Airfare Drops ¥3,000 Before Departure, Here's How She Got Refund

Airfare Drops ¥3,000 Before Departure, Here's How She Got a Refund

Pic: 视觉中国

As the summer vacation season arrives, the airline market is experiencing its traditional peak travel period. Unlike previous years, this summer has seen a significant drop in air ticket prices, surprising many consumers. Some tickets have even dropped by over 3,000 yuan just the night before departure.

One passenger discovered a 3,000-yuan price drop on her ticket the night before departure. She decided to "buy low and return high," a method where you buy a cheaper ticket and cancel the more expensive one for a refund, even after checking in.

In late May, a netizen bought five adult tickets and one child ticket for a round trip from Shanghai to Sanya for over 15,000 yuan through the China Eastern app. On the night of June 22, she noticed the price had dropped by more than 3,000 yuan. Upon learning that she could get a refund, she decided to "buy low and return high."

After buying the cheaper tickets, she canceled the check-in for the higher-priced order. On June 28, the day after she returned home, she called China Eastern.

"I called China Eastern in the morning, and in the afternoon, they called back and asked me to apply through the app. They said the review process would take time, but on July 4, the review was approved, and I received the refund on July 5. Although the review process was long, the refund was quite fast."

She was surprised to receive a full refund, noting, "I initially just wanted to try and see if it was possible."

Before VS. After

This netizen shared that her refund was possible due to the fare fluctuation policy, which allows "buy low and return high," although she wasn't fully aware of the specific details.

Different Airline Policies

Many netizens were skeptical, expressing disbelief and saying they had learned something new. However, others noted that this policy doesn't apply to all airlines and shared their unsuccessful refund experiences.

So, what are the different standards for various airlines?

China Eastern

On July 16, China Eastern customer service explained: "If you find a lower price within 24 hours of purchase, you can buy the cheaper ticket for the same date and flight through the China Eastern official app or direct sales channels. After purchasing, call customer service to cancel the high-priced ticket and attempt a full refund."

For tickets bought more than 24 hours prior, the lower-priced ticket must be purchased through the official sales platform and meet the same conditions. The process requires canceling the seat before the flight and calling customer service after the flight to handle a special report. The refund process may take 1-30 working days.

The policy has no usage limit, and it's recommended to consult customer service based on the specific flight before proceeding.

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines' customer service stated that if two tickets are issued within 24 hours for the same passenger, date, and itinerary, the "buy low and return high" policy applies, allowing a full refund for the higher-priced ticket. This policy is only for domestic flights, not international flights, and doesn't apply to group tickets or mileage redemption tickets.

Xiamen Airlines

Xiamen Airlines supports "buy low and return high" for both domestic and international flights as long as the high-priced and low-priced tickets have identical flight details, and the passenger information hasn't changed. This must be done before the flight, with no time or platform restrictions.

Pic: 视觉中国

Airlines Without the Policy

Shandong Airlines

Shandong Airlines currently does not have a "buy low and return high" policy. After payment, ticket prices cannot be adjusted. If the price drops before the flight, you can try applying for a voucher as compensation.

Spring Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Hainan Airlines

These airlines also do not have this policy. Their ticket prices fluctuate with the market, and refunds for higher-priced tickets involve fees, without full refunds.

Air China

Air China doesn't offer this policy, but they have a new free refund policy. App users get two vouchers annually for no-reason refunds.

Third-Party Platforms

Third-party platforms don't currently offer this policy. If you find a cheaper ticket elsewhere after purchase, they may help apply for a price difference refund or offer a "refund difference" service, compensating up to 80% of the price difference, capped at 500 yuan.

Have you experienced a significant drop in ticket prices? How did you handle it? Have you tried "buy low and return high"? Share your experiences in the comments!

Source: 新闻坊

Get daily news, tips, and events in Shanghai

Connect with expat communities and industry experts

For the latest jobs&policy updates, scan the code below to follow AnyJob! 

If you have any questions about China visa applications (work visa, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Lisa.

Click "Wow" if you like this article