Help and/or opinions needed. Updated

Further to my query on changing a K class P/E fare -

I am taking (paying) for my nephew and neice to go to see the mouse at the start of next month. I have booked their fares departing 3rd, coming back 14th from Manchester. They will be travelling with their parents (who are supplying their own seats ): )

I am pretty flexible about travelling dates for us apart from the issue of a witness citation for the 7th Feb. It's almost certain the a***ole will change his plea and I won't be needed, but "almost certain" and the day he decides to do it is causing me grief.

So here's the options -

1. pay for K class tickets (before sale finishes) booked for 3rd to 17th and if possible pay change fee if need be. Quite a lot of availability at moment.

2. book miles seat out of man on 3rd and back from mia into lhr on 18th in upper - with possibility to change to next options if able to do so - dates tight with outbound (what is the deal with changing a reward ticket)

3. book miles seat into mia and out again in upper using 3rd and 18th - quite a lot of availability if changes need to be made (again if possible)

4. book miles seat into NYC and out again, in upper with above dates and a short flight down to MCO when seats confirmed - more availability for changes if needed (and if possible)

..... or anyone got any other thoughts ?|

Thanks for your much needed wisdom

David

Tough call, this.

Personally I wouldn't be booking a K if I thought I might need to make a last-minute change. Aside from the change fee, if you are within 7 days of departure or if there are no Ks available on the day you want, you will have to pay for a much more expensive S fare, and that's no joke. If there are no Ss available, then Ws can be horribly pricey.

Reward seats are pretty flexible. The change fee is relatively trivial (£25). There is a small cancellation fee (£30 + 25% of the miles) provided you are not within 7 days. So that's perhaps a better option, but of course you are relying on reward availability. If it isn't there, then you are a bit stuck if you want to change. This aspect suggests MIA may be a better bet than MCO - but who knows....

I wonder if another option is to buy a cheap upgradable economy fare, and use the miles to upgrade yourself into UC. If you have to postpone your departure, at least the chances of a punishing fare difference are a bit lower - and if there isn't any reward availability you can get 75% of the miles used to upgrade back but still have a Y seat to get out there. Just a thought.

This probably isn't very helpful - sorry.

Thanks at240, never thought about the economy option, could try for an exit row seat

Keep hoping / waiting on a change of plan, but time is running out.

David

So an update.

Am resigned to the fact I won't be travelling till Friday 8th and it looks like options at the moment are into NYC then down to MCO and then return from MIA or again NYC

Looking for best options for NYC to MCO. Will book AA from MCO to MIA if need be

Looks like arriving into NYC around 4ish and departing NYC around 07.40 so possibly will spend night before in NY leaving for LHR.

Any airlines better or worse than each other ?

Thanks again

David

Jet Blue are popular with some v-flyers.

100% jet blue-done that route a few times .JB have a good regular service

i would drive to MIA rather than fly - go the scenic route