Flexible flights up to '17 times more expensive' than standard tickets

In a time when the ability to change travel plans has become key, choosing a flexible option when booking flights can increase the cost of that booking by as much as 17 times the original price, when you may be able to change the flight for free.

That’s according to new research by consumer organisation Which?.

Which? compared the prices of standard fares and flexible fares for flights from some of the UK’s biggest airlines, to check if paying extra for flexibility is worth it after nine months of travel disruption and uncertainty.

In every example Which? looked at, the difference in cost between a flexible ticket and a standard fare was greater than the cost of the standard fare.

This would suggest passengers could be better off simply paying for a standard fare and making a new booking if they were unable to travel on their original dates and had some flexibility about when they were taking the trip, rather than paying for a flexible fare.

Additionally, many passengers could benefit more from the flexibility provided through airlines’ “book with confidence” policies, which most carriers have introduced to allow passengers to make changes to their bookings for free in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, than they would by paying for a flexible fare.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought uncertainty on many people’s travel plans, amid widespread lockdowns, sweeping flight cancellations and ever-changing travel corridors.

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The biggest increase in price that Which? found between a standard and flexible fare was for a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona in February 2021.

The cheapest standard flight Which? found cost £57 ($75.74), but the same route booked with an Economy Plus Flex fare saw the price shoot up to £966 – 17 times the cost of the standard fare.

Meanwhile, a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to New York in February 2021 that cost £319 if booked with a standard fare shot up to £2,031 when booked with a flexible fare – an increase of more than £1,700.

Which? also looked at the cost of standard and flexible flights from London to Barcelona in the same month from Easyjet (EZJ.L) and Ryanair (RYAAY). Easyjet’s flexible fare cost more than 2.5 times as much as a standard fare, while Ryanair’s cost more than three times as much.

However, both airlines’ flexible fare options actually offer very little flexibility, only allowing passengers to move their flight by one day on either side of their departure date, and not allowing any change of route or destination.

Ryanair and Easyjet have both waived their flight change fees since the pandemic, with Ryanair allowing customers with standard bookings to change their flights up until September 2021 if they cannot travel, and Easyjet allowing standard fare passengers to change their dates to whenever they like.

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However, Ryanair requires passengers to give seven days notice for any changes, while Easyjet requires 14 days notice.

British Airways (IAG.L) is currently allowing customers with standard flight bookings to change their flight dates for free, right up until the departure gate closes, while Virgin Atlantic is allowing any passengers travelling before 31 August 2021 to make up to two changes of dates and/or one change of names without a fee, right up to departure.

Jet2 is one of the few airlines that does not offer free flight changes or the option of booking “flex” tickets. However, changes to flight dates cost a relatively modest £35 per booking, and can be made up to five hours before the flight is due to depart.

A BA spokesperson said in response to the investigation: “We offer our customers a wide range of options to give greater choice and to best suit their individual travel plans.”

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “As is common practice we offer a wide range of competitive fares. Regardless of the fare or product, our current commercial policy supersedes fare conditions which may appear during the booking journey for a customer.

“Therefore all customers with bookings ticketed up to 31 Dec 2020, due to travel by 31 Aug 2021, are able to make up to two changes of dates and/or one change of name(s), with fees waived, for travel all the way until 31 December 2022. Fare difference may be charged, however this will be waived if the new fare is within the following fare differences: £60 for Economy, £120 for Premium and £350 for Upper.

“We are constantly evaluating how best to ensure our customers are kept up to date with the latest booking policies, updates and most competitive prices.”

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