Restricted Premium Economy Fares - Flexibility

I am trying to decipher the Fare Conditions for an LHR-LAX flight in December. I am planning to travel out on 21st December, but there is the (very slight) possibility that I might need to delay to the 22nd.

When I look on ExpertFlyer, the fare rule appear to say the following: whether I book a K class or S class fare, the change fee would be £100, and that the change would have to be made 21 days before the new departure date.

Is that right? If it is, is there any advantage at all (so far as changes are concerned) in booking an S class fare?

Thanks for any help in advance!

[preiffer]

It's PLUS any additional fare due, bear in mind...

So, if there's no availability in K on the date you want to change to in future, it'll be £100 PLUS the difference to the next lowest available bucket.

Also bear in mind there are sub-buckets. So, there may not be a KMEG (lowest sale fare) available on that date in future - and a regular K is higher than the sale fares being offered at the moment.

Yes, thanks, noted. The attractiveness of the current sale fares is causing the dilemma - in all likelihood I will not need to change, and if I do not book now will regret it later!

But the sale fares are not available for 21/22 Dec?!

There doesn't appear to be an advantage to buying the S - except for the extra TPs and upgradeability. Given that it is only £200 more than a K, I think that that is quite an attractive price, and if you think you might upgrade, it might be better to bag the S now than have to buy a W nearer the time. (I realise this wasn't what you were asking.)

21 days advance purchase seems a bit mean for a K. I thought they were normally 7 days. I see the sale fares to the US are 14.

[preiffer]

K's have always been 28/21 when a KMEG. K's being the most advance purchase restrictive fares in the PE bucket. Much like Z's were (or R's) for Upper. In fact, Z's used to be 42 days...

It could be a moot point about changing your flight date in any case, the days before Christmas are often busy as people seek to get back to base.

Thanks, all. Very helpful.

K's have always been 28/21 when a KMEG.

When you say KMEG, are you referring to a specific fare basis? I cannot find this one anywhere (have been playing with the various options on KVS). Cheapest autumn K sale fare to LAX I can find is KLXMGY. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

In recent times I have had Ks with 7/14 day restrictions, even when buying into the cheaper fare bases -- in fact I'll be travelling on one very soon, purchased for an £85 upgrade from an X economy fare... :w

I remember the 42-day rule!

[mitchja]

Those fares you are seeing on KVS will be GDS fares (Expertflyer also get it's info from the GDS platform) so will be different to directly sold fares.