Travel agencies in the local market called on travelers not to limit themselves to comparing ticket prices, but rather to pay attention to the type of ticket and its conditions, with the approaching summer vacation season and the high demand for family travel, stressing that flexible tickets may be the safest option for families compared to restricted economic categories.
Managers at travel agencies said that the “flexible” ticket is not just an “adjustable ticket,” but has become a risk management tool for families and groups, noting that many travelers focus on the basic price of the ticket, and then discover later that any change in the date of the trip or its cancellation may cost them large sums, especially when the reservation is for several family members.
Flexible tickets
In detail, the CEO of Sharif House Tourism and Travel Company, Sharif Al-Farm, said, “Flexible tickets have become a practical option for families during the summer, because the possibilities of changing plans are higher compared to individual travel.”
He added that the family may have to modify the trip due to changes in vacation dates, work conditions, delays in issuing visas, or even sudden health conditions, noting that “the flexible ticket reduces the amount of financial losses in these cases, because it allows modifications with lower fees or without modification fees in some categories.”
Al-Farm pointed out that the price difference between the restricted economy ticket and the flexible ticket varies from one company to another, and according to the destination and season when booking, but it may be much less than the cost of modifying the tickets later, in addition to the benefits that the traveler obtains if he books a flexible ticket.
He stated that “many travelers believe that the cheapest ticket is the best option, but this is not always true, especially for families.”
Al-Farm explained that a low-priced economy ticket is often non-refundable, or subject to high amendment fees, while flexible categories give wider options for managing the reservation.
He added: “We always advise customers to look at the full potential cost, and not just the ticket price. If the family is exposed to the possibility of changing the date, a flexible ticket may be more economical in practice.”
He pointed out that there are airline companies that exempt the traveler from modification fees in flexible categories, but they may request payment of the price difference if the price of the new flight is higher, indicating that “the flexible ticket is better for group and family reservations, because it provides double financial value in emergency cases.”
Price category
For his part, Executive Director of STS in the Dubai Link Group, Salah Mansour, said, “The concept of the (flexible ticket) varies from one airline company to another, and from one price category to another, which requires travelers to read the conditions carefully before purchasing.”
He added, “Some tickets allow changing the date once for free, while others allow for several modifications, and the refund conditions vary greatly between companies.”
Mansour pointed out that some flexible categories include additional benefits, such as seat selection, larger baggage weights, and priority on some services, which may be important for families on long or crowded flights.
He explained that the most common benefits of flexible tickets include canceling or reducing date modification fees, pointing out that some companies allow changing the travel date without modification fees in flexible categories, but with paying the price difference if the new trip is more expensive, while some flexible categories allow a full or partial refund, while the cheapest promotional economy tickets are often non-refundable.
He stated that some tickets allow more than one amendment before the travel date, while restricted categories impose fees for each amendment, and require a specific time period for amendment.
He pointed out that some of the flexible categories include choosing seats and higher baggage weights in the price, in addition to earning more points in traveler loyalty programs, which reduces additional fees later if the traveler is interested in optional additional services.
He added that many families book their trip months in advance to take advantage of early prices, but the long period between booking and travel increases the possibility of unexpected changes.
He stressed that “early booking is not limited to saving the price, but also gives a wider choice of flexible categories and adjacent seats for families,” explaining that summer flights fill up quickly, and as the travel date approaches, the available options decline, whether in terms of seats or types of tickets.
He pointed out that there are common misconceptions among travelers, most notably the belief that “a flexible ticket means the possibility of cancellation or modification completely free of charge,” explaining that “most companies distinguish between (amendment fees) and (price difference), as exemption from fees does not necessarily mean not paying any additional amount when changing the flight.”
He stressed that reading the ticket conditions has become a basic necessity before purchasing, especially in the summer season, which witnesses rapid changes in prices and occupancy.
In addition, the General Manager of Al-Awadhi Travel Company, Amin Al-Awadhi, said, “There are families who focus when booking on the cheapest price of the ticket, but they later discover that any simple modification to the trip may result in high fees for each family member.”
He explained that the flexible ticket does not necessarily mean the ability to travel at any time for free, but rather it usually means reducing or canceling the amendment fees, with the price difference remaining due, if the price of the new flight is higher.
Al-Awadhi said: “We always advise customers to focus on three basic items, which are the amendment fees, the terms of the refund, and whether additional services such as seats and luggage are included in the price.”
He explained that the importance of flexible tickets is clearly evident in summer family trips and group reservations, because the planning period is relatively long, which increases the possibility of changes occurring before the travel date.
He pointed out that the difference between an economy ticket and a flexible ticket may be relatively limited on some trips, while fees for modifying an entire family trip may reach much higher amounts.
He stressed that low-priced tickets may be suitable for the individual traveler or short, fixed flights, but they may not be the ideal choice for families who need greater flexibility.
He explained that the importance of flexible tickets doubles during the summer season in particular, because flights are fuller and prices are higher, which makes rebooking or changing dates at the last minute more expensive, stressing that reading the detailed conditions of the ticket has become an essential step that is no less important than comparing the prices themselves.
The “flexible” ticket is not just an “adjustable ticket”, but has become a risk management tool for families and groups.
