My brother is the Marine in charge of the war effort in Afghanistan. Our father is dying, and his wife and kids flew home from Japan to see him. They were 18 pounds overweight on the return trip. United airlines charged them $654.00. Is this how United Airlines treats Military Hero’s families? Now he is in Afghanistan worrying about his finances, thanks to United Airlines. He has served 3 tours in Iraq, and this is first in Afghanistan. The terrorist can’t get him, but United Airlines did. Hopefully they will do right thing and refund his money. He is worried sick about his family now and is trying to handle this from Afghanistan. He needs to be concentrating on the terrorist and his personnel, not this.
It looks like we need to re regulate the airlines. If I’m elected President in 2008, I will do exactly that. I have not flown since Nov 98 because of bad service. I didn’t want to get arrested for cussing about bad service. I finally started taking my own snacks with me, since a bag of peanuts and a soda were not enough by the time I’d leave home, wait in the airport 2 hours, then on the tarmak for an hour for flight delays, then 3 hours flight, and a layover in St. Louis for 2 hours and then finally a connecting flight to Indpls. I finally gave up, and I can drive there in 40 hours, have my own car to drive around the city, and surrounding communites.
Of course now you may not take any food or drink on any flight. You may of course pay $3 dollars for a dried up sandwich in the airport, and $2 for a 16 cent can of Soda.
Much easier, and yes it’s tiring but I’m sure in a better mood, and not in jail for punching out a disrepectable airlines employee. Unfortunately now with gas at $3.25/gal I can’t do that anymore either. Ah well, there is the telephone, and emails. Regular gas $1.29/gal when I’m President.
Airline tickets prices have gone crazy. What about the Military people wanting to come home to their families for Christmas but wont be able to due to the high cost? They need to bring them fares down. I used to fly at least a couple times a year but I havent flown in awhile due to the cost and I know someone in the Military now wanting to go home for Christmas but dont think will be able to because of high airfare.
The medial loves to dote on the darling of the airline industry, Jet Blue. Jet Blue is somewhat like Barak Obama or Hillary Clinton. Do you really know who Jet Blue is?
One of Jet Blue’s principle owners is the infamous Jewish billionaire from communist Hungary, George Soros. Soros (Who runs & owns the Democrat Party) is suppose to be a champion of the “little” or “working” people. When in fact, Soros routinely starts up non-union companies like Jet Blue and pays his employee’s minimum wage.
Jet Blue did not have to pay for their Airbus airplanes for 5 years. Now, what business wouldn’t make a profit when you don’t have to pay for multi-million dollar sophisticated airplanes? Now they do have to pay for their airplanes and the company has been suffering accordingly.
Jet Blue avoids unions and paying pilots a decent wage by signing them to work on a contract basis. A typical contract is about two years long. Because Jet Blue does not offer a career to any of their blue collar employee’s, they attract only the inexperienced or those who just can’t get a job at another airline for one reason or another.
So, next time you are sitting in your Jet Blue posh seat and viewing Seinfeld at 35,000 feet–Just think about what we are talking about here.
This is a rotten little company and it is only a matter of time before they go out of business. Wall Street and the liberal media will say little to nothing and instead focus on a new entrant airline that will replace Jet Blue. The revolving door continues and in the meantime the rest of us who are long time professionals end up taking all of the criticism. That’s the liberal way. Reward the lowest common denominator and bash those who are successful.
The problem with the airline industry is our federal government and Wall Street. Both highly criticize legacy air carriers and in the same breath commend new entrant airlines. When it is the new entrant airline that is causing all of the trouble.
Most new entrant airlines have little to no chance of survival. Most fail. Before they fail they cause havoc in the industry. They hire cheap flight crews who are inexperienced or for one reason or another cannot get hired by a legacy air carrier. Their airplanes are either old and beat up (you will never know because what a fresh coat of paint and a new enterior will do wonders for the traveling public)or they are being subsidized by an aircraft manufacturer. A legacy carrier can match an new entrant fare but the legacy carrier cannot undercut a new entrant. In the meantime the legacy carrier is trying to run a quality business but can’t do so because they have to constantly compete with a revolving door of new entrant airlines who don’t have a chance in hell to survive. These new entrants are boosted and protected by the fed and Wall Street praises them for their cheap air fares and quick profits.
You can blame former President Jimmy Carter for today’s Airline Deregulation Act. It was the socialist Alfred Kahn, who worked for Carter, who came up with the Airline Deregulation Act. Kahn’s sole entent was to provide cheap airfare for the traveling public with little to no concern about airline profitability. Once again, this is classic liberalism and Democrats in action. Liberals are never concerned about cause and effect of their idiot ideas.
