[jimboyinPI]

I am an expat living in the Philippines. I normally travel back to Dallas every 3 months for a month. My wife and I recently had a baby so I decided I would stay longer on this visit. So I called AA to change my flight. I was well aware of the $250 fee, but they wanted $650 to change the ticket. Same flight same times just a different day 3 months later then my original travel date. I argued to no avail and simply decided to stick with my original schedule. I set out to book my return flight and tried to book it for a 6 month stay rather then a 3 month stay. The price difference was $1525 for 3 months and $2300 for 6 months. Same flight, apples to apples. So now do the math. I fly 3 times a year at $1525 = $4575 I fly 2 times a year at $2300 = $4600. So American gives me a free flight and a $25 bonus.

I am sure this makes sense to them. But this is one more example of policy that makes the airline look very arbitrary and unfair.

[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

I guess your reason for not taking your business to another airline is frequent flyer miles. I hope the extra money you paid, and the attitudes you must get from AA staff, make those FF miles worth it.

Although changing dates, by anything much more than a week, might net you a large fare increase at ANY airline. Fares are never the same all year 'round. Even though AA has a code share agreement with Cathay Pacific it might have been worthwhile to call Cathay direct and see if they could have given you a better deal.

[jimboyinPI]

"I guess your reason for not taking your business to another airline is frequent flyer miles. I hope the extra money you paid, and the attitudes you must get from AA staff, make those FF miles worth it."

No not really. I know that those miles are next to impossible to use anymore. It is the convenience. My US "base of operations" is Dallas. I fly Dallas-Toyko-Manilla route which is easy. If I switched I would have to make more stops or longer layovers.

The time of the year is not driving the fare difference it is the length of the stay. If I stay more then 4 months the fare increases $700-800. Same route, same time, same connections, same carriers. I am sure they have a reason for this but it is counter-intuitive.

[AADFW]

If you're spending that much, why not buy a Circle Pacific ticket for $2,900? You'll get twice as many miles, get to see Australia/South Pacific/New Zealand for a day or two, and get twice as many miles. You can also change the return date for up to a year from date of departure. I live in Hong Kong/Dallas and find this to be the best approach.

[Leatherboy2006]

whats an expat?

[airhead]

To make it more complex, there is a difference between " policy" and "rules." Yes I know, what can be more confusing than studying and researching the difference between these 2 terms in the industry. Kinda like torts versus crimes.

Airlines sale their tickets in fares, not in time blocks or dates. They have this complicated formula of price according the number of available seats. To make it simple for understanding, I will use this example:

An airplane has 10 seats going from point A to B. And that same airplane will travel to point C after B, with the same 10 seats respectfully. The 1st seat is seat 1 and the 2nd is seat 2 and so forth. Obviously the 1st seat to sell is seat number 1, it will be the cheapest, say $100. After that one is sold, the next available one is seat 2, which is $200. In this example, seat 10, the last one, will be sold for $1,000, the most expensive. But alas, there is a kink in the formula. The persons who do the marketing, may calculate that seat 9 and 10 do not sell often enough on this trip so they reduce the price to entice more revenue.

The problem with this is: if one purchased a fare (ticket) already, then that person will be given the "full" fare quote price if a change is requested along with the change fees. But if one is a new purchaser, the sale price is given. Same thing applies when going to point C from B. the higher fare will be calculated.

Be aware, the ticket agents really believe that the fare quote that is given in the computer, after some complex calculating (since that is not displayed simply) is the cheapest. But often, they are mistaken. Sometimes going to another agent may produce different results. It may be the agent, it may be the timing. It is impossible to figure out what produces the best price. It is very very complicated.

If one purchased seat 3 from A to B and then to C but wants to change, then it gets sticky. Not only will you be "fined" for the change but you will have to pay the next highest fare available. If the only seats available is 9 and 10 between B and C on the change flight, then you may have to purchase fare 9 or 10 on segment A to B also, even if fare 4 is available because they have these fare "rules" that will say something like, fare 3 or 4 can not be used with fare 9 and 10. you have to pay "full price."

Silly huh? I disagree with this practice and disgusted with the fact that many of the agents are not trained to figure this out to best help the passenger. Many truly do not understand the complicated computer language that is displayed as"

01AA3205Y22MARSFOLAXDS2 001234655483723443
02F94505G22MARLAXYYZDS1 008000033888747737

and if something is not put in the right place, then an error message is given and the agent has to start over. the error is not stated, one just has to figure it out.

[AADFW]

Leatherboy,

Exapt is short for "expatriate," referring to a person who, for work or other purposes, has withdrawn from residence in his or her native country.

[PHXFlyer]

Many international fares have both a minimum (Saturday night, 3 day, etc.) AND a maximum stay restriction. Most often it is either a 30, 60, or 90 day maximum. I'm not quite sure of the logic behind this but someone somewhere decided that these restrictions somehow make sense.

[airhead]

Domestically and since the 80s, a weekend stay of 3 days also yields a better price in many markets. The logic comes from the local city Chamber of Commerce that makes agreements on behalf of the local tourist industry which benefit the hotels, and other attractions. The longer you stay, the more likely the more money you will spend in that local economy.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by airhead

Domestically and since the 80s, a weekend stay of 3 days also yields a better price in many markets. The logic comes from the local city Chamber of Commerce that makes agreements on behalf of the local tourist industry which benefit the hotels, and other attractions. The longer you stay, the more likely the more money you will spend in that local economy.

Well, yes and no. Yes many domestic leisure markets, such as Hawaii and Las Vegas, do have thos 3 day minimums to entice one to stay and spend money at the destination. The Saturday night stay requirement is to preclude business travelers who usually fly home anytime from Thursday evening to early Saturday from getting the lowest fares. Some airlines have adopted the LCC model of pricing with one-way fares so there are many destinations where a minimum stay is a moot point.

This still doesn't address the issue of a MAXIMUM stay rstriction on many INTERNATIONAL fares. As I said before many destinations will cost less if the return segment is 30 days or less from the outbound. If you book one of those and then extend beyond the 30 days there is a hefty fare difference to pay.