How to get a flexible return date without paying a small fortune
 

We have any upcoming 10 day trip to Mexico (from the US) where we won't know until after our arrival how many days we will really need to stay. If we only need a few days there, we'd prefer to have the choice to return earlier than planned. But, I have no idea how to be able to have this flexible option without paying an arm and a leg. We'll most likely be flying Continental/United but could maybe look at other choices too if we'd have a lot better flexibility.

I don't think buying a one way ticket and then buying another one way return at the last second will work because I'm imagining the prices to do that are really prohibitive. When I checked the box for fully refundable ticket when doing my pricing research, the price was almost three times as much as a regular non-refundable ticket. Those seemed to be the only search options available online that I could figure out. Does anyone know of any others?

As I understand it, if I make a regular booking and then try to change the return flight after I am in Mexico (when I know for sure the date I want), I will have to pay both a rebooking fee and the price differential for that leg from the initial price I paid. Correct? And, that will probably be megabucks. I can't imagine that there is any type of travel insurance that would cover this type of situation. Or, is there?

Are there any solutions I laven't thought of, or is this once again the situation where the airlines have all the power and I have none? Thanks.

Yes, you pay the fee and probably fare difference, but that doesn't have to be megabucks, and will still be much cheaper than booking a refundable. But just to check, you can call CO/UA and have them price the outbound with the lowest restrictive fare, and the return on a less restrictive one and compare.

Anyways, the actual cost you pay still depends on what fares are available for your return trip when you finalize it. For example, if you need the book/rebook the same morning you need to return, and that flight is basically full with just Y fares left, you will be more or less be paying Y fare to get on that flight, whether you have to pay extra fees or not, minus what you already paid for that flight (if any).

But if you have days or weeks before that day to finalize, then chances are lower fares are still avaialble, so even if you have to pay change fees, you may still get a lower fare than full-Y.

If this trip is for adoption purposes, airlines have special flexible fares to cover this situation. I believe such fares are also available for a few other purposes, too. Call the airline.

Elsewise, you pay the regular flexible fare or go with penalty/rebooking.

Actually my husband is making a follow up trip for dental work, and the dentist wants extra time built in just in case there are unanticipated problems. I'll try to follow up on the suggestions to call the airlines.

Thanks for your help.

You don't say where in Mexico, I've heard of Mexican dentists and even plastic surgeons that have an office less than 5 miles from the border. You fly to a US border city take a taxi to the border, walk across and take a Mexican taxi to the dentist.
If you are farther from the border, schedule a later flight and take a 3-5 day vacation to Cancun or Acapulco if you don't need further treatment.
The least attractive option is a bus to the US border from wherever your treatment is.

Tom--

Actually your solution has been our backup plan all along. And, we reconfirmed this after hearing here that there really are no truly affordable ways to change flights. We're going to Merida, and there are lots of nearby places to visit in the Yucatan.

Thanks all.