Most of you expect to fly from NY to LA and to be met by a professional flight crew. You expect a sparkling clean brand new multi-million dollar airplane. You demand unlimited drinks. You want not only a gourmet meal but your choice of meal. You expect an entertainment system that you can’t even afford at home. There can be a raging blizzard or a horrific thunderstorm outside and you wonder why you are being delayed. Furthermore, you don’t care about the weather or safety for that matter. All that you know is that you want to go NOW and damn the weather. If the flight is too late or too EARLY, you will go bonkers. And you want all of this for paying little to nothing.
Aren’t you special!
Airlines are in business to earn a profit and not to provide free air travel.
On one hand Wall Street and the Fed are screaming for airlines to reduce capacity and in the same breath they cheer on new entrant airlines who add capacity and undercut the rest. Then what do the rest of you expect?
No one says a thing car rental agencies and hotels who gouge the traveling public. Rental cars are exorbitantly expensive. Rental cars are hideous, they stink and are filthy. If you dare go over by one rental day your fee will be about 25 to 50% of the total cost. Hotel rooms are outrageously expensive. Hotel staff are surly and seemingly resentful. Many act as if they are doing you a favor. Rooms require repair. The are dirty and they charge a fortune for a bottle of water or a simple hamburger. Many hotels now charge $20 a day or more just to park in their lot. The larger hotels charge a “convenience” or “resort” fee. This can be anywhere from $20 to $50 or more per day added onto your hotel bill.
If you are angry about the airline industry then blame socialists Jimmy Carter and the Father of Airline Deregulation, Alfred Kahn. It is they who set the framework for today’s failed airline industry. This is typical liberalism or socialist Democrats in action. They seldom consider cause and effect of their wacky ideas.
US Airways is rated along with United as the worst in the US. No food; surley attendants; late or cancelled flights; ridiculous fees; and don’t even try to talk to their reservations because no one ever seems to answer.
What US Air needs in Phoenix is some competition. By the way, save your time and effort in writing a complaint or sending and email. They never answer and really don’t seem to know what Customer Service is or even care.
I decided to use a small airport in Iowa to fly out East for Thanksgiving. I was going to book it 4 weeks in advance and fly during times that are recommended for a cheaper flight. Instead of driving 4 hours to the nearest “large” airport, it was more convenient to use the airport that was 20 minutes away. Unfortunately, the ticket from the large airport was $150 and the same ticket from the small airport was $1,000. I decided to call my relatives and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.
There has to be a “quid pro quo” between airlines and their customers. If we have to pay a re-booking fee when our plans change, and they often do for business people who pay premium prices anyway, then we should be paid an inconvenience fee in the same amount when the airlines change their plans, at fault or not. No if ands or buts about it.
I’m happy to pay for anything that eats more fuel with costs above my ticket price – excess baggage weight for instance and I’ll pay for food and drinks in economy – but not to change my ticket. The airline has been paid for my seat on whichever flight I take. It cost them nothing to move me to another flight if there is an open seat.
I also bitterly resent having to pay outrageous taxes for the pleasure of visiting or doing business in another country.
Th UK currently adds a $100 departure tax to tickets for any travel outbound from the UK. I should pay a tax for visiting that country and spending lots of money into that economy while I’m there? I think not.
Time ALL travellers stood up and yelled – HARD.
I work as a travel professional, my advice, always fly either Southwest or Continental. Southwest because they don’t charge any fees and are usually the least expensive. Continental because, although they charge fees for things, they have the youngest air fleet of all US airlines. I travel often, and when I do I only travel on these 2 airlines. I flew on American once, never again..first we were delayed at takoff, delayed in my connecting city…and then delayed again when we arrived in our arrival city because there were no ground crew to park the plane, also the flight attendance were there serving drinks..after that I didn’t see them again until we were landing.
The only time I’ll ever fly again will be on Airforce ONE, after I’m elected in 2008. My first problem now is the arrogance with the security personnel on check in, then I’m treated like an annoyance, not a customer. I can understand flights cancelled or late caused by weather, that can’t be helped, but first my luggage being robbed by baggage handlers, then totally missing luggage, that the airlines later sell to a store in Scottsboro, Arkansas. Just bad customer relationship all the way around anymore. So I’d rather drive even if it takes me 3 days to get some where. If I get mad in the airport the police can arrest me for disturbing the peace. The airlines are immune to your complaints, just smuggly ignore you with “Thats our policy”
Well when I’m president I will enact a law that every piece of missing luggage will cost the airlines $10,000 each. Results “not one bag missing”. If we don’t fight back, no one will do it for us. Stand up for your rights and when a particular line gives you trouble drop them, or write to the Board of Directors. Make a lot of noise, but be careful of being handcuffed, you may end up dead. Is this anyway to run a business, who do the airlines think they are The Federal Government?
