What are the current policies for changing Emirates flight tickets, and what have others experienced?

Apr 4, 2022
3 years ago
Оливер *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi people,

nothing to do with visa but maybe of interest to you!

Emirates ticketing policy states at the moment that all their tickets are changeable and valid for up to twenty four months free of charge!

This is not true!

I wanted to move the dates of a Bangkok to Frankfurt ticket by one week. Both, online and on the phone the charge would have been 58000 Baht. I tried several other dates, same fee.

When I asked the call lady why there was such a high fee, all I understood was some gibberish and something about company policy!

Don't think I'll fly with them again!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster shares their frustration with Emirates' ticket change policy, stating they faced a hefty fee to change their flight dates despite the airline's claims of free changes. Other community members contributed their own experiences with various airlines, discussing issues ranging from unexpected fees for flight changes to reliable refund processes. The conversation highlights the nuances in airline ticket policies, particularly around fare differences and the experiences of passengers during these challenging times.
David *****
Easy. Do Not Travel now. Especially if not emergency. Why do people not learn?
John *****
Emirates policy states "If your travel plans have been affected by COVID‑19..." If you change for other reasons expect to pay a change fee and fare difference depending on your ticket class.
Bob *********
Same happened to me with Qatar Air. I changed 2 tickets from Feb to March and although there was no actual change fee it cost me an additional 140 GBP for each ticket to do it. I just had to pay it there was no choice really. To cancel and book new tickets would have cost much more.
Wylie *******
@Bob ********
if you cancel with Qatar good luck ever getting you money back or credit. I used them for years and rescheduled flights MANY times with no issue, just had to pay the fare difference if any. Tried to cancel the last time and still haven't gotten credit back. When you call they say they forwarded it to the cancelation department, which of course you can't talk to and they have no access to the status. They tell you that you will receive an email in a couple of weeks. After a month I call again, they said the record showed that I didn't want to cancel, so we start the process over. I called about 5 different times over several months and there was either some excuse as to why I didn't receive the email 2 weeks later. I'm 100% convinced they give you the runaround on purpose so people just eventually give up.
Bob *********
@Wylie ******
you may well be right Wylie. I was double miffed because at the same time they lopped 5 kg off our baggage allowance it was 30 kg for years but on the new tickets it was reduced to 25 kg and at check in they would not allow anything over the limit so I had to pay for excess baggage too. I will think twice before I use them again.
Wylie *******
@Bob ********
they're really stingy on what is considered a carry on and personal item. I had two backpacks figuring one would count as my carry on that I would store in the overhead and a smaller one that would count as a personal item that I would store under the seat. They wouldn't allow it even though many others in the line had an actual carry on luggage and a purse or bag that was bigger than my small backpack. And of course those people put both in the overhead leaving no room for my one carry on.
Gerry ********
I have changed 2 tickets with Emirates so far, no problem.
Terary **********
Once you give the airline your money, its gone. Dah.
Mitchell *******
Are you sure it just wasn't a change of fare? You generally will have to pay the fare difference. And the closer to the travel date, ticket prices will usually only go up. And different days can be different prices.

Just throwing that out there.
Bruce *********
I'm not saying this will work but every time I've had a dispute with airlines, I have always contacted my credit card company and they've sided with me.
Brian ********
What type of ticket you buy ? Flexible ticket ? Which is more expensive
Nick ****************
You did book with Emirates direct and not through an Agent?
Оливер *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Nick ****************
@Оливер ********
that is unusual. All my Emirates flights were changed without charge unless it was to a more expensive flight.

My colleague had to pay to change his but he booked through Traveloka.
Klaus *********
Changed Lufthansa flights several times both online or with the help of very friendly and competent call center agents.

Never a problem to get it free of charge but I am flexible and could search for a flight which wasn't more expensive than the one which I had booked initially.
Brian ********
@Klaus ********
emirates are the same
Klaus *********
Don't know anything about your particular flight, but it's very important to understand the difference between a change fee and the actual fee for your flight.

All airlines which offer a flight change free of charge will not charge you an extra fee for doing so BUT all of them will make you pay for the flight fare difference.

You might have booked a very cheap discounted flight and the flight you have chosen now is for some reason very expensive.

Always worth to check the current flight fare before asking for a change. You have to find a flight which is not more expensive than the flight which you originally booked , otherwise you have to pay the difference.
Tim *******
@Klaus ********
spot on advice
Kevin ********
I booked Munich-Bangkok with Qatar in January and the rules changed in Thailand

Changed the flight to Phuket only cost 128€

Changed the return flight for a few days later and it cost 0€
Nick *******
Qatar no probs, Cancelled my London - Bangkok flight few wks ago & recd a full refund within 7 days. Goin into their London head office prob speeded things up though. Lol. Rebooked cheaper flight & now bac home relaxing on beach in sunny Thailand.
Amy ***************
Same with Finnair right now. They have a "no fee flight change" you just have to pay the flight difference.

They quoted be £230 as a flight difference when the flight I was changing to online was cheaper.

They said some rubbish about online deals done match actual flight price, but its all just a scam. They're trying to make up revenue for the losses over the past 2 years unfortunately.
Tony *********
No problem with Singapore airlines.

They have offering flexible tickets pretty much throughout the Scamdemic
Dave *********
@Tony ********
no they don't. They wanted 285 euros to change my dates. And yes it was sold as a flexible no fee on changes
Nick *******
@Dave ********
It’s how they ‘word’ it. They don’t charge a fee for the activity of changing the ticket information BUT they charge for any difference in fare between the 2 dates.
John *******
@Nick ******
You nailed it.
Tony *********
@Dave ********
well they did for me throughout the scamdemic and l flew a few times .

Flying with them again in july and I've already changed the dates once and still no charge
Klaus ***********
Don’t choose Oman air as a substitute- they ripped off thousands of travelers in the past 2 years.
Steve ******
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