Two seats on the same aircraft can carry completely different rules. Here is how to read the fare conditions that decide whether you can change, refund or cancel.
The fare, not the flight, sets the rules
People often assume a ticket is a ticket. In practice the airline sells the same seat under several fare classes, and the fare class — not the route or the aircraft — determines what you can do afterwards.
Two passengers sitting next to each other can hold entirely different rights. One may be able to move their flight for a modest fee; the other may lose the whole fare by not turning up.
The four things worth checking every time
Before you commit, get clear answers to these. A good agent will tell you without being asked.
- Is the fare refundable at all, and if so is it the full fare or taxes only?
- What does a date change cost — the change fee plus any fare difference?
- Can the passenger name be corrected, and at what cost?
- What baggage is genuinely included, in the cabin and in the hold?
Why “non-refundable” rarely means nothing back
Even on a non-refundable ticket, government taxes and certain airport charges are often recoverable, because they are only payable if you actually fly. The airline will not always volunteer this.
It is usually a small sum, and it takes paperwork. It is still your money.
What we do about it
When we quote you, the options name the operating carrier, the number of stops and the exact times. If you ask what a fare permits, we read you the actual conditions on that fare rather than a generic summary.
General guidance, not advice on your specific ticket. What your fare permits is set by the operating carrier’s own rules — ask us and we will read you the conditions that actually apply.
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