NWA's ticket cancellation policy is very good!

[Tiger926]

We only fly NWA, so I'm not sure about other airlines, but I just double checked on their cancellation policy by phone after I read through it online - good thing I'm an English teacher, as those fare restriction documents are quite confusing!

Anyway, if you have a wholly unused ticket, you can apply the entire purchase price, minus a $25.00 ticket change fee per ticket, to any other destination as long as it's within a year. If you go to the same desitination, they will just re-issue you a new ticket, so if fares went up, you'd actually be saving money even with the ticket change fee. If it's the same day (eg. in a minor accident on way to airport, or miss flight), there is no charge to re-issue the ticket.

Are all othe airlines like this? Not sure why people would spend $40.00 USD per ticket for air insurance when the $25.00 ticket change fee is cheaper - I guess if you know you can't fly again within the year it would be worth it.

Not sure if others knew this info or not, Tiger

 

[CarolA]

Are you sure you read this right.... NOrmally when you change the dates they will charge you IF your fare class is not avaialbe. They won't gurantee you the same fare. I have not seen anyone actually get the deal you are discussing UNLESS the same fare was avaialble when they booked their new flight.

This is what I found on NW's site
Change fees apply to most non-refundable fares. The cost of changing a ticket is based on the original fare rules, availability and fare of the new itinerary. Please refer to the original fare rules for complete information. There is no additional processing fee to exchange the ticket online at nwa.com.

The insurance protects you if you can't use the credit or ticket within the one year period.

 

[Lewisc]

Most airlines will let you standby for a later flight if you miss your flight, so called "flat tire rule".

Different airlines have different change fee policies. SW doesn't have ANY change fee, you just pay the difference in fare. One of the reasons many of us like SW.

 

[Tiger926]

CarolA - I think the woman did explain the changes incorrectly - she was talking very fast, and I asked 2 specific questions regarding this policy. Here is what I found on the NWA website regarding the actual Fare Rules for my actual ticket:

DECREASE IN FARE AFTER PURCHASE .
IF A DECREASE OCCURS AFTER A TICKET IS PURCHASED AND PRIOR TO TRAVEL ONT THE TICKET OR A NEW FARE FOR WHICH THE PASSENGER QUALIFIES BECOMES EFFECTIVE THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES WILL BE CREDITED/REFUNDED PROVIDED . 1. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO ORIGIN/DESTINATION/ STOPOVER POINTS/FLIGHTS/DATES.

2. ALL CONDITIONS OF THE NEW/REDUCED FARE MUST BE MET. THE ORIGINAL TICKET DATE OF ISSUE MAY NOT BE USED TO SATISFY THE ADVANCE RESERVATION/ TICKETING REQUIREMENTS. THE BOOKING CODE OF THE NEW/REDUCED FARE MAY DIFFER FROM THE BOOKING CODE ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET.

THE PASSENGER MAY CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING 2 REFUND OPTIONS.

1. A CREDIT IN/TO THE FORM OF PAYMENT THAT WAS USED TO PURCHASE THE ORIGINAL TICKET LESS A USD100.00 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE FEE.

2. A NONREFUNDABLE MCO LESS A USD25.00 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE FEE . THE MCO CAN BE USED FOR FUTURE TRAVEL PURCHASE. THE MCO MUST BE EXCHANGED FOR A TICKET WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE MCO ISSUE DATE. CANCELLATIONS TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. NOTE - A.CUSTOMERS FIRST POLICY.

B.WHOLLY UNUSED NONREFUNDABLE TICKET POLICY.

A WHOLLY UNUSED NONRFND TKT MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NW/KL DOMESTIC/ INTERNATIONAL NONREFUNDABLE TKT. -PROVIDED TRAVEL ON THE NEW TICKET ORIGINATES WITHIN 1 YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL OUTBOUND TRAVEL DATE. -LIMIT OF ONE TKT MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS A NEW NONREFUNDABLE TICKET. -APPLICABLE CHANGE FEE APPLIES.

C. CANCELLATION FEE 1. TICKETS WILL BECOME INVALID/EXPIRED ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST DEPARTURE AND MAY NOT BE USED OR EXCHANGED FOR TRANSPORTATION AFTER THAT TIME AND DATE 2. ONCE THIS TICKET BECOMES INVALID - THERE IS NO CREDIT FOR ANY AMOUNT PAID FOR THE TICKET DUE TO THE IMPOSITION OF A 100 PERCENT CANCELLATION FEE -SEE GENERAL TARIFF RULE 105- D. EXCEPTION TO FEE COLLECTION.

I just wanted to double-check again to make sure I have understood it correctly, based on this info, if a reduced fare becomes available after I purchase, I pay $25.00 for them to reissue ticket, but I get the difference in the form of a voucher to be used within 1 year - does that sound correct?

Thanks, Tiger