*Groan* Airline Tickets

[DaShi]

What kind of school has a vacation in the summer? It's completely crazy!!!

Actually, I wasn't aware that the universities in China close for about one month in the summer. And I mean close, no students, no professors, no caferterias, no nothing. Now they could have told me about this before I started my internship project, but that would have ruined the look of surprise on my face that they so seem to covet.

Anyway, I'll be able to finish my internship project since my research assistants are forced to stay here as long as I am . But it's impracticle for more to stay the two extra weeks that I had planned.
So I wish to change my return ticket to an earlier date.

You can't do this online so I called American Airlines yesterday, but they said that they had no economy seats left for august and first class would cost me $2000 dollars more. The three hours later that it took me to access their website showed that they did indeed have seats. Though not on the specific days that I wanted and, to be fair, I'm sure the number of available seats is fluctuating a bit. And he probably didn't put the full effort into it that he could have.

Anyway, my plan is to check again online later today and if I see seats, call them and try to get it changed.

Anyone have any experience with changing international tickets? Would standby be possible or practical?

[Docfeelgood]

this is to make him wonder what i posted

[DaShi]

It seems that I have a pet. I'd better have it spayed so it will stop humping my leg.

[Aeson]

I don't know about changing ticket dates.

If you can't change the date with AA (other than to 1st class), I'd suggest looking at EVA Airlines. They seem to have the best fares (by far) to/from SE Asia. I just booked a ticket from LAX to Manila through Taipei, $500 one way ($700ish round trip if the stay is less than 3 months). The only problem is their website is really slow sometimes.

Most airlines quotes I got for the same or similar routes were almost double that for a one way or round trip.

[DarkCloud]

If you booked through the airline I cannot help you, but Expedia and other booking sites generally allow you to switch/cancel dates for a fee of 100-400 dollars. I did that before and had good results.

Actually, I wasn't aware that the universities in China close for about one month in the summer. And I mean close, no students, no professors, no caferterias, no nothing.

I do not know what you are talking about here. In the summer there are a fair amount of students on Chinese campuses- the older ones may be studying for the Bar or doing internships while living at school.

Some schools I assume might evict the students, but the schools I am familiar with allow a lot of students to stay in their rooms all summer.

What is your project, by the way (feel free to PM me).

[DarkCloud]

I don't know about changing ticket dates.

If you can't change the date with AA (other than to 1st class), I'd suggest looking at EVA Airlines. They seem to have the best fares (by far) to/from SE Asia. I just booked a ticket from LAX to Manila through Taipei, $500 one way ($700ish round trip if the stay is less than 3 months). The only problem is their website is really slow sometimes.

Most airlines quotes I got for the same or similar routes were almost double that for a one way or round trip.

That's an extremely good deal. the cheapest I saw from China to Chicago was over 1400 dollars US.

[Docfeelgood]

It seems that I have a pet. I'd better have it spayed so it will stop humping my leg.

Shame on you for calling your sister.........

[DaShi]

If you booked through the airline I cannot help you, but Expedia and other booking sites generally allow you to switch/cancel dates for a fee of 100-400 dollars. I did that before and had good results.


I do not know what you are talking about here. In the summer there are a fair amount of students on Chinese campuses- the older ones may be studying for the Bar or doing internships while living at school.

Some schools I assume might evict the students, but the schools I am familiar with allow a lot of students to stay in their rooms all summer.

What is your project, by the way (feel free to PM me).

There will be a few students, but most will be gone and most university services will be shut down. The issue for me is that the professors will be gone. I'll be able to keep my research team for as long as I'm here, but they really want to leave at the beginning of August.

[DaShi]

I don't know about changing ticket dates.

If you can't change the date with AA (other than to 1st class), I'd suggest looking at EVA Airlines. They seem to have the best fares (by far) to/from SE Asia. I just booked a ticket from LAX to Manila through Taipei, $500 one way ($700ish round trip if the stay is less than 3 months). The only problem is their website is really slow sometimes.

Most airlines quotes I got for the same or similar routes were almost double that for a one way or round trip.

Not sure that I can get a refund. Also checked the flights and it would be about 24,000 HKD.

[DarkCloud]

>>There will be a few students, but most will be gone and most university services will be shut down. The issue for me is that the professors will be gone. I'll be able to keep my research team for as long as I'm here, but they really want to leave at the beginning of August.

Ah yes, all the professors end up in the US or Europe teaching in order to earn $$$... or they retreat into their inner sanctums to do research so that they do not get fired.

So... once again, may I please inquire into what your project is? Or which city it will be conducted in?

[Jon Miller]

300 to change the tickets if they had the correct seats available.

JM

[DaShi]

Jon, was that in your case or is this AA policy? What about differences in fare? I suspect the price has risen over the last month.

DC, I'm doing a study on China's tuberculosis policy evaluating the patient healthcare options and decisions and the referral process up the tier system.

[DarkCloud]

Hm. Interesting. I did not know you were into medical-based academia.

Good luck with the study. Is it mostly going to be conducted by interviewing academics in the big Tier-1 cities, or are you planning on empirical research in the provinces and visiting Tier-3 areas?

I would recommend to stay the extra two weeks- take a vacation; you can still edit and work on your materials in net cafes-- save everything on google docs.

[DaShi]

It's actually an extra 3 weeks. One week is for vacation. I can stay at the school for 2 more weeks and die of utter boredom, but it will be cheaper. My research team would hate me though. They won't leave the city until I do.

I can travel, but that would be expensive (though I'm weighing it against the cost of changing the ticket).

The project is limited to Chongqing (Love Land ). By tier, I mean within the healthcare system, not the cities themselves. The CDC being the highest, then general hospitals, and then community health centers or village doctors.

[Docfeelgood]