What to Do For Change in Itinerary after Flights Booking
No matter how careful you have been while planning your trip, it’s true that travel plans can change anytime, for whatever reason. Especially if the changes occur after flight and hotel bookings, the situation can be really daunting for the travellers and they may have to face some additional financial burden to makes the required changes in the flight plans. And in case, it is a long journey to a destination like India with (possibly) connecting flights, it may all seem a bit haywire!
After carefully looking for and booking cheap deals on flights to India, you thought you made perfect plans for your holiday break but some unforeseen event forces you to make changes in your travel itinerary! Earlier you wanted to land at Delhi airport and now you want to begin the journey from Mumbai airport. What to do is the big question?
Usually, once the tickets are issued by the airline, the change of route can generally be made only at considerable cost. You may have to buy new tickets or forfeit the amount you have paid for non refundable tickets that you choose not to use.
Check Your Tickets
First of all check your tickets and see whether you can make such changes or not. Many airlines permit changes only when the tickets are directly purchased from them. So if you have purchased your tickets on cheap flights to India directly from the airlines, there are chances of getting the flights to new route on new dates. The entire process depends on the rules and regulations of that particular airline.
As per the rules and regulations of British Airways, you can make changes only when you have directly booked the tickets with British Airways and made payments by credit card or debit card. But such changes to your bookings are subject to the fare rules and conditions on your ticket.
Also check if your ticket says something like “REFUND ONLY THROUGH ISSUING AGENT”. In this case you may have to request a refund from the travel agent who sold you the ticket.
Contact the Airline or Travel Agent
Call who ever you booked with – the airline or the travel agent. It is the best way to obtain accurate information about the regulations and charges applied on route change. Airlines have made special rules for making changes to tickets in case of sickness or injury.
These rules do not apply to all airlines, situations and all tickets. Holiday makers must contact the airline or travel agent for checking what all kinds of rules and charges apply for changing the date and time on flights to India. Before calling the airline, note the confirmation number and ticket number and keep the credit card with you, as these are the things that one might need to make changes with airlines.
Research
Go online and check the website of the airline. Hunt for the available cheap flight to India as per your itinerary. So when you call, you can easily tell the airline representative which flight you would like to take. Or you can directly book the flights online as number of airlines provides the facility of making changes by paying applicable fees.
Be Flexible
You have to be bit flexible with time or date for getting your flights to the same destination. Some airlines allow travellers to fly standby with no charge. In case you want to fly on an earlier flight on the very same day, you can ask the airline to let you travel as standby passenger.
Itinerary Change Covers
Travellers who purchased the itinerary change cover can make use of their travel insurance and can get compensation. Many tour companies provide cheap and affordable itinerary change covers to ensure protection against such unforeseen events.
Refund of the Tickets
Some airline tickets are eligible for refund while others are not. However, most airlines sell non-refundable air tickets. It is highly advisable for air travellers to peruse the airline’s rules before asking for the refund.
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