)

aernath · Post by **aernath** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:45 am

Owie!!!

Good luck getting a cheaper way!
Unfortunately I don't mess with the passenger part of it, except using them as ballast.

j/k! I just keep tabs on where they're all sitting, and use that to determine where to put the most stuff in the belly.

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:47 am

Ok, well I was able to cancel the reservation this morning w/o any fees... and I was going to rebook a flight over the phone, but the wonderful ticket prices are as fickle as gas prices...and the price is floating around $2000 for a one way ticket.

So I'm gonna have to check the website periodically today to see when it comes down before I can do anything. SIGH

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:47 am

What is stopping you?

aernath · Post by **aernath** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:08 pm

Good luck on sangging a cheaper fare!!!! $2000 is a bit much. I know a few places I could spend that much!

Not Sir Phobos · Post by **Not Sir Phobos** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:26 pm

Congrats on the cancellation w/o fees!

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:48 pm

Thanks guys, I was really relieved to be able to cancel without any fees... But now I think it's going to be a chore getting another ticket for around $500.

I just don't understand how a flight leaving in two weeks would be $500 when one leaving a month from now would be $2000+. It makes no sense to me. You'd think that the earlier you book the flight, the cheaper it would be...? Maybe I'll have to wait two weeks before I have to leave again to book another one. lol That's kinda pushing it, though.

But one good thing related to the whole trip to Japan is that I just sent off all the materials that the school needed. I guess they needed some stuff from me before they could send me some other papers that will be necessary to get a working visa. Once that's done...and I have my plane ticket all set...I can relax for a bit... I'm just afraid that'll be a while from now =P Keep your fingers crossed everything will work out for me!!!! (just spazing out a little) lol

Ashura · Post by **Ashura** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:11 am

O wow, Here's hoping you have bettter luck!! Keeping my fingers cross!!!!!!!!

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:54 am

Rekka, who are you booking with? I am guessing maybe Northwest and you are flying out of Detroit? That is how my ticket is set up, and I just had to change my arrival flight with them, since I bought my ticket with frequent flyer miles and wasnt able to get on the "official" flight for my program. So my mom and I decided to call up Northwest, just to see what they would say, and I was able to change my flight + connection to a direct flight, and it only cost me $49.50 in fees (this is the standard flight change fee). If I were you, since you can cancel a flight within a certain amount of time before you are incurred any fees is, buy the ticket for Aug. that is cheaper and call up Northwest and just tell them you want to change your arrival flight to the one you want in Sept. (I'm assuming you have this as roundtrip, that way youd only be changing 1/2 of your trip). It should only cost you $50 in fees (hopefully), and then you will have your now $550 ticket, instead of a $2000 one. NWA's customer serivce is open 24/7, so I thought you should call them about it ASAP before ticket prices go up again.

Even if you aren't flying Northwest, other carriers should have similar capabilities. At the very worst you're going to find out that you can't switch it that far ahead, and at the very best you save a boat load of money.

Hope that helps.

Nikki

Post by **Rekka Alexiel** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 10:32 am

Hey Nikki, yeah, I want to fly NWA because I already have about 28,000 miles with them. Plus the direct flight out of Detroit is nice. When I called them up about the reservation I had for Aug 21, I asked them which would be easier to do, just cancel the flight or have them change the date for me. They said they could do either for me, without any fees. So I asked them if they could just change the date... and they looked up the cost of the flight Sept 21... and it came up $2000! That's why I didn't have them book the flight right then.

So I guess I just have to sit around for a while and keep checking the flights... If it was $500 for Aug 21, it'll have to be $500 a month later sometime...... It'd just be nice to be able to book the dang thing...on the right date...and be done with it!

Elendil · Post by **Elendil** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 11:33 am

Yeah, I think its all a matter of timing really, and mostly that means waiting until the very last moment to get a good price. The flight that I'm on (Detroit to Nagoya on Aug. 31), when I first bought my ticket (about 2 months ago), it was listed as a $3700 roundtrip ticket. Since I bought it with frequent flyer miles, I didn't really care about the price. Now that I look it up, its a $838 roundtrip ticket.

I'm really glad I didn't give NWA my money for that ticket, because I'd be shooting myself in the foot now. It just seems like total price gouging to me. I hope you get a good price for your ticket!

Nikki

Edit: Hey, but on a good note, after your roundtrip flight you'll be only a couple thousand miles away from a free rountrip ticket to Asia.

If you don't have it already, you should get the Worldperks Visa, they give you 10k miles just for signing up (and paying the $55 annual fee.....). You can always cancel it after you get your miles.