Will US Air or American pay me $100 when they change my plans unexpectedly by canceling or delaying flights?
I guess I was just lucky with American, but all the comments of high speed rail yeah why not? Just for me to get to the airport is a hassle, waiting is a hassle, love to travel by rail , but only if it was indeed high speed. Those who travel from LA to Vegas would use it alot, as well as other “short” trips that flying is more than a hassle but takes longer than driving!
I was very ultra overly polite with American about their change fee, and although they still charged it they gave me a voucher good for a year for the fee. So it worked out and didn’t have many restrictions just the time to use it so that was okay by me.
I wouldn’t mind the change fees so bad if they worked both ways. I am quite disgusted by the fact that the airline can change or delay or cancel my flight and the only ‘penalty’ they suffer is arranging a new flight for me; whether or not it is convenient for me is immaterial. If they had to pay the same fees to their customers as they charge them when the customers change his/her plans, then it would be fair. If not, we’re just getting ripped off.
Oh, and I have no sympathy for the airlines whining about the federal regulations when most of them will choose to fly three or four half-full regional jets on one route (say RDU to JFK) instead of one large plane that they could actually fill up and use efficiently.
I fly 100,000+ miles a year. Change fees are just a part of the business. HOWEVER, for those who argue that if you pay a low fare you should expect fees up the wazoo, I would agree if it were a bilateral arrangement. If I change my end of our transaction, I pay fees. But if the airline changes their end of the transaction (i.e. delays, crew problems, etc) then they should also pay a fee to me for their changes. I’ve been on too many flights canceled because of airline mistakes where the response is “Ooops. Sorry for the inconvenience.” I also happen to think that they should have two levels of change fees, one if the seat is able to be rebooked (say $50) or the flight is not full (thereby the new extra seat did not “hurt” them because there is existing unsold inventory) and one if the seat remains unsold on a previously overbooked flight (say $200) where they may have a case for lost revenue.
I fly weekly. It used to be 50-50 between Southwest and Continental. I received electronic notification recently from Continental that my flight time was moved up by 2 hours. I drive 100 miles to the airport and would have had to leave the house before 4:00 am. I called to ask if I could change. No doing unless I was willing to pay full fare for a same day flight. As Southwest grows and provides service to new destinations, I fly more of my trips with them. It is now about 90-10 in SW favor. I schedule trips well in advance and the pricing reflects same. I have rarely had to change flights but, understand that if I do, It will cost more depending on how soon I need to leave. Also, I must be the luckiest traveler in the world. I’ve had this travel schedule for better than 3 years now and have had just a handfull of weather delays, minimal equipment delays, never a delay on the tarmac and never lost luggage. Oh yeah, just a note to parents. Please don’t wake your children up at 5:00 am for an early flight. Regular travelers are tired of listening to the whining, crying and temper tantrum fits. Book in advance and travel at a reasonable hour for kids. More often than not, the kid is so spoiled and whines constantly, that the parents have learned to tune them out, oblivious to everything.
Wow we call them greedy and saying that they are ripping us off?! Let’s review some facts, the only thing not affected by inflation have been airline tickets. We are playing less now than we were 20 years ago. Can we say that about anything else? We are just getting what we pay for. I mean come on, I paid more to take the taxi to the airport than I did to fly to Orlando!!
I work for a travel company that sells airline tickets and total vacation packages. We charge a flat fee that is either $150 or $250 to change a ticket last minute- it costs us about $10 – $15 in total overhead plus whatever the airline penalty is- which is usually either nothing or less than $80. I’ve seen $250 penalties go down on air records that did not have penalties from the airline. Chalk it up to a combination of poor management, confusing airline contracts, and mostly needless profiteering.
Since the Airlines are heavily subsidized using our tax dollars already, being charged extra fees for a “heavy” bag or rescheduling is just an insult added to injury. Since the US has no other trans-continental solution that is reasonable fast (e.g. High Speed Rail) we will forever be over the barrel to the airlines. Contact your elected officials and tell them to support High Speed national rail.
Great. Delays and service have gotten so bad that now the president is involved. Do you suppose Mr. Bush will declare war on all the airlines and invade the airports?
There should be laws to protect consumers. Unfortunately not only is the airline industry allowed to run its air-mafia, The rail industry is 3rd world here compared with europe and japan. Why doesn’t the government do some thinking and plan for a modernized rail system for domestic travel? Since airplanes are one of the worst offenders in greenhouse gas emission, this would be a very wise move. Oh I forgot, bush is President.
