| Moving
Up the Return Flight
Departure dates on non-changeable
tickers are inviolable -- you can't change them without running into major
obstacles. Return flights, however, are sometimes a bit more flexible. You
probably can't change them before the departure, but sometimes you can
change them afterwards.
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| For example, suppose
you're flying to a conference that takes place mid-week, but have to buy
tickets that include a Saturday night stay. Paying for an extra one or two
day stay in a hotel (or student housing) is cheaper than paying a
full-price midweek fare. So you need to pick a Saturday night, either the
one before the conference or the one after. To take advantage of the
flexibility on return flights, book the flight to include the Saturday
night *after* the conference. On the night before you want to leave, call
the airline and tell them you'd like to return early. If they have space
available, they'll let you return early (possibly with a $35 change fee).
For example, if you want to fly out on Friday, call them Thursday night.
This isn't flying standby, because they'll actually give you a reservation
for the earlier return.
Some travel agents use a similar trick to obtain
inexpensive tickets for their business customers. They'll issue a ticket
with a Saturday night stay at the discount rate, and provide the passenger
with a sticker to put on the return ticket after the outbound ticket has
been removed. The sticker reflects the earlier return flight. The travel
agent also changes the return date on the reservation after the outbound
ticket has been used. Since this is a slightly shady practice, any other
changes in the itinerary must also be made through the travel agent, not
the airline. Not all travel agents are willing to do this, and then only
for expensive tickets and their best customers.
If you want to try moving up the departure date,
go to the airport a few hours before departure and ask. If they have room,
they may let you on. You will have more success asking at the gate;
airport ticketing/checkin agents tend to be sticklers for the rules. If
you ask before the day of departure, or try to get it changed by calling
the toll free number, the answer will almost certainly be no (or involve
additional fees). |
