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I've worked at Going for more than two years now, and I've learned a lot of skills for finding cheap flights, chief among them, staying flexible. But sometimes you don't have ultimate flexibility. Surely there's a way to still lock in a deal, right? Right...?
This is a story about how I used a hidden loophole to save money on a flight change.
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The $20B deal between Apple and Google that has iPhone users concerned
Google paid Apple $20B to be the default search engine on iPhones-and both companies hoped to shield it from the public.
The deal continues to fuel Google's ad revenue engine, which made an eye-popping +$250B in 2024.
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📲Their EarnPhone could be considered the Uber of smartphones, and they're gearing up for a potential IPO on the Nasdaq (ticker: $MODE).
And as companies desperately seek to extract more data, you can invest in Mode's pre-IPO offering at just $0.26/share.
Invest in Mode and earn your stake in this $1T industry.*
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A bit of backstory: My significant other lives abroad, so while I have a bit of flexibility with when exactly I visit, I don't have a ton of flexibility with which airport I fly into. When I book a months-long trip, it's also difficult for me to know the exact date that I'll want to leave, so booking visits can be a bit of a gamble.
Last summer, I was getting a bit antsy, knowing that I needed to book my winter flight soon if I didn't want to grossly overpay. In July 2024, I booked an economy flight-at a slightly higher price than I typically would have-because I knew I'd want the option to change my return flight if something came up (basic economy wouldn't have allowed me to do that).
It's important to note: The flight that I booked also had a connection.
By August 2024, the airline emailed to let me know that my flight had changed. The first leg of the return flight would get me into my connection about an hour later than planned. Not a big deal. I'd still have enough time to get through airport immigration and customs, and I'd get to my final destination at the same time as I originally planned.
Then in November 2024, the airline reached out to let me know that my return flight itinerary had once again changed. This time, the second leg had been bumped back, getting me to my final destination several hours later than I'd anticipated. Definitely not ideal, but at that point, I had no other obligations.
I made it to my partner's country, and a few weeks later, a friend reached out saying she'd be coming through the city. The bad news: It'd be the weekend after I planned to leave.
Enter: the hidden loophole.
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Under federal law, if an airline cancels or "significantly changes" your flight itinerary, you're eligible for a full cash refund. A "significant change" can mean a number of things, including:
- Departure or arrival is delayed by at least 3 hours for domestic flights
- Departure or arrival is delayed by at least 6 hours for international flights
- Your departure or arrival airport has changed
- You've been switched from a nonstop to a connecting flight
Airlines would generally prefer you don't ask for a refund, which is why they're usually willing to re-accommodate you on a different flight-free of charge-even if they don't mention that explicitly in the email.
I saw this as an opportunity to switch my return so 1) I could change my flight to a later date, enabling me to see my friend and 2) get to my final destination earlier in the day.
I logged into my account with the airline, opened up the Chat function, and explained to the customer service agent that the new flight schedule wouldn't work for me. The agent countered, saying that the rebooking window had passed (it'd been four weeks) and I owed a $50 change fee.
I kindly explained that the email did not state there was a deadline for switching and due to the significant change in my original ticketed itinerary, I shouldn't have to pay a change fee.
At this point I was passed over to a ticketing agent, who, without hesitation, immediately processed the new ticket. Free of charge, on the date and time that I requested.
Even if you don't have a specific change in mind, schedule changes are a valuable opportunity to improve your flight.
Originally bought a 6am flight because it was cheapest? Switch to a more convenient time. Got a less expensive Saturday flight but you'd prefer to fly on Friday? Now you can switch to Friday. Previously had a connecting flight? See about switching to a nonstop.
And if it's a trip you no longer want to take, schedule changes let you get a full cash refund, rather than having to pay a refund fee or accepting a flight voucher.
The key to remember is that, when an airline makes a schedule change, they'll generally ignore any fare difference and let you switch to a different flight entirely free.
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3 steps to request a flight change
When the airline notifies you about a schedule change:
- Search flights on Google Flights, and find an alternate flight on the same airline that you prefer (remember to ignore the price, you'll likely be able to switch for free).
- Call the airline, tell them that their schedule change won't work for you (you don't really need a reason), and ask to be switched to your preferred flight.
- If you get push-back, thank the agent for their help and either ask to speak with a supervisor or hang up and call again. Airlines have thousands of call center agents, and each has discretion. For instance, the first agent couldn't grant me the new ticket, but the second agent sure could.
Let this be a lesson: Schedule changes, at first glance, can seem like a pain. But upon further inspection, they can be the best way to turn a lemon of a flight into lemonade.
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Last day: Unlock flight alerts for 40% off
Another way to snag the cheapest flights when you have a trip in mind? Set a Going app flight alert, and we'll notify you when prices drop. Use code MARCH40 for 40% off-ends today!
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With expert:
Brooke Vaughan
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Brooke Vaughan is a St. Louis-born, Portland-based writer and editor. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism with a master's degree and has contributed to publications including AFAR, Tripadvisor, Time Out Barcelona, and Huckberry.
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