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Plans rarely stay fixed. If you need to fly on another day, at another time or on a different route, knowing what your ticket allows is the surest way to avoid an unwelcome bill.
Most airline tickets can be altered after purchase. How easily, and at what price, depends on the airline, the type of fare, the route, any restrictions on the ticket and how close to departure you make the request. Some fares can be changed for little or nothing; others are far less forgiving.
This SkySparrows guide describes how flight changes usually work, the costs to expect, how to assess your options and the steps to take before you commit to a new itinerary.
If your booking was made through SkySparrows, have your booking confirmation to hand before you ask for a change. It normally shows the airline, the reservation reference, passenger details, ticket information and the conditions of the booking.
Changing a flight means amending the reservation you already hold, as opposed to cancelling it and buying a new ticket from scratch. Subject to your fare conditions, several parts of the itinerary may be open to change.
Correcting a passenger's name is normally dealt with separately from an ordinary flight change. Airlines may accept small spelling corrections, but moving a ticket from one person to another is generally tightly restricted. Before any change is confirmed, the airline or booking provider will usually reprice the ticket for the new itinerary.
There is no fixed price for changing a flight. The amount is usually reached by comparing your original ticket with the replacement itinerary and then adding any service or change charges that apply.
Certain airlines and fare types charge for altering a reservation. Other eligible fares can be changed with no separate airline change fee. Check the conditions of your own ticket in every case.
If the new flight costs more than the ticket you hold, you pay the difference. This is true even where no change fee is charged: any difference in fare, taxes or other applicable charges must be settled before the new itinerary is confirmed.
Under U.S. rules, some airline bookings qualify for cancellation or a fare hold within 24 hours of purchase. Qualification can depend on where you booked, your departure date, the airline and other conditions. If you bought through a travel agency or another booking provider, look at the terms shown when you purchased and contact the original seller if you need to.
No two airlines have identical rules. Fare restrictions, route conditions, deadlines for changes and the alternatives on offer differ by carrier and by ticket type. The notes below are general guidance only; always verify the current conditions on your own reservation.
Delta reservations are generally managed with the airline's booking management tools, where eligible passengers can see replacement flights and the cost of each before confirming.
On many fares and routes there is no separate change fee, though a difference in fare may still be due. Some restricted fares carry additional limits.
United passengers can generally reach eligible reservations through My Trips or the airline's booking management service.
What a change costs depends on the fare held and the replacement flight chosen. Some Basic Economy and other restricted tickets are limited, while eligible tickets can be changed on payment of any fare difference.
Southwest bookings are generally managed with the airline's reservation tools. The options for modifying a trip depend on the fare bought and the booking conditions.
Eligible fares can be changed with no separate airline change fee, although a fare difference may apply. Check the revised itinerary and total before you complete the change.
American Airlines reservations can generally be opened through Manage Trips or the airline's booking management tools.
Whether a change is possible, and its price, depend on the fare category, the destination, the ticket conditions and the new flight. Some restricted fares do not permit standard changes.
British Airways customers may be able to amend eligible reservations in the airline's Manage My Booking service.
Depending on the fare conditions, a change can involve a service charge, a difference in fare, taxes or other amounts. Review the exact cost before confirming the new itinerary.
Spirit reservations can generally be reviewed using the airline's website or mobile booking tools.
The availability of changes, the charges and any fare difference depend on the ticket conditions and when the request is made. Read the airline's current terms before submitting a modification.
A voluntary change is one you decide on yourself: a different date, time, route or flight. Here the fare rules determine whether the change is allowed and how much more you may have to pay.
When the airline cancels a flight or makes a significant schedule change, the position is different from a change you ask for. Depending on the circumstances and the regulations, you may be offered rebooking, a travel credit or, if you do not accept the alternative, a refund. Read the conditions before choosing.
On some eligible fares, yes. Even so, you may still owe a difference in fare, taxes, service charges or other applicable costs.
That depends on the airline and the fare conditions. The difference may be given back as a credit or dealt with under the rules of the ticket.
Often, yes. The passenger is first separated from the shared reservation and then changed. Depending on the type of booking, the airline or the original booking provider may have to do this for you.
Some tickets permit it, but the itinerary may have to be repriced. New fare conditions, taxes, routing rules and seat availability can all apply.
The answer depends on your plans and your ticket. If you still intend to travel, changing the booking is worth considering. If you are unsure, read the cancellation and refund conditions first.
Start with the airline's notification and the alternatives it proposes. If the new itinerary does not suit you, find out whether you are entitled to a different flight, a credit or a refund under the airline's rules and the regulations.