Anyone ever get out of paying the change fee on Continental tickets?

[runwad]

I asked on the Budget Board and I'll ask here too

My sister bought 5 non refundable tickets on Continental...I guess if she were to change to another date she'd have to pay $150/ticket to do so. Anyone know of any tricks to get around this? She spoke to a mgr but to no avail.

They were going on this "cheap" vacation w/her inlaws. Inlaws got a timeshare deal at Wyndham (hotel? on Irlo Bronson) and fil told her they'd get 4 days worth of admissions into the parks for all 7 of them. I told her I didn't think that was right that you usually only get one...so she called and yep only one day admission for 4 people. I feel so bad for them, now they don't want to go and she just got her airfare on friday. I don't know what to tell them to do. They're going 10/5-10/10 and now a budget vacation just turned into a very expensive one. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Not unless you know someone working in reservations.... and even then it's getting harder.

 

[CarolA]

Well on other airlines if there is a LARGE schedule change you can request a refund. That's "large" not five minutes. (Large varies by airline not a clue for CO)

However, CO doesn't tend to be as free with schedule changes!

 

[CanadianMinnie]

It's funny that you mention this, I just did it yesterday.
It took 3 hours of my life, general begging and pleading, being transferred, and disconnected more times than I care to remember. In the end, I just got the "right" suervisor, and my story made his month, so he did it. I don't think it is something they do very often, as even their "recovery" staff could not care less. They basically just put a note on my file saying they told me I couldn't get the flight changed.
Good luck, but I wouldn't get my hope up too much

 

[TaraPA]

Continental (like most airlines these days) is infamous for changing flight times prior to the trip - if THEY change your flight times you can call & say the new times they gave you are not acceptable, and they will change to another flight for free. I'm not sure if they will move the flight to a different day though, like she needs. We flew Continental in March & they changed our flights 3 times within a month of departure. We were travelling with 2 other famillies - what a nightmare. Some of us ended up changing airports to get better flight times, but none of us changed to a different day. We paid no fees because Continental originally changed the original flights & just stuck us on whatever they had open. It wouldn't hurt to try again but I think you'll get the runaround. Tell her to be patient & hope Continental changes their flights!

OH BTW - tell her to check her itinerary every day on Continental.com - 1 of the families we travelled with was never even notified that their flight times were changed (we & the other family got emails). Their flights only changed by 90 min. but ours had changed by 4 hours, so I'm guessing maybe they don't even notify you if it's uner 90 min or 2 hours difference.

FRUSTRATING!

 

[bavaria]

Changes fees are the price travellers pay for buying the cheaper, non-refundable, non-changeable fares. I don't think that passengers should expect to make 'tricks' to avoid the fee, when they entered into a contract knowing that the cheaper fares were non-refundable and non-changeable.

Even the 'trick' of using a schedule change to make a change will go away soon, I predict. The airlines know that many passengers (as we see here weekly) book the cheapest, least desirable flights, in hopes that they can take advantage of a schedule change to get rebooked on a more desirable flight.

I have even seen posters asking if they can do this with schedule changes of 4 minutes. That is to me taking advantage of the situation, and the airlines are trying to reduce as much as loss as possible, and rules will be tightened soon (much as rental car companies shortened the 'grace period' for late returns)

And by the way, before anyone jumps on me for saying that, I am the queen of change fees. I average about 5-20 schedule changes a month due to my changing schedule, many of which come out of my own pocket. In fact today I just made a change which cost me 150 Euros out of my pocket. Yet I still won't complain about it - I knew the rules and I will abide by them.

 

[safetymom]

Personally they should just go. For $150 per ticket change that would buy some park tickets.

 

[Lewisc]

This won't help the OP but most airlines will process a refund if you contact them within 24 hours.

Best chance for a refund would be a significant schedule change (more then 4 hours). The trip is next month, I wouldn't count on a significant change.

