Her son called last night to tell her that he came home from work yesterday to an empty home. Seems as though his wife split on him while he was out on the road, working. He builds and repairs cell towers all over the western states. He came home from a week long job, to find that his wife and kids were gone, and that she moved in with her parents.

Naturally, this has my wife more than upset. I talked with her son for an hour, and told him to see what he can do to patch things up, but to prepare for the worst. He told his mom that the house was a wreck...many day old dirty dishes piled up, food left out on the counter, a total wreck. Her housekeeping skills prior to her leaving were apparently lacking in many places.

I want to send her out for at least a week or two, to help him get his house in order...either for his wife to return, or for sale. I prepared to buy a round trip flight out there, but I have a question. If I buy them for a one week stay, and she needs to stay longer, can I push the return flight out for a small fee? What issues will arise if she needs to stay longer? Will she lose her return flight, and be forced to buy a separate return flight?

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Southwest does not charge a change fee, but will charge for the difference in the prices of the seat used to travel.

The price difference between cross country one-way legs and the same round trip is next to nil these days. Buy her a one-way, then buy the return 2-3 days before she's due to come back.

The other trick is that you can buy a ticket on a credit card then cancel it for free within 24 hours on almost any airline (this might be US law). You can keep reserving return tickets then cancelling if she needs to stay longer. I've done this for days in a row, literally. I think with American, you can even sometimes do this WITHOUT a credit card.

Per KAYAK.com, Pittsburgh to LAX via CLT is $175 one way (including tax) on American right now, leaving any day this week. Return price is the same. $350 is about as good as you'll get for a round trip. You might not even have to buy the ticket in advance, she can probably just go to the airport and buy it the day she wants to leave.

Good luck. Judging by the condition of the house, I wonder if your son's wife is into something she shouldn't be, like meth.

Thanks for the info. I talked with her son this evening for a few hours, and it's been decided to keep his mom in a holding pattern for a few days or so, until he can make heads or tails of things. He has a buddy of his staying with him through this, which he needs. She's not happy with that decision, but is agreeing to step aside right now. She knows that what he's going through is a near exact mirror copy of what happened with my first marriage. He needs the voice of experience and wisdom...and many prayers.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Fly Southwest Airlines - never a change fee - ever. First two bags fly free.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Fly whoever is cheapest with carry-on. If you need to check bags for a week's trip, you're doing something wrong.

Travel with a lady lately?

My mom and my sister both travel light, actually lighter than my dad.

Most ladies worth dating are experienced enough in travel for this not to be a problem. Fortunately, NY is full of women who are experienced in that fashion. (It's easier not to find an American prima-donna than to find one, one of the reasons why it's the greatest city in the US.)

My ideal lady is a lesbian trapped in a straight body, comfy shoes and all.

Stay away from Spirit at all costs!

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment