help a newbie out please typical change fees?

[Brumeiser]

I have a flight going out to Calfornia with American Airlines. The day we leave there is talk of a ice storm. We were flying from Detroit to Chicago then Chicago to John Wayne. I thought if we leave early enough in Am instead of late afternoon we might be able to avoid the storm plus this flight goes from Detroit to Phoenix and then to John Wayne. The flight is cheaper than our original flight to go out. Well I thought it was a good idea until American airlines is going to charge me 379 dollars per person (3 of us) to change. Is this typical of airlines to charge that much to change? And our all Airlines the same? I would like to know so when we go back to California next year I will know which airline to book. I want to get a better airline. My wife said it is 7 days away and the weather could change. I hope so because I don't want to be stuck in a airport. Thanks everyone.

 

[kaytieeldr]

$379 sounds like the $150-$200 change fee plus the difference in the fare for the earlier flight. Absolutely typical.

Better move would be to haunt the AA website, looking for a weather alert or something similar. If the ice storm is going to happen, generally the airline allows passengers to adjust the flight from to the affected airport at no penalty.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

American's change fee for a domestic ticket is $200, plus the difference in fare for the new price. $200 is the average change fee for US airlines (exception is Southwest).

As suggested, keep an eye on AA's website. If the storm is bad enough, AA will waive the change fee for travel on affected days.

 

[Brumeiser]

for your help i will keep a eye on the site if the weather indeed is bad.

 

[PlutoPony]

Is this typical of airlines to charge that much to change? And our all Airlines the same? I would like to know so when we go back to California next year I will know which airline to book.

All domestic airlines with the current exception of Southwest charge similar change fees. In all cases - including SW - you will also be paying the current ticket price at the time of change which can be substantially higher than your original ticket price.

As others have mentioned, airlines will issue travel advisories that allow passengers to make changes without fees being applied. These are issued for specific dates / airports and are posted in a prominent position on the airline websites so check there regularly. Advisories aren't issued until they are pretty confident the forecasted storm is going to verify and weather is going to be a problem for the airline i.e. a day or so out.

A week out is an eternity in weather forecasting so I wouldn't be too concerned about your flight yet.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OP, I just wanted to add, be prepared to "go with the flow". When severe winter weather happens, it wreaks havoc with the airlines schedule. The task of rescheduling so many passengers & crew is huge & overwhelming at times.

Being proactive helps. Check the flight status online starting the day before your flight and call early to change if your flight should be cancelled. So many people just show up to the airport clueless then have a fit when the airline can't get them to their destination as originally planned.
Remember, the airlines have no control over the weather.

Back before the internet/cell phone days, dh & I spent a week in FL in early March. We checked out of our hotel, returned our rental car and went in to check our bags. We were shocked to hear that the Northeast had a foot of snow and the soonest they could get us home was 2 days later but instead of being a non-stop flight to Philly, we would have connections in Birmingham & Cincinnati.
Now with so much info at our fingertips I'd be calling ahead!

 

[Jimsig]

Also a good idea for any time is to have the airlines reservation number programed into your phone. That way if you do get to the airport and there is a long line due to an issue you can be calling while waiting in line, it could be quicker on the phone then being in line.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

OP: if there is no waiver of change fees due to weather, but you would still prefer to leave earlier in the day, American offers a confirmed flight change for $75 per passenger. The flight must be the same calendar day as your current flight and you cannot confirm it until 24 hours prior to the flight on which you are booked. -- Suzanne

 

[Tozzie]

I have a flight going out to Calfornia with American Airlines. The day we leave there is talk of a ice storm. We were flying from Detroit to Chicago then Chicago to John Wayne. I thought if we leave early enough in Am instead of late afternoon we might be able to avoid the storm plus this flight goes from Detroit to Phoenix and then to John Wayne. The flight is cheaper than our original flight to go out. Well I thought it was a good idea until American airlines is going to charge me 379 dollars per person (3 of us) to change. Is this typical of airlines to charge that much to change? And our all Airlines the same? I would like to know so when we go back to California next year I will know which airline to book. I want to get a better airline. My wife said it is 7 days away and the weather could change. I hope so because I don't want to be stuck in a airport. Thanks everyone.

I would wait if I were you, sometimes when there is a big storm predicted airlines will allow you to change your flights without fees. They would rather get you to your destination rather than have to find room for you on a flight afte the storm has passed. The won't do this until a day or two before the storm