Z Fares - Changes on the Day of Booking

This occurred to me yesterday as I thought I wouldn't make my flight from JFK due to traffic ... I was on a sale Z fare which is normally not changeable, but reading the eticket it says 'Date changes not permitted' - would a change on the same date to a later flight be permitted (space allowing)?

Hi Slinky

I can't really answer your question but just thought I'd reply to mention something that happened to me recently on a Z fare. I really have to praise VA. I was due to return from JFK but a week before the due return date my mother was taken seriously ill and I needed to fly back immediately from IAD.

I was prepared obviously to pay for a new ticket in economy if needs be but I made a call to customer services and they waived all charges and got me back the next day to LHR still in U.C.

Unfortunately my mother passed away a few days after, but VA did all they could and more to get me back. (A thank you letter went into SRB office) Not sure B.A. would have been so accommodating. I guess my point is, maybe there's even some flexibility even on a Z fare depending on the situation!

Regards

Marc

[preiffer]

In the case of waiving for illness, they're actually following their own rules (which exist in the case of all tickets, in all classes) in relation to death/illness. Here's the extract from a Z:

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES NOT PERMITTED IN CASE OF REISSUE/REVALIDATION. WAIVED FOR ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.

That said, yes, it IS great that VS can offer such flexibility should the worst ever happen.

Originally posted by slinky09
This occurred to me yesterday as I thought I wouldn't make my flight from JFK due to traffic ... I was on a sale Z fare which is normally not changeable, but reading the eticket it says 'Date changes not permitted' - would a change on the same date to a later flight be permitted (space allowing)?

Twice in the last year whilst travelling on Z fares from JFK I've been asked if I'd like to go on earlier flights.

I can only assume that if the UC load is light on an earlier / later flight on the same day & the Z fare for the flight you are booked onto & the one you want to swap onto were broadly similar, then it makes sense for VS to offer you some flexibility. After all, it encourages customer loyalty. And of course, VS may also have their eye on your seat on the flight you should be on, if the flight is a bit full down the back, i.e. op-ups needed.

With regard to illness / death of a relative, there have been many posts on here in the past about how accommodating VS generally are in such cases. Yes, they sometimes ask for documentary evidence [presumably to be sent to them at a later date, or they charge you the relevant upgrade fare] but I don't blame them for this. Some people will 'try it on' to avoid paying for anything [sadly].