Note to Self

[sun_set_bravely]

Don't book an important airline ticket when you're:

A) Tired
B) Super-stressed out
C) Heavily doped up on cold medication

I thought I booked a ticket last night for my trip home in May, leaving here on a Thursday and returning on that Monday. I need to be back because I'm organizing a band's CD release party and related press interviews. I e-mailed my itinerary to my parents, then fell asleep feeling accomplished and settled.

My mom called me this afternoon and asked, did I mean to book my ticket to return on WEDNESDAY? I checked my reservation, and sure enough, I screwed up and booked my return on Wednesday. This is one day before I need to leave for another wedding, leaving me 0 days to do my job. Shit.

So, does anyone have tips on how to negotiate with an airline representative to change a ticket without incurring fees? Sadly, I'm not a frequent flyer or anything like that. I booked it through Travelocity.

EDITED 8:33 p.m. - Thank you three for your fantastic advice. I just called within the 24 hour deadline, and only had to pay for the $23 fare difference. You rock!

Comments

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Since it's more than two weeks away, you should be able to to do it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/lindalee_/]

(i used to be a travel agent)

the *only* way any fees can be waived is if you change it within 24 hours from the time of booking. if it's been more than 24 hours, then you will have to pay the fees.

i would call their customer service immediately. if you're a first-time customer with them or if you get someone really cool on the phone, they might be willing to reduce the fees. but typically it's $100 change fee plus fare difference (if there is one).

good luck!

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this advice! I just called and it was no problem to change it. Whew! I've learned my lesson on cold medicine + online shopping.

[robertainnc.livejournal.com]

ditto that last comment--call as soon as possible, if it's within 24 hrs, they usually will change with no charge.

[skyschemer.livejournal.com]

Nice job on getting that cleared up.

We had a similar-but-not-the-same moment a few weeks back. We were wanting to visit my wife's dad and had found the flights and times we wanted so we pressed ahead. Two weeks ago, I ask my wife, "what are our flight times?" so I could put everything on the calendar and arrange events around the travel. She didn't know so we started looking through her email...and found nothing. And then we tried my email. And then we went online and looked for the reservations. There was not a trace of the tickets to be found anywhere.

We saw the flights we wanted. We discussed the flights. We cleared the dates with her dad. And then we promptly failed to actually purchase the tickets.

The Old Way

[mizannie.livejournal.com]

It was simpler when you could just call the
airlines, make a reservation, talk to a real
person. I have to do this for my boss all the
time. He is not even low tech, he is no tech.
I get nuts going online doing this because this
guy is quixotic and changes like the wind. I
have told him to be darned sure before I hit
the confirm button because a card laid is a
card played. You really came out swell on this.