Root cause: Corruption.
The airlines pay Congress to look the other way while they slice the market into sectors with little or no competition.
Fix: Amend the First amendment. As long as corruption is protected as “free speech”, we are going to be on the fast track to becoming a third world nation.
I think Michelle Mohr, the spokeswoman for US Airways needs to get out of the office more.
Just last week I missed a flight because of a major car accident that shut down the interstate. When I finally arrived at the US Airways counter I was informed that I could fly standby on the next flight, however, I would have to pay the $100.00 change fee. I didn’t have a problem with such a request because I understood the policy, but then I asked “if I wasn’t placed on the flight if I would get my $100.00 back?” The person quickly and coldly informed me that I would not receive a refund. I find it interesting that Ms. Mohr says the fee “is not something for us to make money on”. Well, they could have made a $100.00 on me that day if I hadn’t been so offended and cancelled my entire ticket.
I will eventually pay the $100.00 in order to use my ticket and I don’t have a problem with that policy as long as I have a seat. I will not allow US Airways to TAKE my money without providing me a seat.
I can not believe that a business would TAKE $100.00 and not provide some service or product.
I will use US Airways one more time because of the cancelled ticket and after that NEVER AGAIN. I am willing to fly out of my way and pay twice as much in order not to use US Airways.
I think every business person should learn, know and understand that people do have choices as to where and how their money is spent. Consumers!!! this is the only power you have over service and product providers!!!
This was my first time to miss a flight in over 20 plus years of flying and I was very disappointed in the manner in which US Airways handled this ordeal.
People will always complain about having to pay for anything you can’t make the ticket price CHEAP enough it can always be cheaper. Airlines are struggling to stay in business because people want to pay for an airlines ticket the same they pay for cab ride and expect First Class service.
I really have no respect for the opinion of people that barely fly once a year and needs to complain about every little thing but don’t want to pay for it.
Talk to real frequent flyers and they will tell you how the airline business works.
If there is a scam why lately do the airlines have to file for bankruptcy left and right?
I remember a long time ago when people didn’t mind paying for an airline ticket and that was an event on itself. Nowadays people don’t even shower or get dress to fly, they just show up in their pajamas and try to squeeze something out of the airline when they miss the flight on their $50 ticket and want to be on the next one in first class for free.
You buy your ticket on the 5 am flight because it was the cheapest and then your plans “change” and you need to leave on the 11 am peak time that would’ve cost you $400 more but you don’t want to pay anything. That’s what is ridiculous.
I guess we are the ones trying to scam the airlines and in the end everybody end up paying for it.
Fees will always exist in almost every business and the bottom line is if you can’t afford it you shouldn’t be flying.
It’s like that with everything else.
Simple solution: For Domestic US, fly Southwest- no penalty- whenever feasible. Why do you think Delta was forced to lower their change fee from 100 to 75? Wasn’t out kindness, that’s for sure! If the airlines loose enough business to Southwest they will begin to rethink their penalty policies.
For other situations, trip insurance is a good idea. Now there is even trip cancellation minsurance that allows coverage for “any reason” not just medical.
Airlines don’t mind socking it to us with fees for everything, but we are the ones who end up getting stuck with flight delays, and missing or lost luggage, then they don’t want to take responsibility for it.
For all the people saying that the consumer is wrong and we should just choose another airline or travel option I say this: How is it possible that the US hasnt developed a rail system to rival those in Europe and Japan? Maybe its the airline, aeronautics, tire, auto, and gasoline lobbies that have retarded its development? If consumers had more choices the market would naturally regulate prices and fees.
It’s all just another way for the airlines to squeeze another buck from us. Plans change everyday, our lives are always in motion. The airlines know this and use it against us. In an age when it’s far from unheard of that passengers should be stuck on planes for hours without adequate food and water – this is how the flying public is rewarded for continuing to fly! There is no good reason for these ridiculous fees in the age of computerized everything!
As a business traveler who flies about 200,000 miles a year and virtually all of it on American Airlines, I have seen more than my fair share of airline fees, delays and cancellations. Even though I have been reward by American Airlines with Executive Platinum status (the top tier) for their frequent flyer program, I have learned that fees, delays and cancellations are a part of the process. I’ve learned to simply shrug my shoulders and make the best of it.
What most passengers who are affected by the changes fees do not seem to understand, is that flying is, with exception of international travel, more of convenience, than a right in this country. My experience has been that “once-a-year travelers” are the most disruptive element in the travel process – they expect Champaign services on a generic soda budget. I would venture to say that most of the more visceral complainers of the airline travel experience are those people who do the most inconsiderate things on a plane; bring carry on luggage that is too big for the overhead binds, yelling at the gate agents & flight attendants, making a mess with their carry on food and generally acting in a un-civilized fashion.
