Almost lost $400 because I didn't check the fine print on a flight change

I booked a flight to Denver back in March for my sister's wedding. Had to change the date by two days. Thought it would be a simple $75 fee. Nope. Turns out their "basic economy" ticket basically gives you zero flexibility. Ended up paying $240 for the change plus the fare difference. I was at my kitchen table with the website open on my laptop, credit card in hand, ready to just pay it. Then I called them instead of clicking. Got a guy on the phone who found a way to cancel and rebook for only $140 total. Still hurt but nowhere near as bad. Has anyone else gotten burned by those cheap ticket tricks?

2 comments

2 Comments

ben_lewis17d ago

Calling instead of clicking saved you real money, that's a solid move. Next time book basic economy only if you're 100% sure on your dates and never touch it again. Travel insurance through a third party can sometimes cover change fees cheaper than the airline's own policies.

stella_taylor17d ago

So @ben_lewis is right about calling, but airlines count on people being too lazy or stressed to pick up the phone. My question is did you check if the rebooking counted as a new booking with the same airline, or did he use a completely different ticket code? Because I've heard stories where the change fee gets waived but the new ticket has restrictions that bite you later, like no seat selection or baggage rules changing. Those savings can vanish fast if you end up paying for a carry-on you thought was included.