Is there a way around flight change fees?

jen_parker_

Hi, I'm hoping somebody can help me!

I moved from the UK to Montserrat (near Antigua) in June and bought a return flight with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick to Antigua for £340, with the return leg on 31 December.

I want to change my return date to a couple of days later (2 January ideally, but I'm flexible within a few days). For this change, Virgin charges £928. That's £150 change fee (fine - I expected that) plus £778 for the difference in cost of the ticket. That is because ticket prices have gone up since I first booked (but the price of my flight on 31 Dec is still the same as the price of a flight on 2 Jan).

I've tried speaking to Virgin Atlantic about it, but they say there is nothing they can do.

Does anybody know if there is some way I can get around paying this huge fee? I have travel insurance and paid for my flight with a Mastercard, if that might help.

Thank you in advance!

unforeseen

Does anybody know if there is some way I can get around paying this huge fee?

Stick to the original date

I have travel insurance and paid for my flight with a Mastercard, if that might help.

No help whatsoever unless your original flight gets cancelled.

Westin

You initially purchased a cheaper ticket with restrictive terms. Virgin Atlantic are simply following those change terms and fees that you agreed to at time of purchase. A more flexible ticket would have cost you much more.

Options will be limited to stay with your original date or pay the fees and costs that VS are offering. I fear purchasing a one way ticket back with any other airline will cost you much more.

Caz3121

jen_parker_ wrote: »

Does anybody know if there is some way I can get around paying this huge fee? I have travel insurance and paid for my flight with a Mastercard, if that might help.

the fees are those you agreed to when you made the booking. Virgin sell 3 different types of economy fares, Light, Classic and Delight. If there was a chance that you may have needed to make a change you could have picked a more expensive ticket type that had cheaper changes.
Travel insurance - can't see that that is relevant unless you have an expensive cancel for any reason type policy. (not common) most will have requirements to provide medical evidence that you are unable to travel etc
credit card - not relevant. You paid for a flight on the 31st December and the airline have a seat available for you on the 31st December.

The comparison on the prices 31st Dec v's 2nd Jan at todays prices is not relevant it is the cost of the 31st December flight when you purchased it v's the 2nd Jan flight on the day you make the change.

If you are unable to stick to your original date it may be worth looking at the cost of a new ticket. I suspect that changing your original ticket plus buying a new flight back to Monserrat to return will be more that buying a new ticket for both ways

leylandsunaddict

They are the terms you agreed to when you booked. Change fee as per the fare type purchased, plus difference in cost. Either stick with your original date, pay to amend it or book a new one way flight back if it's cheaper (which I doubt).

TELLIT01

Even if you did find a cheaper return flight, there is the risk of Virgin (or any other airline in the same situation) coming after you for the full one-way fair. Your return ticket was exactly that, a ticket both ways, and failure to use the return portion could have financial consequences. I'm not saying it automatically would, but needs considering.

Westin

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Even if you did find a cheaper return flight, there is the risk of Virgin (or any other airline in the same situation) coming after you for the full one-way fair. Your return ticket was exactly that, a ticket both ways, and failure to use the return portion could have financial consequences. I'm not saying it automatically would, but needs considering.

I think the OP has already travelled on the first leg, back in June.

The airline won’t care if the return sector is used or not. It only creates a problem when an earlier flight segment is missed and journey continuation is still required.

TELLIT01

Westin wrote: »

I think the OP has already travelled on the first leg, back in June.

The airline won’t care if the return sector is used or not. It only creates a problem when an earlier flight segment is missed and journey continuation is still required.

Not so. I read fairly recently about a cheap return flight being booked, and the return not being used. They were chased for payment of the single fair at the full rate. I can't remember any more detail than that, but it certainly can happen.

Westin

Well it would certainly be good to learn more on that and helpful if you could post a link to such an example.

Possibly airlines might look for a persistent abuser of a fare type but I don't think in the case of the OP and a one off no-show of a return (last segment) flight that he/she would be chased for payment. I expect many miss flights each and every day through illness, traffic on route to the airport or just disinclination to travel. Can you imagine an airline re-costing the fare and chasing for payment?

Voyager2002

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Not so. I read fairly recently about a cheap return flight being booked, and the return not being used. They were chased for payment of the single fair at the full rate. I can't remember any more detail than that, but it certainly can happen.

Yes, but that was an exceptional case (I think it was KLM).