modify the DATE for Air France 'economy' flights from Paris to Beiing

Have no idea. It depends on the fare class you booked your tickets with. Since you booked with a third party (I assume you have read all the reviews about that third party you booked with, and went in with eyes wide open?), it's likely that you'll have to deal with that third party rather than Air France. (It's also the reason that many will advice to book directly with the airline rather than through a third party).

My thinking is that since 'This fare does not allow you to modify your flights.', it means exactly that.

Bittermelon is giving good advice. When you book off a discount ticket consolidator like eDream you are likely buying the lowest possible fareclass that will have no change possible. You either take the flight or you don't and you pay 100% of the cost of the new flight.

You've just learned a hard lesson about international air ticketing: once you've bought that ticket, just assume you are locked into those dates. Even if you can change the dates there will be costs involved, and very likely seats will not be available on your new travel date.

Next time, download the applicable Fare Restrictions, and understand the ticket conditions. Also, usually much better to book with the airline itself.

I can't be sure since I don't know the fare rules on your ticket, but best guess after years of dealing with airlines is that you are wasting your time.

Sorry.

Nothing to do with who you book with but to do with the fare base of your ticket. Economy class has numerous fare bases or sub-classes of ticket and they vary enormously in price.
Flexibility comes at a price and the bottom line is the cheaper your ticket the less flexible it is. Before you book that fantastically low price ticket you need to be 100% sure you can make use of it.
If the system is telling you that This fare does not allow you to modify your flights then that is exactly what it means.

Before you book that fantastically low price ticket you need to be 100% sure you can make use of it.

You dont need to be 100% sure, you just need to understand that if you can't make it you are losing your money. I book all the time that I am not certain I can use(I'm usually 90%). To date I've missed 2 flights because I wasnt able to make it. I'm comfortable with that though.

Its all been said above. Flexibility comes at a price, and the cheaper a ticket is, the less flexible it is.
The are plenty of fare classes within economy class, and the lower the class is (in terms of price), the less flexible it is. It seems that you have purchased one of the lowest classes, and there it is very common that you cant change the dates of your flights (as the system is telling you).

So either stick with the booked flight, or buy a new flight.

yeah...but at the same time the fact that for calling Air France you have to spend 20-30 euro is really a JOKE.
a sad sad joke

In this day and age, you should know that there are ways to make international phone calls for next to nothing.

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