Last-Minute Airfare Drops ： Can You Buy Low and Refund High?

Source: OT-Team(G),北京广播电视台

  Recently, the news of a woman who saved 3,000 yuan on airfare by rebooking at a lower price just before her flight went viral. 

  In late May, a netizen purchased six round-trip tickets from Shanghai to Sanya for over 15,000 yuan via the China Eastern Airlines (CEA) app for a flight on June 23. The night before the departure, the total price dropped by over 3,000 yuan. The passenger decided to "buy the low price and refund the high price," managing to get a full refund despite already checking in online.

  According to CEA customer service, if a ticket price drops within 24 hours of purchase, passengers can rebook the same flight at the lower price on the CEA app or official sales channels, and then call customer service to cancel the original ticket and request a full refund. For bookings made more than 24 hours earlier, passengers must contact customer service before the flight for special handling.

  So, which airlines offer a "buy low, refund high" policy if ticket prices drop?

  China Southern Airlines (CSA) customer service explained that if the two bookings are made within 24 hours, and all ticket details are identical, the higher-priced ticket can be fully refunded. However, this policy is only applicable to domestic flights, not international ones.

  Xiamen Airlines supports the "buy low, refund high" policy for both domestic and international flights. If a passenger books one high-priced and one low-priced ticket with matching details, customer service can fully refund the high-priced ticket, provided the request is made before the flight.

  Some airlines, such as Spring Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Juneyao Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Hainan Airlines, currently do not offer a "buy low, refund high" policy. These airlines state that ticket prices fluctuate with the market, and refunding a ticket incurs a fee, making it impossible to refund the full amount of a higher-priced ticket for free.

  Third-party platforms also have varying policies:

  Qunar's customer service mentioned that they currently do not offer a "buy low, refund high" option. However, if a lower-priced ticket is found on another platform after purchase, they can assist in applying for the price difference. They also offer a "buy high, refund difference" service, compensating 80% of the price difference, up to a maximum of 500 yuan.

  Ctrip offers a "buy new, refund old" option during ticket changes, but this incurs a refund fee. The exact fee depends on the airline's policy.

  For a long time, it has been common knowledge among travelers that booking flights early results in cheaper tickets. However, in recent years, there have been frequent instances of airfare dropping significantly close to the travel date. The "book early for cheaper fares" principle is no longer as reliable in today's volatile market.

  Consumers should carefully read the fine print in product descriptions when booking tickets, paying special attention to specific refund rules and other details. This is crucial to avoid unexpected losses from hidden restrictions on ticket changes and refunds, even if the ticket price initially appears to be a bargain.