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About 2 months ago, I booked a flight from Nashville to Hong Kong, then Hong Kong to Xi'an, since it was less expensive to book that way. The flight from Hong Kong to Xi'an is China Eastern Airlines.

I was notified that my flight has changed and now it will take me to Shanghai, which is not useful to me. After spending about 6 hours on the phone, the only thing they are willing to do is give a refund. My problem with that solution is that while I spent $250 2 months ago, right now a flight will be around $420.

Is there anything else I can do?

NOTE: Hong Kong to Xi'an is around 900 miles, and Shanghai to Xi'an is around 850 miles.

CGCampbell
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user3771794
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2 Answers2

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This happens all the time, and the only thing the airline is required to do is give you a full refund.

Yes you are screwed. No there is nothing you can do. You can try asking the airline for 'ex gratia' compensation, but you can't compel them to pay anything. You could also write a song about them and put it on YouTube if it will make you feel better.

DJClayworth
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The airlines should really bridge the gap but sometimes they do not. The problem is that most people do not have time or funds to fight them over a single incident. This happened to be before and in the end it worked out, but it was not easy. Here is what worked for me:

  • Ask to change the flight which no longer connects. Instead of Hong Kong - Xi'an, change it to Shanghai - Xi-an. If you bought a cheap ticket you will be charged a change fee for this.
  • Request a refund for the change fee based on the fact that they could not bring you to the connection point. This takes a while but my refund arrived about 6 weeks later.
Itai
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