Arbo Valley Travel and Tours

Fees for changing a flight are typically about $40-$50; cancellation charges can be hundreds of dollars, with many fare types providing no refund at all.

Qantas has just increased its fee for changing its cheap fares to $50, plus any difference in the price.

Changes to cheaper fares can only be made before the day of departure, with the whole fare lost on the day of departure.

There will always be unforeseen circumstances such as family emergencies and illness, but there are things you can do to lessen your chances of being out of pocket if you need to change or cancel a flight.

It is important to understand there is a reason why cheap fares are cheap. The most discounted fares are the least flexible, aimed at cost-conscious leisure travellers who are certain of their plans (as opposed to business travellers, who tend to book more expensive fares that will accommodate changes of schedule).

Before booking a cheap fare, you should consider whether there are any factors outside your control that will affect your ability to catch your flights.

If you have a tight connection with another airline, are catching a flight at the end of an organised tour or have any work commitments that might change, buying the cheapest fare can be a false economy.

Not only do you sacrifice the ticket if you have a last-minute emergency, you will probably end up paying at least double for a replacement ticket.

The best way to cover against the cost of having to cancel flights is to take out travel insurance, even on domestic trips.

Domestic policies are incredibly cheap and you could recoup your investment many times over if you need to make a claim.

Many online booking engines, such as Webjet, offer insurance at the time of booking, so it is as simple as ticking the box. Webjet quoted less than $10 to cover a return trip from Sydney to Melbourne. This is great value when you consider it covers you for medical expenses, lost luggage and other costs, as well as flight cancellation.

I find it is usually worth taking out insurance just to cover the excess on a rental car, rather than paying a higher daily rate to reduce the excess.

Not all insurance policies are made equal, so ensure you get one that covers you fully for cancellation and consider the level of excess you will have to pay if you make a claim.

Frequent travellers might be better off taking out an annual policy – usually about $350 for a single passenger – to cover all their plans for the year.

With international flights, where airlines tend to be more flexible on changes and fees, it can pay to phone and explain the situation.

A traveller I know had to return early from an overseas trip due to the illness of a family member and the airline readily agreed to change the flight without penalty, despite it having been a super-cheap fare.

Change and cancellation fees apply to most sectors of the travel industry, so be sure to plan as carefully as possible and insure all your travel arrangements.

For example, the holiday package arm of Virgin Blue, Blue Holidays, charges $60 to change a domestic package and $75 to alter an international package (where changes are permitted) and warns that additional suppliers’ fees may apply.

Alter your bookings online and save

IF YOU need to change a travel booking, it is usually best to head to the internet rather than the phone.

Many travel companies, particularly airlines, charge extra fees for changes made by telephone or in person.

Qantas charges a $60 service fee — in addition to the change or cancellation fee — for any changes to economy flight bookings made via telephone, at the airport or at Qantas travel outlets, while there is no extra fee if you do it yourself on the Qantas website.

Virgin Blue, which has always pushed customers towards making bookings online, also charges more for changes made via the customer service centre rather than online.

Making a change online is easy; all you have to do is go to “manage booking” and enter your booking reference number and name to get started.

Do read my guide too on, How To Book Hotels With Great Discounts that will compliment your flights while on holidays.