Maybe your sister could take a timeshare tour for some extra tickets. They may get more tickets if they settle for Sea World or Wet n Wild. I assume they'll have a car. Take some time for cheaper things like mini-golf.

I agree with Bavaria, airlines may stop offering refunds for minor schedule changes but I think the major airlines will still offer refunds for major schedule changes (more then 4 or 6 hours). Airlines might also stop letting passengers pick their new flight, take the flight we offer or we'll give you a refund.

 

[rlduvall]

Personally they should just go. For $150 per ticket change that would buy some park tickets.

That's a very good point. If anything, it more than buys a week of fun at the Universal parks.

 

[Singinglizzie]

What about suggesting they buy discount tix to Universal studios instead. I found this listed on Mousesavers:

Orlando FlexTicket
The Orlando FlexTicket gives you unlimited access to multiple theme parks and attractions in the Orlando area over 14 consecutive days, allowing you to visit any of the parks on your ticket within the same day. A parking fee is required only once each day, at the first park visited. With the FlexTicket you'll get substantial savings over separately purchased single-day admissions.

There are two versions: the 4-Park FlexTicket and the 5-Park FlexTicket.

The 4-Park Orlando FlexTicket gives you unlimited admission for 14 consecutive days to Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, SeaWorld Orlando and Wet 'n Wild.

The 5-Park Orlando FlexTicket gives you unlimited admission for 14 consecutive days to Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, SeaWorld Orlando and Wet 'n Wild, plus Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (includes free shuttle to Busch Gardens).

The FlexTicket can be purchased at any of the participating attractions, or in advance through various sources.

Regular Prices

The gate price of the 4-Park FlexTicket is $207.62 (tax included) for adults and $171.41 for kids (3-9).

The gate price of the 5-Park FlexTicket is $255.55 (tax included) for adults and $212.95 for kids (3-9).

Discounts

A very reputable ticket broker called UndercoverTourist sells the FlexTickets at a significant discount. (Look under Universal Orlando.)
2 Day 2 Park Unlimited Admission Ticket - Busch Gardens and SeaWorld
If you plan to visit both Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando, you can purchase a special 2 Park Unlimited Admission Ticket (formerly called a Value Ticket). Includes unlimited admission for up to 7 consecutive days to SeaWorld Orlando & Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. FREE daily roundtrip transportation from Orlando to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is included.

Regular Prices

The 2 Park Unlimited Admission Ticket is available directly from SeaWorld or Busch Gardens online for $95.80 (tax included, all ages). It's cheaper to order from SeaWorld because tax is lower in Orlando than in Tampa.

 

[drew64]

A nonrefundable ticket is just that once issued.

Airlines do not refund within 24 hours, they void the ticket. An airline or agency can void a ticket within 24 hours of issuing it. If it is issued on Fri-Sun, it can be voided on Monday.

I see no reason for OP to be allowed to get out of the fee. It was a condition of the tickets when they were purchased, so no reason to lie to avoid paying it, either use the tickets for when they were purchased or pay the fee to change them.

Believe me anyone who works for the airlines or as a travle agent has hear dany and all of the stories and excuses from the death in the family, or emergency surgery, to the ever popular "the computer magically booked the wrong dates.

 

[CarolA]

Believe me anyone who works for the airlines or as a travle agent has hear dany and all of the stories and excuses from the death in the family, or emergency surgery, to the ever popular "the computer magically booked the wrong dates.

Well I did once have the Delta computer "randomly" change the dates.

The folks at Delta spent a LONG time trying to figure out HOW it happened. They could see the ticket with the right dates and then the dates just "changed" on my departure with NO trail. They should have been able to see the date/time stamp and who made the change.. NOTHING was there. I got to talk with LOTS of poeple while they tried to figure out (A) what happened and (B) how to undo the mess.... First agent passed me to supervisor who passed me to her supervisor who sent me to some "re issue" guru who still couldn't figure out the WHY but did have the magic access to override the mess!

