How to read a fare before you buy it

Two tickets on the same flight can behave very differently after you buy them. The price buys the seat, and the fare rules decide what happens when your plans move.

Start with two questions. Can this ticket be changed, and can it be refunded? For each, check whether a penalty applies. A change may also require paying any fare difference, so a low change fee does not guarantee a cheap change.

Check what happens if you miss a flight. On many fares, a no-show cancels the rest of the itinerary, including your return.

Finally, confirm baggage for every flight in the journey. On connecting itineraries with different airlines, allowances can differ between segments.