Is airline travel truly a comfortable and enjoyable experience it once was in the “golden age” – doubtful? Deregulation of the airline industry brought travel access and affordability to everyone, much like the interstate highways and commuter trains. Why should delays & hassles in airline traffic be viewed any different than the delays & hassles of the congested daily commutes on the roads?
My advice – learn to live with it.
I can understand charging change fees. However, I was dumped a couple weeks before I was set to move overseas to marry my fiance. I lost $700 on the flight. No refunds, no credits, nothing. “Sorry, this is a “use it or lose it fare.”
They could have resold it, it was a New York – London Heathrow flight on a massive international airline (and I knew it was a packed flight because I saw the airline seat map.)
Instead, the person next to me got the luxury of an empty seat, someone who needed that flight probably didn’t get that seat, and I lost all my money, which was a huge sting in the face of what I had been through to begin with.
Consider this, who pays for the plane to takeoff and land, who pays for the fuel, who pays for the maintenance of that aircraft you fly, who pays to have the airplane cleaned after you have left your garbage lying around, who pays for security, who pays the people in the tower to make sure we do not have a mishap, who pays for the emergency service people if they are needed and are right there at the airport, who pays for the people who check you in or fly you to your destination, who pays the person who is behind the scene getting your bag to and from the plane, and the list goes on and on…someone has to pay for that, it is a service. Nothing is free. Have you ever gone by car or RV on a lengthy vacation and made sure your vehicle was in good condition before you set out..i.e. check tires, and replaced what was needed. Then when you set out on the road and you still spend money as nothing is free.
So why do we spend time bashing the transportation industry, when they are only working with what we are wanting them to offer for what we are paying for.
If the airlines want us to follow by their rules with fees then fine. But I would love it if the airlines treated us the same way. Our flights get delayed, our luggage gets lost, our seats gets bumped, etc, and there is no accoutability on their end. Why is it that if I change my plans, they charge me $100, but if they can’t get me to my destination at the scheduled time that I paid for, then there is no repercussions for them?
When a passenger buys a discounted ticket right then and there you are told change fees apply and any differance in the fare. Then when you need to make a change you act supprised and cry and wine. Airline employees don’t work for free just as you don’t. You call in and want to make a change and tie up an agent or some times 2 because of your crying not wanting to pay the fees you agreed to when you bought your ticket. These fees also pay for that agent to research the new flight you want and rebook you and so on. passengers will also book the cheapest flight with a 4 or 5 hour layover to get a cheap fare then try to change it to get a better connection then raise hell when they are charged the change fee and the fare they would have paid in the first place. Get real people nothing is free.
If you buy a ticket to a sporting event do you get to change your mind and go on another date? If you want to change your plans buy a full fare ticket
Some airline fees are ridiculous but some of the complaining on this article about change fees is absurd. People, when you buy a restricted ticket, that’s what you get, a RESTRICTED ticket. So, if your plans do change you have to go by the restrictions on your ticket! If you do not want to worry about any change fees, then buy an UNrestricted ticket, which, lo and behold, has no restrictions! Change fees and paying the fare difference on restricted tickets are the price we pay to fly on dirt cheap airfares! Play by these rules or just buy the more expensive but fully UNRESTRICTED tickets and change your flying plans fee free!
I prefer to fly Southwest due to the fact you only pay the difference of a changed ticket. This past March, I purchased a round trip through Delta’s site and paid appoximately $250 but, I needed to change the departing part to make it just the return flight. When I was speaking to Delta’s Customer Service, they wanted to charge $100 for a change fee and add an additional $400 in order to make this a one-way. I declined the offer and told her I would keep the credit and go to Southwest Airlines and pay $98 for the one-way flight.
The airline industry needs to come down a notch.
We all have paid fees to these airlines. Yet there are always delays at the airport. There is always something that is wrong. Either the weather is bad, or the plane did not arrive yet, or we are overbooked and the best is we have no crew to fly you out tonight so we will have to cancell your flight, and rebook you again for tom. The airline industry is a ripoff.
Of course. Airlines have been ripping of passengers for years. Literally. Nothing new to this story. From the time you purchase your first ticket, it becomes an unending nighmare.
I had a terrible experience with AA just yesterday. I had purchased a round trip ticket and found out that I needed to fly earlier than expected. I found a much cheaper flight to my destination at the earlier time and was willing to pay for an additional ticket to my destination and would just fly home on the return flight I had already paid for-basically buying to seats on two seperate aircrafts but I was told I still had to pay the $100 change fee because if I did not cancel and rebook the destination flight with their fee paid, my return ticket would be cancelled.