They fixed it for me and wrote up a ticket to send my file to IT to work on! (And they upgraded me to Business Class, it was an international ticket!)

 

[andymattmom]

Changes fees are the price travellers pay for buying the cheaper, non-refundable, non-changeable fares. I don't think that passengers should expect to make 'tricks' to avoid the fee, when they entered into a contract knowing that the cheaper fares were non-refundable and non-changeable.

Even the 'trick' of using a schedule change to make a change will go away soon, I predict. The airlines know that many passengers (as we see here weekly) book the cheapest, least desirable flights, in hopes that they can take advantage of a schedule change to get rebooked on a more desirable flight.

I have even seen posters asking if they can do this with schedule changes of 4 minutes. That is to me taking advantage of the situation, and the airlines are trying to reduce as much as loss as possible, and rules will be tightened soon (much as rental car companies shortened the 'grace period' for late returns)

And by the way, before anyone jumps on me for saying that, I am the queen of change fees. I average about 5-20 schedule changes a month due to my changing schedule, many of which come out of my own pocket. In fact today I just made a change which cost me 150 Euros out of my pocket. Yet I still won't complain about it - I knew the rules and I will abide by them.

I agree completely! How is 4 minutes going to make such a big change and someone who does this is really taking advantage. I can see an hour or more but 4 minutes (and I remember a post with a very very minimal amount) is stretching it.

They bought tickets knowing the terms and conditions. Continental did nothing wrong so why should they have to do anything when someone changes their mind about not taking a trip? They shouldn't have to. It might be an expensive lesson to learn. Sorry to be blunt but people trying to take advantage of the system is getting old and ruins it for the people who have a legit need to change and might have a valid medical reason for changing.

 

[snowbunny]

Doesn't help the OP, but one of my favorite tools has become the "hold itinerary" button on UA's website, which will hold price and seats until midnight the next day. It gives me time to look around and decide if the intinerary really works for me, rather than find/purchase/decide the next day that there would have been a better way to do it. I've cut down drastically on my changes using this tool.

I have a one-way fare to MSP in a few weeks that was cheap because there is a long layover at ORD. I bought it knowing that. There's a better connection that is still wide open right now, I called UA to ask if they would switch me to the shorter connection - agent said not without the fee. And that is fine, I bought knowing that. I still might ask at the airport, but if they say no, that will be fine too.

 

[Brian Noble]

Northwest's Customers First policy provides something very similar; if you buy a flight, in most cases you have until the end of the next day to cancel with no penalty.

 

[WDWcanuck]

Northwest's Customers First policy provides something very similar; if you buy a flight, in most cases you have until the end of the next day to cancel with no penalty.

The same is with Delta. I cancelled 20 hours after purchasing, and their policy is 24 hours.

 

[snowbunny]

Northwest's Customers First policy provides something very similar; if you buy a flight, in most cases you have until the end of the next day to cancel with no penalty.

Right, I like UA's better though because I don't have to pay and then remember to cancel - it is held without payment.

 

[SilverMickey]

Doesn't help the OP, but one of my favorite tools has become the "hold itinerary" button on UA's website, which will hold price and seats until midnight the next day. It gives me time to look around and decide if the intinerary really works for me, rather than find/purchase/decide the next day that there would have been a better way to do it. I've cut down drastically on my changes using this tool.

I have a one-way fare to MSP in a few weeks that was cheap because there is a long layover at ORD. I bought it knowing that. There's a better connection that is still wide open right now, I called UA to ask if they would switch me to the shorter connection - agent said not without the fee. And that is fine, I bought knowing that. I still might ask at the airport, but if they say no, that will be fine too.

I did this 2 years ago... I asked before I checked my bag... They said had I waited to ask after I checked the bag they would not let me take the earlier flight. They said I had to fly when my bag flew. I lucked out! I hope you do to!