What frequent flyers asked in early October: change fees, short-haul business, help at the airport, complaints
In the first days of October we kept reading along in one of the largest frequent-flyer communities online. Our earlier summaries covered lounges, connections and travel warnings and seats and miles. These four questions were new.
1. “Why does moving my flight by one day cost so much?”
A change is priced at today’s fare. You pay the difference to your original fare, plus any change fee in your fare rules. If the booking class you bought is sold out on the new date, the next class up sets the price, even when the cabin still has empty seats. Read the change rules before you book, and pay for a flexible fare only when your dates are likely to move.
2. “Business class on a low-cost airline or a full-service one?”
On flights of a few hours the gap can be small or large. Compare the seat (flat bed or recliner), meals, lounge access, baggage and what a change costs. The cheaper ticket often leaves one of these out.
3. “Flying long-haul with older parents. What helps?”
Pick seats with direct aisle access and allow enough time at the connection. Many travellers split a very long journey with a night at the stopover. If walking long distances is hard, ask for assistance when you book. On flights from EU airports, this help costs nothing extra, but the airline should know at least 48 hours before departure.
4. “The airline has not answered my complaint.”
Keep your booking, boarding passes and all messages. If the problem was a cancellation, a long delay or a downgrade on a flight covered by EU rule 261/2004, you can take your complaint to the national enforcement body of the country where it happened. For flights to or from the US, the US Department of Transportation takes complaints through a form on its website.
The hotel angle
When flight dates change, the hotel booking has to follow. Book a rate with free cancellation, and Hotel-Tracker.com tells you if the same room gets cheaper for your new dates.