Southwest and changes? I booked flights online twice from Ontario CA to Cleveland and back. Both times there was a connecting flight leaving earlier from my connection in Las Vegas home to Ontario. BOTH TIMES I was told that taking the earlier flight would cost me %126!!! Why did the rest of you get it for free? Is Las Vegas different?
I was called at 01:00 in the morning from Delta.They said my morning (6:00am flight was cancelled.Pilot “timeout” He said they are only required to offer a refund!as his alternative flight offers were rediculous.Now you try changing a flight and see what they do!
I recently bought a non-refundable roundtrip ticket. When a friend staying with me suffered a back injury I drove her home. She lived in the city I was traveling to so I did not need the first leg of my ticket. I was not asking for a refund. I merely wanted to use only the second half of my ticket. US Airways insisted that I pay a change fee of $100 to NOT FLY half the ticket I had already paid for. Despite going up the food chain to supervisor after supervisor, I could get no satisfaction. At one point I was told “I am here to make sure the airline gets its fee.” Too bad it wasn’t the second half of the tciket because then they could not have charged me. Sound inequitable to you? Downright robbery if you ask me!
I booked 2 tickets on Jet Blue and they were $225 a piece and when i saw the total price I could not believe there was $110 of taxes and fee’s added on top. This is how it broke down: Fare was $452, Tax $61, Security Fee $20, Facility Fee $30. Absolutley rediculious the way the airlines add on these fee’s.
Yes- airlines are out of control with fees. Some are extremely high and one has to wonder “who would pay for that?”. BUT- the one poster from Chapel Hill, NC who said “we are getting what we DEMAND to pay for” hit the nail on the head. You want cheap fares, a meal, excellent customer service, tailor-made schedules and no weather delays ever?
Nope.
I agree that delays are frustrating, customer service is poor, and airlines are stretched thin…BUT they are still a business, NOT A CHARITY! When the the American public start the mindset that the airlines somehow “owe them something”? Think about it.
It may be a start but we as consumers can do something. Continental screwed me when I miised a flight – they charged me FULL ONE WAY fare to put me on a flight – have been a regular customer for years and travel frequently, but they would not let me cash the miles. SInce then I have done everything possible to not give them my business and for the last 6 months – have taken my business elsewhere – even if it means some incovenience.
I think that if the Airline can sell that seat prior to takeoff there should not be a fee for a cancelled ticket or just have a $5 fee for a rebooking charge.
Non-refundable fares are discounted for exactly that reason; they provide for a more predictable passenger load. If you want to be able to change, buy the full-price ticket and quit whining. You can’t have it both ways. That being said, I do think the airlines also need to quit whining about the FAA needing to charge user-fees to subsidize their business. Just don’t schedule 50 departures for the same 20-minute time slot and the delays would be minimized reducing the need to overhaul the current system.
Often I get to the airport long before my flight is scheduled (as a result of post-9/11 security uncertainty). Most of my flights are regional/local and flights leave almost hourly between my destinations. I don’t understand why airlines no longer let you move-up to an earlier flight. I can see a fee for taking a later flight, but if I am there and they have a seat open on an earlier one, isn’t in their interests to send me sooner? In essence, it changes the seat which they are trying to sell and gives them more time to sell it. Once the earlier flight leaves, they’ve lost that seat revenue. If they switch it for my later seat, there is a better chance they will fill it. I just don’t get it.
I recently paid 385 to fly Charlotte to Syracuse. Business required an extension. I had to pay another 385 to extend the trip. this was a 100$ change fee, plus another fee for the “fare difference”. A rip off.
This is USAir’s way of treating their frequent flyers (dividend miles) member.
The truth is there are limited seats and schedules and as a person that travels on Delta over 100,000 a year, I make many changes to my plans.
My company picks up the tab for the changes,but in the end the consumer of our products pay the bill.
JIM
A reasonable rebooking charge is OK. It should be no more than the cost to cover the airlines expense to issue the ticket. Perhaps $5 to $10 max. Higher fees are a rip-off. I recently was asked to pay $50 each for my wife and I to rebook a Delta flight that would have saved me a 4 hour layover wait in the airport. There were seats available on the flight. I refused but Delta put my luggage on that flight anyway and when I arrived at my destination later my luggage did not show up in the baggage area. I had to wait until all luggage was off loaded then go to baggage claim only to find my luggage already there! Needless to say Delta did not build any customer loyality that day.
