Booking a flight

[itsy_bitsy 8]

How can I book a flight/flights to PI without getting fined if I need to fly sooner than originally scheduled? Let's say I'll book for a December flight, but in case an emergency comes up and I need to fly as soon as next month, how should I book the flight in order for it to be flexible?

[hamigirl710 112]

it depends on how much the flight costs. Sometimes it is cheaper to get a flight that you can only change if you pay the fee which could be cheaper to buy and pay for the change.... than buying the flexible ticket.

[JerseyTurnpike 3]

Having flown back and forth more than two dozen times in the last 7 years, I would say, ALWAYS pre-plan your trips months in advance.

If for some reason you need to fly there with less than one month notice, expect to pay significantly more for your ticket.

January through early May, tickets are cheapest.

July though early September, tickets are most expensive.

You can only get a ticket with no penalties for changing your flight if you are frequent flyer (of high status), you are flying "premium economy", business class, or higher, or you fly standby (which really sucks).

If you have fly back because of a death in the family, you can usually get discounted tickets directly from the airline if you provide proof relationship and proof of death.

Otherwise, pay the higher price for a last minute ticket if you have/want to fly on short notice.

[itsy_bitsy 8]

Ok, so normally, how much do airlines fine for re-scheduling? I understand that you can cancel a flight within 24 hours and get 100% refund. But can you cancel at all past 24 hours?

[CHarvey80 72]

I have never paid more then $150 to change a flight regardless of where/when I was going.

[kambingaso 9]

Some airlines offer Traveler's Insurance so you can skip the penalty if there's a change within reason. Upon purchase this could be a good thing to add to your total cost, but if it's after the fact then sorry if this is too late.

[itsy_bitsy 8]

Tickets are not cheaper if you buy them month in advance. You may have better luck to find a cheaper class the more advanced you purchase. However, time frame has little to do with price. Availability does.

If you are taking a flight with few people on it, and many classes open, you can purchase a ticket for the same price a few days in advance, that will cost the same as a ticket a few months in advance.

As well, sometimes last minute tickets are the cheapest. Many bulk ticket agents sell some of the cheapest flights on the plane, because they are selling the last seats that will not get sold(as opposed to a packed flight selling the last few seats in it's highest classes).

Also the rules you state do not apply to all the airlines. There are many. And they all have different rules.

Source=Years as a travel agent

Very helpful, thank you.

[itsy_bitsy 8]

Which airlines? What type of ticket?

Whenever I fly, there is pretty much no availability for changing your flight.

Some airlines allow you a cancellation with refund within 24 hours of purchase only.

Some airlines do not allow a refund at all. Only credit, with a cancellation, re-booking, and fare difference fee.

Some airlines will let you do a change within 24 hours of your flight. Though this can be a $75 change fee, the flight needs to be for the same day, good luck on finding availability, and there is the fare difference, which will likely be considerably higher.

There are ticketing options that are more flexible. However, you are looking at a $500 ticket easily becoming $2,000. Not even worth it in the end.

Tough business these airlines. Best to make definite plans.

Traveler's insurance is only medical emergencies and apocalyptic "acts of god".

Any other reason, and it will not help you, only be another drain on the funds for nothing.

I don't really care about which airline, as long as it offers the cheapest flight to the Philippines, lol. There will be 2 adults and a baby flying so even if the difference is only a couple hundred dollars per ticket, it'll add up. And I'm never gonna fly fancier than economy class if that's what you mean by type of ticket.

Edited January 13, 2013 by itsy_bitsy

[itsy_bitsy 8]

No. There are 20 classes of ticketing prices. Economy alone has 12 classes. W, T, Y, B, H, K, L, M, N, Q, T, V, and X.

Is it true that tickets are the cheapest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays?

[itsy_bitsy 8]

There is not really a "cheapest airline" to anywhere. Too many factors come into play. The cheapest I usually find to the Philippines is on United. Lot's of layovers. Non-refundable tickets. It goes the old military route. California-Honolulu-Guam-Manila. It's a 25 hour flight from the East Coast. Also, it's an all US route. So, if you are travelling with Filipinos, there is no immigration issues changing planes in China or Japan. In fact, it's all domestic flying up till Guam. So only a 3 hour international flight to Manila! That also means the baby is free up to Guam. You could get $500-$600 per ticket. I think that's not bad?

Not at all. But 25 hours? OMG! I actually like layovers 'cause I get to see different places, lol. But flying with an infant is a different story, so I think I'd rather just pay double if it means just a single layover.