How much is the handling fee for changing a ticket? Full analysis of the latest airline and railway rebooking policies
Recently, with the arrival of the summer travel peak, ticket change fees have become a hot topic among consumers. Whether it is an air ticket or a train ticket, the rules and fees for changing tickets vary greatly depending on the platform, ticket purchase time, ticket type and other factors. This article will combine popular discussions across the Internet to sort out the latest change policies for you and provide structured data comparison.
1. Ticket change fee rules
Airlines usually charge different fees based on cabin class and change time. The following is an overview of the economy class change fees of the four major domestic airlines (data statistics are as of July 2023):
| airline | More than 48 hours before departure | Within 48 hours before departure | After takeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air China | 10% of face value | 20% of face value | 30% of face value |
| China Eastern Airlines | 10%-15% of face value | 20%-25% of face value | 30%-40% of face value |
| China Southern Airlines | Fixed rate 100-300 yuan | Fixed rate 200-500 yuan | Need to pay the price difference + handling fee |
| Hainan Airlines | Free (except for some special tickets) | 15% of face value | 25% of face value |
Note:Special air tickets (such as 40% off or less) are usually not allowed to be changed. The specific terms and conditions at the time of purchase shall prevail.
2. Train ticket change fee standards
The latest regulations of 12306 show that the train ticket change fee is closely related to the change time and ticket type:
| Change time | High-speed rail/EMU | Ordinary train |
|---|---|---|
| More than 8 days before driving | free | free |
| 48 hours to 8 days before driving | 5% of face value | 5% of face value |
| 24-48 hours before driving | 10% of face value | 10% of face value |
| Within 24 hours before driving | 20% of face value | 20% of face value |
3. Comparison of rebooking services on popular platforms
Third-party ticket purchasing platforms (such as Ctrip and Fliggy) may add service fees. The following is the actual measured data:
| platform | Ticket change surcharge | Train ticket change surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrip | 20-50 yuan/time | 10 yuan/time |
| flying pig | 0-30 yuan/time | free |
| Same journey | 15-40 yuan/time | 5 yuan/time |
4. How to reduce the loss of rebooking?
1.Pay attention to special policies:Some airlines have launched "worry-free change" products, such as Spring Airlines' 99 yuan change coupon;
2.Take advantage of the free change period:There is no charge for changes to train tickets more than 8 days before departure;
3.Purchase insurance:Travel change insurance can cover part of the handling fees (note the disclaimer);
4.Compare platform rules:Platforms such as Fliggy often launch "change subsidy" activities.
5. Recent hot events
1. A passenger was charged a high fee for changing his ticket due to heavy rain, which triggered a discussion on force majeure clauses;
2. 12306 was exposed that "the change fee is higher than the refund fee". The railway department responded that the system error had been fixed;
3. Many airlines are piloting "dynamic change rates" to adjust fees based on flight occupancy.
It is recommended that consumers read the terms carefully before changing their subscription, verify the rates through official channels, and complain to the civil aviation/railway regulatory authorities about unreasonable charges if necessary.
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