So, how non-refundable are non-refundable plane tickets?

[spinbaby]

My sister just cancelled her wedding, leaving us with two plane tickets to someplace we don't really want to go to if we don't have to attend a wedding. Can we pay a penalty and get tickets to someplace we DO want to go?

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. It depends on the airline.

But you can usually pay a penalty to change the tickets, including the dates and destinations.

[spinbaby]

2. Good to know

Now we have to decide where we want to go.

[eyesroll]

3. That's usually the case.

Call the airline, though--I think you have to cancel the tickets (not necessarily rebook them) before the flight was to leave.

[ThomCat]

4. Cancelling a wedding is a much better option

that a bad marrage and a bitter divorce. Good for her for being willing to do it.

I'm sorry she felt it was necessary, but it's great that she had the strength of will to do this. :)

[spinbaby]

5. They've been living together forever

So I was actually very surprised they cancelled the wedding.

[electron_blue]

6. probably a smaller penalty than you're thinking.

I've had to cancel many times and each time I applied the ticket's value, minus a fee, toward the purchase of another flight within the year.

[spinbaby]

7. Anyone want to help me pick a destination?

The tickets were fairly expensive--we paid for convenient prime-time flights to an out-of-the-way city--so I could actually trade them in for cheap flights to Asia or Europe.

[electron_blue]

9. Oh yes, I want to help!

If it were me, I'd go back to Hawaii. Or maybe (if I got passports), I'd go check out Vancouver. I'm not so excited to go to Asia or Europe right now, but if you've never been to Paris, that would be great. Or Venice.

[spinbaby]

11. We have passports

And can go anywhere Northwest goes. I'm a little hesitant about Europe because it's so expensive right now, but Asia is still a bargain.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. If you go to the airport ticket counter, you might be able to get away

without a penalty. It's worked for me to do that in the past.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Go to the airport ticket counter, yes

Don't waste your time on the phone. You'll just get some person who is reading from a rule book and has no discretion.

Go to the airport ticket counter and find someone who isn't busy checking in passengers. Explain your situation, once you've decided where you want to go instead. You'd better have a couple of ideas in case the first one doesn't work.

Important: You must do this before your scheduled departure date. If you wait till afterwards, you'll be counted as a "no show" and your ticket will be worthless. If you change before your departure date, then your ticket can be applied toward the price of another ticket for a year from the date of original purchase.

[spinbaby]

12. I have six weeks

Plenty of time. Thanks for the info about the ticket counter--sounds like it's worth a trip to the airport. Maybe later in the day after the rush is through.