Purchase the right type of ticket to avoid paying fees for changes. Generally buying a non-refundable tickets will mean you will have to pay a fee for altering your flight. If you think there is a high probability of having to make changes to your travel plans, consider purchasing a refundable ticket. By paying a little extra to have a refundable ticket, you will avoid having to pay fees for changing your reservation. Some airlines also have different types of non-refundable tickets with lower change fees.
Read the fare restrictions and rules. Airlines will include details about whether or not changes to flight itineraries are permitted with the type of ticket you purchased. They will also outline how much it will cost you to make changes to your reservation. You should always read these rules carefully before making a booking and review them if you need to make a change.
Read the airline's contract of carriage. These documents detail an airline's policies and responsibilities to customers. Generally, change fees and occasions when fees may be waived are outlined in the contract of carriage. Reading these documents will tell you how you can have a change fee waived or when you are eligible for a full or partial refund. If you have not booked your flight, have a look the contracts of carriage of various airlines to see which one offers the most flexible policy.
Compare airlines. When making your travel arrangements, look at the policies of various airlines before booking your flight. Policies and fees for making changes vary from airline to airline. You can save money by picking an airline with lower fees or more flexible policies.
Ask questions. Before booking your ticket, contact the airline to ask about current policies with respect to change fees. Often times fees are waived for special circumstances such as the death of an immediate family member, or when active members of the military are issued new or revised order papers. Contacting an airline or speaking with a check-in or gate agent at the airport to explain your situation before making a change to your reservation could save you money. In these situations, you may also be entitled to a partial or full refund.
Keep informed. During certain events that affect airline operations or the safety of travelers such as natural disasters, political unrest in the country you are traveling to, bad weather, strikes and other events, you may be entitled to changing your travel plans free of charge. Contact your airline or visit their website to see if there are any alerts or notices regarding the possibility of changing your flights without penalty.
Buy travel insurance. Often you can avoid fees for making changes if you are covered by travel insurance. Depending on your coverage, you could be eligibly to make changes to your travel plans without penalties when you are unable to travel.
