How can I block an airline ticket? Do I stand to lose any money if i change/cancel my itinerary?

Question

My itinerary is Delhi-Singapore in the first week of August, dates being changeable, hence the problem.

What exactly is the 'blocking' process. How much do we need to pay for it and how much do we stand to lose if we cancel the journey?

Answer 1

Different airlines have different rules and approach for blocking seats (you may call it ticket) in their carriers.

An airline may allow you to block seat(s), even over telephone generally for 1 -15 days depending upon the number of days left for your journey, without charging anything. They put a date and time with your request by which the passenger has to buy the ticket, failing which blocking lapses automatically. Alternatively, you may purchase a ticket with tentative date of travel, with an option to change the date of journey with or without any additional charge - again depending on the class under which you are booking your ticket. Some class of journey tickets have in-built option to change the date of travel without any extra payment while some may attract additional charge. All vary from airline to airline, at times season to season depending upon the load of traffic in the sector you are travelling. Therefore, get in touch with the airline(s) you wish to travel with and have your seat blocking arrangements for a particular date flight as per their respective permissible rules.

In case of cancellation of tickets, free blocking won't cost you anything, if allowed; while cancellation of already purchased tickets may cost you cancellation charges as per the airlines rules.