In need of opinions regarding extending my flight

[terillp]

Hello,

I am leaving for Santiago on July 6 and my return flight to Florida is on July 16. I'm planning on walking from Sarria to Santiago. I have plenty of time for that. But, I keep going back and forth on whether I should extend my flight to give me enough time to continue to Finisterre. I looked into making changes to my flight and it would cost me an additional $600! Yikes! Perhaps I should have given myself at least 2 weeks in Spain from the get go, but since I'm traveling alone my nerves got the best of me and I thought 10 days would be enough.

What should I do? Leave it as is or fork over the extra $$ and stay a full 2 weeks? I know only I can make this decision but I am seeking some quick feedback to facilitate the decision-making process.

You have all been so helpful with my previous questions

 

[naplesdon]

Okay, assuming you have no physical issues walking from Sarria to Santiago, you might be able to do it in 6 or 7 days. There are buses to Finisterre and you can go early in the morning and return in the afternoon. It's not the best scenario but it will save you the $600 change fee.

 

[terillp]

Okay, assuming you have no physical issues walking from Sarria to Santiago, you might be able to do it in 6 or 7 days. There are buses to Finisterre and you can go early in the morning and return in the afternoon. It's not the best scenario but it will save you the $600 change fee.

Thank you for the reply! That is a good option. I hate that airfare is so expensive. Another option is just to go to Spain on the 6th and see how things go. If I REALLY don't want to leave on the 16th the $600 might be worth it. It's hard to make those decisions in advance. Perhaps if I ever do this again it is best to buy a one-way ticket.

 

[crackmrmac]

Assuming you enjoy your first Camino then you may be glad to have $600 towards second one!

 

[MTtoCamino]

To walk to Finnesterre takes 3 days most do it in 4 ( that is if you don't walk to Muxia first). So when you reach Santiago from Sarria that is when you can do the math. But if you are flying out of Madrid make sure you add a day for travel to Madrid from Santiago. It takes a full day by train.

 

[Mark Lee]

I don't know why the airlines shank you like that when you want to change your flight and don't know if it's something exclusive to US based airlines. I wanted to do the same thing once. Change my departure date a week or so. The airline (US based carrier) wanted almost $1000.00 to do so. Yikes! Needless to say, I didn't do it.
When I was working overseas, twice I needed to change departure dates by a few days after I had booked flights. Emirates changed it for free, and when I had a flight changed with Qatar Airlines it cost me like $40.00 (US).
Personally I wouldn't give the airlines the satisfaction of getting my hard earned $600.00. The whole going to Finisterre thing is pretty cool, but a bit overrated (I'm sure I'll get criticized for saying that ) and I think it being in that movie "The Way" has made seem a Camino must do. Concentrate on getting to Santiago. If you like it, maybe do it again someday all the way from SJPdP to the coast.
cheers

 

[MTtoCamino]

I don't know why the airlines shank you like that when you want to change your flight and don't know if it's something exclusive to US based airlines. I wanted to do the same thing once. Change my departure date a week or so. The airline (US based carrier) wanted almost $1000.00 to do so. Yikes! Needless to say, I didn't do it.
When I was working overseas, twice I needed to change departure dates by a few days after I had booked flights. Emirates changed it for free, and when I had a flight changed with Qatar Airlines it cost me like $40.00 (US).
Personally I wouldn't give the airlines the satisfaction of getting my hard earned $600.00. The whole going to Finisterre thing is pretty cool, but a bit overrated (I'm sure I'll get criticized for saying that ) and I think it being in that movie "The Way" has made seem a Camino must do. Concentrate on getting to Santiago. If you like it, maybe do it again someday all the way from SJPdP to the coast.
cheers

Naw no critical reply, the movie had nothing to do with it. I grew up the son of a church carpenter who built retreats for the Jesuit priests. I was told stories by them of the light one could find on the walk. 1965 or so.

I do think the movie was a personal work by whomever, but I also think it was made with good intentions .

 

[Mark Lee]

Naw no critical reply, the movie had nothing to do with it. I grew up the son of a church carpenter who built retreats for the Jesuit priests. I was told stories by them of the light one could find on the walk. 1965 or so.

I do think the movie was a personal work by whomever, but I also think it was made with good intentions .

Don't get me wrong. I like the movie very much. I just hope nobody sees it as a blueprint of sorts on walking the Camino Frances.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Don't get me wrong. I like the movie very much. I just hope nobody sees it as a blueprint of sorts on walking the Camino Frances.

Yes thank you for clarifying. I think it can be as variable as the souls who walk it. I think that is why we want to go back on a different leg. My Finnesterre portion was incredible spiritually. I think the Norte will be much less walked, Maybe more retreat like. I don't know they seem to surprise.

 

[LauraK]

Thank you for the reply! That is a good option. I hate that airfare is so expensive. Another option is just to go to Spain on the 6th and see how things go. If I REALLY don't want to leave on the 16th the $600 might be worth it. It's hard to make those decisions in advance. Perhaps if I ever do this again it is best to buy a one-way ticket.

I don't think waiting to decide to change your ticket in Spain will be an option for you. Check with your airline. They may be quoting $600 now, but if you wait to try and change your ticket in Spain you will most likely find that they will charge you a large "change fee" plus you will have to pay the difference between what you paid and the current rate being charged. I tried to do this a few years ago and the difference was going to be an additional $1,500 which was more than my original ticket.