The cost of an UC change.

Me and Ms N are booked UC to come back to Londers from NYC early March, was looking forward to the trip (and seeing the new JFK clubhouse!)

Now work has intervened and needs me in the smoke 3 days earlier. The cost of changing my Z flight outbound date: $2900! $500 fee and $2412 fare difference.

ouch. any suggestions?

is there a way to change a Z to D or J? and pay less than $3000 for a simple date swap. work won't cover that amount...

Quit work?

yup. crossed my mind.

is there a way to change a Z to D or J? and pay less than $3000 for a simple date swap. work won't cover that amount...

Sounds like that is the cost to change to a J, did you ask what fare basis it was when you called? Also, when is your departure, if you're within 7 days it definitely is a J now.

I assume (and hope) that your employer will pay this, and it's more a case of you being a good corporate citizen here?

Otherwise, I would say it's more a case of quit AND claim constructive dismissal. Assuming there is such a concept in the US ?|

[Neil]

IIRC aren't Z's now non changeable even for a fee? Sure if you read the Z rules on the VS site it states that.

IIRC aren't Z's now non changeable even for a fee? Sure if you read the Z rules on the VS site it states that.

Can you not still pay to upgrade them to a J, or has that gone?

[Neil]

IIRC aren't Z's now non changeable even for a fee? Sure if you read the Z rules on the VS site it states that.

Can you not still pay to upgrade them to a J, or has that gone?

The T&C's say:

Note - before departure of the outbound journey prior to departure of the original scheduled flight - may be used as credit towards the purchase of a bu/br fare type at a charge of gbp90 - reprice using current fares. After departure of the outbound journey prior to departure of the original scheduled flight - may be used as credit towards the purchase of a bu/br fare type at a charge of gbp90 - reprice using fares in effect at time of original ticket issue. Resulting fare must be equal or higher than original fare.

what is bu/br?

I am before departure, so that's correct requirement. (fares were lower 3 weeks ago when it was booked) Don't know where the GBP90 comes from, its $500 to change a Z ticket, which is kind of incredible.

sounds like its worth another call to VS, or am I dreaming?

[Neil]

I believe br=business restricted, so maybe bu=business unrestricted, which I imagine is a J, so maybe br = a D?

I might be wrong with those, just a bit of guesswork really.

I've just also realised you are US based, and I'm pretty certain that a $500 fee does apply to changes on a Z.

[Neil]

I believe br=business restricted, so maybe bu=business unrestricted, which I imagine is a J, so maybe br = a D?

I might be wrong with those, just a bit of guesswork really.

I've just also realised you are US based, and I'm pretty certain that a $500 fee does apply to changes on a Z.

Yep, just doubled checked

Changes charge usd 500.00

Yep a nice extra surcharge for those of us in the US of A.

[Nottingham Nick]

It sounds a lot of money, but that is the downside of cheaper, non-flexible fate buckets. If iVS made it cheap and easy to change a Z fare, no one would ever buy the cash cow that is the full J I suppose

Nick

I think what he means is $500 to change a Z in the US, £90 in the UK ... I too would be peeved.

[Neil]

I think what he means is $500 to change a Z in the US, £90 in the UK ... I too would be peeved.

I might be wrong here, but the US change fee allows something simple like a date change, where as the UK £90 change only allows a change if upgrading to a higher fare ticket (bu/br fare). There is nothing in the US terms about having to upgrade.

So, yes the US change fee is high but it allows you to stay with and make changes with your Z fare the UK one doesn't.

So one could argue that the US folks get the better end of the deal, as changing a Z to aD or J is going to cost us UK folks way more than $500.

As one who does this frequently, the £90 change fee allows for date change of date without having to upgrade the fare. I change the dates on my G and Z tickets all the time, just 90 quid, great deal IMO.

I think what he means is $500 to change a Z in the US, £90 in the UK ... I too would be peeved.

precisely!

I think what he means is $500 to change a Z in the US, £90 in the UK ... I too would be peeved.

precisely!

So, you've priced the change and it's been repriced at the effective current rate had you booked now, plus a $500 change fee ... hmmm ... no wonder VS annoys its customers sometimes. Is there a quid pro quo here, are Z's from the US cheaper for example?

As with seany, I also have changed 3 G fares recently, one of them twice, for £90 a time but I think that I have only paid for a date change, not for a new booking class. Was very grateful to be allowed to do so for so "little".

[Neil]

As with seany, I also have changed 3 G fares recently, one of them twice, for £90 a time but I think that I have only paid for a date change, not for a new booking class. Was very grateful to be allowed to do so for so "little".

Just for clarity, G fares are changeable for a fee, that has never been in doubt.

Z Fares used to be, but new rules were introduced not so long ago, and the T&C'S are that clear. Plus there are different rules for ex USA originating fares.

Yes understood that G and Z are'same but different ' thing.

But really did they intend for US pax to be pounded by $3000 total change fees, when UK ones can do the same for GBP90 /$145.

I don't think that was the plan, but its the result.

Makes me feel ripped off, and want to switch airlines, and as a high spending GC regular flyer, that's not good.

[Neil]

Yes understood that G and Z are'same but different ' thing.

But really did they intend for US pax to be pounded by $3000 total change fees, when UK ones can do the same for GBP90 /$145.

I don't think that was the plan, but its the result.

Makes me feel ripped off, and want to switch airlines, and as a high spending GC regular flyer, that's not good.

I understand what you are saying, although I'm pretty sure you cannot now just do a date change on a UK originating Z for any fee (unlike in the US which you can for a $500 fee), and the only change that can be made is an upgrade to a bu/br fare.

I'm pretty certain that the $3k was not change fees, your flight is nearing and you're within advance purchase rules so you can only change to a highest fare code now ... and, as Neil says, even as a GBTOP or whatever, it's nigh on impossible to change a Z, I think the £90 fee applies in addition to the change of fare cost.

So, now I see, if you're more than 28 days out (Z fare booking limit) in the US it's a $500 fee to date change.

If you're within 28 days then it's $500 plus the fare class difference.

In the UK it's £90 plus the fare class difference to a flexible fare whenever.

Neil - did I get that right? If so, then the US does benefit, but then so does the UK over the US if you're within 28 days.

Either way Narikin, the majority of the cost is the difference to a flexible fare class ... and I think it is different from that perceived in your last post (if I understood this)!

[Neil]

I'm pretty certain that the $3k was not change fees, your flight is nearing and you're within advance purchase rules so you can only change to a highest fare code now ... and, as Neil says, even as a GBTOP or whatever, it's nigh on impossible to change a Z, I think the £90 fee applies in addition to the change of fare cost.

So, now I see, if you're more than 28 days out (Z fare booking limit) in the US it's a $500 fee to date change.

If you're within 28 days then it's $500 plus the fare class difference.

In the UK it's £90 plus the fare class difference to a flexible fare whenever.

Neil - did I get that right? If so, then the US does benefit, but then so does the UK over the US if you're within 28 days.

Either way Narikin, the majority of the cost is the difference to a flexible fare class ... and I think it is different from that perceived in your last post (if I understood this)!

That is how I am reading it, and I have read both set of rules a number of times now