We’ve managed to cheap the deal, unwilling to pay for a reasonable level of service. We’re getting what we deserve, no more, no less.
Fees are way to High. In fact “free” mileage flights are now charging fees depending on when you book the reservation. Someone needs to do something about the airlines taking advantage of the customers.
Hold on a minute. If you buy a full fare ticket, there are no change fees. Buy a restricted ticket, and you save hundreds of dollars. If you need to change that ticket, you’re only giving back $100 of the restricted fare discount and you’re getting the benefits of full fare. Now, really, is there anything to complain about. Can you say, “greedy traveler?”
Air Traveling Public has been riding at 50% off for 20 plus years all the while the system dies…
WALK, RUN, HITCH-HIKE, BUS, DRIVE or FLAP YOUR WINGS FOR A YEAR OR TWO….!!
…And then get back to us as to how much you’re being taken for.
You have to know what the penalties are. Just because you don’t know them, or don’t like them, no one is holding a gun to your head making you buy a ticket, or change it. That said I paid a change fee to change my Horizon Air (Alaska Air Group)$50.00. The earlier flight I changed to left later than my original flight. I called customer care, and they were more than willing to refund the change fee. I was not surprised, this is the Horizon Air that I have come to know and love!
We had to change our vacation plans this year to Hawaii after we purchased tickets on Hawaiian Airlines. However, the “change fee” costs $150 per segment per person. So it costed us $600 to change.
Now granted the change fee is flat and there is no worry about difference in fares from the time you booked to the new dates that you are changing to. We were lucky that when we booked the original itinerary, we captured a promotional fare and only paid $350 roundtrip per person. But with the change, it’s now costing us $650 per person. I can’t imagine for those people who purchased their tickets at $600 per person (which is the going rate these days) and have to change!
It is a different system than other major airline uses, however, I think the fee structure are way too extreme.
It really puts a bad taste in anyone’s mouth in flying with Hawaiin Airlines.
Just for the record, Delta charges $200 for international changes. What a deal!!
I will keep my full name to myself just in case Delta finds out my FF number and serves me the same in-flight meal for the 359th time.
Airline management is the pits, they are dishonest, and do not respect their customers. When you do have to fly, you cannot help but feel like cattle being herded by an outlaw group such as Jessie James.
The saddest part of this ordeal is not how high the airline companies keep raising fees; it is that they keep losing money and their CEOs keep stuffing their own pockets!
It make me wonder if we are indeed in a capitalist America or in former Coviet Union. How could we allow this to go on for so long????????
A couple of weeks ago, I flew from Gainesville, FL to Cincinnati via Atlanta. When I arrived at Gainesville, the previous departure had been delayed and the gate agent asked me if I would mind taking an earlier flight to Atlanta. Of course, this is to their advantage. Since they couldn’t confirm me on an earlier departure out of Atlanta, I was reluctant but left on the earlier flight with the instructions to see customer service in Atlanta regarding an earlier ATL to Cincinnati flight. When I approached the “customer service” agent in Atlanta I told her I wanted to see if I could get on an earlier flight. Before I could finish my first sentence, she interrupted, “That’s going to cost you $75,” without attempting to understand the situation. To me, her presumption tells me a lot about Delta’s overall philosophy on revenue generation.
Airlines have, and exercise, an unusual and solely unilateral advantage over the customer; if you don’t like what they do and how they do it, “just don’t fly” they tell us.
If my plans change, if there is an unexpected delay such as my car braking down on the way to the airport, they will simply charge me a ‘ticket change fee’ – or worse yet, reprice the entire trip. But if they have a delay or unexpected mechanical failure, they are free to delay my trip with no penalty, or make me sit on a plane for hours with little to no services afforded, and claim that they ‘are doing their best’. I waited for four hours in the Montreal airport for American Airlines to locate an available crew (was this flight a surprise…???) only to have to put up with an surly crew that had the attitude ‘You should be happy we agreed to come to work today’. No accomodation! Had I been four hours late, I would have been charged a rebooking fee.
Why do the airlines have such latitude?
Since 9/11/01 with reduced number of planes flying many airlines have now figured out they can gouge their customers at will. Next time an airline crys “We need a Government bailout, or we will go out of business” remember 2007.
This is why Southwest Airlines has made more money than all the other Airlines combined, over the last ten years. They don’t stick it to the customer. Maybe one of those brilliant CEO from the other airlines will figure that out someday. Then maybe he or she would earn some of the millions of dollars they pay them. I change my plans all the time when flying now. The fees, if any are minimal with Southwest.
