Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   United States (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/)
-   -   Price went down on airfare (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/price-went-down-on-airfare-205431/)

Kelly Apr 25th, 2002 06:36 AM

Price went down on airfare
 
Hi! Obviously, I've not flown before and don't know the procedure:<BR><BR>We're flying Vanguard to New Orleans in a few weeks and I just noticed that the airfare went down about $15-20 for each ticket. Is there anyway to get the lower price, some kind of low-price guarantee, or is it too late for that?

FrugalFred Apr 25th, 2002 06:39 AM

This is a good question to ask your travel agent. Let us know. Thanks

Cosette Apr 25th, 2002 06:40 AM

Best to call the airline. Usually, they just let you take your lumps.<BR><BR>Have a great trip anyway!

Kelly Apr 25th, 2002 06:53 AM

I called my travel agent, because I'm almost positive they said I could get the lower fare if it went down, but of course, now they say no. Maybe I misunderstood. Anyway, I didn't think to call the airline, but just did. They said I couldn't get lower fare, either. Bummer! : )<BR><BR>Oh well, we'll have fun anyway!

gretchen Apr 25th, 2002 08:42 AM

I have found that typically most airlines don't let you obtain the lower price. I however had a wonderful experience with air canada this past year! We purchase tickets to St. Lucia at $650 p/ticket. A few month's later, I noticed the price went down to $395 per ticket. I called them up directly and asked them what I needed to do to get the lower price and they said "Nothing, if you will hold on I will process that request and they did and immediately credited my charge card for $250.00 per ticket at 4 tickets!!!!!! There was no charges, fees anything!!!!!! I will now make a point of using Air Canada whenever possible!!!!!!!<BR>Hope this info helps anyone!

Susan Apr 25th, 2002 08:49 AM

Gretchen, I'm guessing you first purchased a full fare coach ticket without restrictions. Therefore, you were able to "change" your ticket without a fee. However, with many airlines their restricted coach tickets require you to pay $50 or $100 to change your ticket. Sometimes, like in Gretchen's case, the difference in airfare is greater than the change fee and it's still worth calling the airline. For $15-20 I'd be surprised if the airline let you make the change.

Gretchen Apr 25th, 2002 09:03 AM

It was not non-restricted ticket which surprised me even more! I have never purchased a ticket non-restricted ticket. Lucky day maybe? But you are right about the savings sometimes being more than the fare which is the original reason why I even called them.<BR>It's always worth checking out!<BR>Gretchen

Gretchen Apr 25th, 2002 09:04 AM

Sorry about the bad grammar in my previous response. Wow, that was rough!!!

calli Apr 25th, 2002 09:12 AM

Even if Vanguard does not give you a refund for the difference, they may give you a voucher, good for future travel. It all depends on the class of service the flight was booked in..and what class of service the lower fare is booked in. If it is a different class of service,you are out of luck. Let us know your outcome!

plummie Apr 25th, 2002 09:28 AM

Northwest has given us vouchers for future use worth the difference between the fare we paid and the new lower fare -on many occasions. You just have to call and ask for them.

Nina Apr 25th, 2002 09:53 AM

<BR>We purchased United tickets for New York about three months in advance of our trip next month. Within a week, the fare dropped, so I called United and they were going to issue each of us an $80 credit certificate.<BR><BR>Then ... much to my surprise, less than a week later, it dropped again, to almost half of what we had originally paid. We now have $229 worth of credit each. They would have charged us $100 each to put the difference back onto our credit card, so we choose the credit certificate.<BR><BR>I always check to see if my fare has been lowered, but usually find that they have increased.<BR><BR>For this trip I have been checking daily on-line, and our NY fare seems to change several times a week, but I lucked out catching it when it was rock-bottom for those two days only.<BR><BR>Final price SF - NY, with senior discount and a previous United credit, $163 R/T each. Plus we upgraded with miles to Business. I'd call that a real bargain.

Kelly Apr 25th, 2002 10:08 AM

I called Vanguard back and just straight up asked for a voucher for the difference. They wouldn't offer that either. No luck just yet! : )

calli Apr 25th, 2002 10:45 AM

Hmmm..maybe since Vanguard isn't that big of an airline, they don't offer vouchers for a fare difference. YOu need to find out why they won't offer you a voucher..is it because a/ different class of service or b/ they just plain old don't issue vouchers when the fare goes down. Enquiring minds want to know.

calli Apr 25th, 2002 10:47 AM

Kelly:<BR><BR>Logged onto Vanguards website and read some rules on their excursion fares . It states plainly: No travel credits in case of lower fare. There you have it! We all learned something , didn't we?!

Kelly Apr 25th, 2002 12:10 PM

I guess we did! I read over my confirmation print-out and it didn't say anything like that, but I guess the Web site did!<BR><BR>Not that big of a deal, I guess, for $40. But if it was much more, I'd have been pretty upset!<BR><BR>Thanks for the insite, guys...maybe someone will know what to watch out for if they come across the same issue!

BBB Apr 25th, 2002 12:14 PM

When airfares go up, the airlines don't charge you more. We shouldn't get upset that we don't get a refund for lower prices either.<BR><BR>A purchased ticket is a contract for transportation at an agreed-upon price. You always have the option of holding out until a lower price comes along, although we all know it may not!


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:46 PM.