Re-booking an international flight

[Tehanu]

I have a round-trip flight to Japan from NYC booked for mid-May of this year. A possible scheduling conflict has come up that I am trying to resolve. In the event I cannot resolve it, I want to push the Japan trip back a bit.

My question: Is it difficult to rebook an international flight? Is there a lot of red tape, and are there huge financial penalties?

If anyone has practical experience with this, I would love to hear your insight. I am traveling on Continental Airlines, direct flights both ways.

[Bag_of_Mostly_Water]

There’s a wide range of possible consequences. It depends on the airline, the class of ticket you bought, your frequent flyer status with the airline, and probably a few other things. The only real way to find out is to call the airline and ask.

For what it’s worth, I sometimes get different answers the second or third time I call. Airfares are weird.

[threemae]

Assuming you bought the cheapest Continental fare available, it will probably be plenty easy but mighty expensive ($300 range). Even worse, if your new fare is cheaper, you won’t be able to apply that difference to the change fee unless you get a representative feeling generous.

Here’s a sample set of rules from a ~$900 trip from JFK to Tokyo and back:

CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHARGE USD 250.00.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE -
FEE MAY BE WAIVED IN CASE OF ILLNESS OF
PASSENGER OR TRAVELING COMPANION OR DEATH OF
PSGR/IMMEDIATE FAMILY/TRAVELING COMPANION.
A VALID MEDICAL OR DEATH CERTIFICATE IS
REQUIRED.
IF THE NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES
FOR THE ORIGINALLY TICKETED FARE / BUT RESULTS
IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE AND
THE CHANGE FEE MUST BE COLLECTED AT TIME OF
REISSUE. --IF THE NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR
THE ORIGINALLY TICKETED FARE BUT RESULTS IN A
LOWER FARE / NO REFUND WILL BE MADE. ANY
RESIDUAL VALUE WILL BE RETURNED IN THE
FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE VOUCHER FOR TRAVEL
ON CONTINENTAL AIRLINES ONLY AND COLLECT THE
THE PENALTY

[ShibbOleth]

When I have to rebook my international flights, the cost is usually $150-300. You can just call the airline and give them info about the ticket (class) and they’ll let you know, if you need to rebook:

1. is it possible? (usually yes, but YMMV)
2. what is the cost to do so.

Note that my cost above is for one leg of the trip. Beyond possible rebooking fees they can also hit you up for fare differences. Example, the low, low fare you got by booking way in advance is no longer available on the new flight you want to take. Normally they’ll hit you up for the difference.

The farther in advance you can firm up your new plans the more likely they can accommodate you at lowest out of pocket cost to you.

[psychonaut]

Do you have any travel insurance which covers rescheduling fees? Such cover is often provided by one’s employer (for business-related travel), or when using certain credit cards. If your trip is for work (even partially), ask your employer’s HR department if you’re covered.