What to Choose: Returning or Changing Your Flight Ticket?

What to Choose: Returning or Changing Your Flight Ticket?

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes you may need to revise your decision to fly to another country. So, how do you return your ticket or make changes to your itinerary? We provide you with a guide on how to proceed.

When Returning is Not Allowed

Returns and changes do not apply to the cheapest economy class tickets and special fare tickets. Unfortunately, if you purchased tickets from these categories, you will not be able to change the flight date or itinerary. The only solution is to buy a new flight ticket for another flight. However, some airlines offer a special fare called an "upgrade," which allows you to purchase another flight ticket by paying only the price difference (if the previously purchased ticket was cheaper). This price also includes the penalty fee.

Changing the Date and Flight

Imagine another scenario: you want to fly on a different flight and on a different day. In this case, changing the tickets will be done as mentioned above: you will pay the penalty and the price difference. There is also the possibility to upgrade to a more expensive class.

Changing the Itinerary

If you want to make changes to your itinerary, you will need to pay more. Suppose you have a flight with a layover in Frankfurt and decide to travel to your final destination by another mode of transportation upon arrival. There is a possibility that your return ticket will be entirely canceled, and you will need to purchase another ticket.

In fact, there is an unwritten rule that changing more expensive flight tickets is simpler and more convenient. This is true because airlines themselves are interested in covering the full price, offering passengers the ability to modify certain parameters (date, flight, etc.).

Returning Tickets

Therefore, we have established how to make changes to your ticket. Next, we will discuss the possibilities of returning a flight ticket. In this situation, the decisive factor is the fare under which the ticket was purchased.

For expensive tickets (Business class, First Class, etc.), the price will be fully refunded. For cheap flight tickets, returning is not possible or a penalty is deducted from the ticket price. Before purchasing a ticket, ask for information regarding the conditions for changing or returning the ticket from the airline representative.

How should you proceed if your flight has been canceled or you did not benefit from the connecting flight indicated on your ticket? In these circumstances, the airline is at fault, and you can resort to a forced return of the flight ticket. In this case, the airline is obliged to refund the full amount of any ticket, even the cheapest one.