Fully refundable fare?

[Former member 99816]

United from Houston to Madrid and back is $1300 economy and an extra $350 for the economy flexible, fully refundable fare. However. At United, ALL fares are changeable without charge, the person only paying the difference in fare. As I read it, this is also the way Fully Refundable works.

So if I finish the Camino early, under either fare I can get an earlier flight by just paying the difference, if any. Can anyone explain what the extra $350 gets you?

 

[trecile]

The extra $350 means that you can cancel completely and get all of your money back, rather than just a credit towards a future flight.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm no travel agent but, let's say you like Spain so much you decide to stay and cancel your return. Your $350 gets you $650 back, saving you $300. You will end up spending that when you get deported for overstaying your visit to the EU though.

 

[Former member 99816]

LOL. Now, United's one way fares are something like $1,400 (more than the R/T). So I wonder how much my refund would be. Would be great if it was $1,400. But...

 

[Former member 99816]

The extra $350 means that you can cancel completely and get all of your money back, rather than just a credit towards a future flight.

I know I can get a full refund within 24 hours of booking the flight but could not see where I could get it anytime.

 

[Former member 99816]

Oh I see https://traveltips.usatoday.com/trip-cancellation-united-airlines-policy-108137.html

 

[C clearly]

It is the difference between "changing" a ticket (i.e. getting an airline credit) and deciding you don't want that ticket and want your money back, before you start travel.

For some of the scenarios that can be imagined, you should look carefully at the conditions. Perhaps you can get a full refund up to X hours before the first flight. But after you start the journey there may be limits on both changes and refunds.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

BTW, this post is for fun. I decided to fly home early from Spain a few years ago. To change my Level airlines Barcelona to Boston ticket would have cost $200. Instead I bought a new one-way ticket for about $120.

 

[Former member 99816]

Quien como tu, Rick...

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Quien como tu, Rick...

¿Que? ¿Esto?

Actually, when I got home I notified Level they could resell my seat on the originally booked flight.

Edit: Ahora comprendo; "who (can be) like you (to have such luck)."

 

[Former member 99816]

I had tickets to see her in August 2020. Canceled for Covid.