Jim
I am a travel agent in Canada and make it very clear to my clients – Are you sure about this itinerary? The ticket is nonrefundable and in some cases you cannot change your outbound flight period – only your return at an additional cost.
Now if we stop and think about it – the change fee etc. does make sense. Can you imagine one airplane of 225 people – and 100 of them decided to change their plans. The phone lines would be full – the websites would be overloaded – Think of how many airplanes there are in the world. If people could change for free – they may change once, twice – why not 3 times? This is just not a situation that would work.
It is very important for people to purchase trip cancellation insurance at the time they purchase their tickets. That way if someone breaks their leg – all money is refunded. There are many more clauses in the insurance also for people to get a refund.
The important thing I believe is for an airline to have good customer service which is sometimes hard to find. I would recommend if anyone gets a chance Fly with Westjet – they always have a smile and they want you back.
I agree airline flights are not cheap anymore there is a penalty for everthing,so called budget flights end up costing more then ordinary flights without the normal services like a snack .Iam also so annoyed with their false advertising with so called cheap fares that lure you in
Clint above gets the real point. Airlines have lost $ Billions in the past years. I for one would prefer that it was more expensive if it would reduce crowds and allow the airlines to make a profit. The real insult to the travel experience is other passengers, their whinning, their bad manners and their obnoxious children. Take a bus like you used to.
I am now avoiding all flying unless I absolutely, positively can’t get there any other way. That means I will drive up to at least two days, consider driving three, to avoid the hassles and impossibilities of air travel. I have tale after tale to justify this position.
I think air travel is one of the biggest bargains in history.
If you can’t afford to pay the change fees stay home.
I think the fee’s are GREAT.
It makes the person buying the tickets resposible for their actions.
If you dont want fees, dont buy tickets on an airline that charges outrages fees. Simple
Otherwise buy travel insurance to protect yourself from missed or cancelled flights.
Why complain about it. You make the decision to buy, you have the power to control who you travel with.
This is why I fly Southwest airlines.
No hassles with trying to change or cancel flights last minute.
They have best change policy. The best ontime record. And the best customer service.
I refuse to fly any other domestic airline.
Also the most profitable and successful US airline. I think the other airlines should take note or they will continue to lose both business travelers and recreational fliers.
Maybe it is time for regulations to rear their ugly wares and maybe then the Airlines will get their act together.
My wife and I have had reservations for about 1 year on Northwest Airlines from Memphis through Detroit, MI to Burlington, VT and return. Northwest has made rought 5 – 6 flight schedule changes, the last one causing our Budget rental car rate to jump over $100.00. We can’t charge the airline a fee nor can we recover the jump in the price of the rental car, but had we made so much as one change we would have been socked with a $75.00 per person change penalty fee!
What’s wrong with this picture?
How about the joy of having one’s flight cancelled for WEATHER, by Midwest Airlines….
To a city where I WAS interviewing for a post – which I did NOT get – as it went to someone else.
No refund. No ability to use the funds I had payed up front – as I never have plans to fly to that city (or any other Midwest city) again.
No apology. No luck.
Customer service – absolutely useless to get the help needed. One has to wonder why in the world any reputable agency would take this view?
THEY cancelled the flight….
Why is it, I ask, that British Airways, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, Swissaire, Air France – all provide marvelous service at decent rates world-wide – and American Airlines (and all other US flagged carriers) cannot?
Even intra-Europe the cust service on the aforementioned airlines is SUPERB.
And cheaper than in the US (for equivalent mileage – and yes, after adjusting for the euro).
Why?
Don’t ever think of rescheduling an international flight, When I had to reschedule a Delta flight from Bombay to NYC – I had to pay 900$ as charges ( change fees + difference of fare ) on top of the 1600$ that I had already paid for the ticket. A total rip off…
I love SouthWest for business travel because of lack of change fees. SW charges the difference in fare, like any other airline, but the others charge the change fee on top of that.
The airlines have a lot of nerve. This summer, I booked my two daughters on a flight on Midwest from Baltimore to Madison, WI to visit me on assignment. The flight was two hours late, so they missed the last leg of their flight and I had to go pick them up in Milwaukee. Midwest refused to refund the Milwaukee to Madison segment of the ticket because they offer the girls an alternative flight…..some 18 hours after they would have landed. The flight from Milwaukee is 20 minutes and the drive is only an hour, but somehow Midwest thought they were in the right. Needless to say, I am NEVER going to book the Madison-Milwaukee segment of the ticket again. I will drive to Milwaukee airport from now on. Congratulations, Midwest. Not only did you tick off a long time customer, but you lost a regular on the Milwaukee to Madison segment which you are trying to build.
What we should be doing is: Everyone should take it on themselves tp STOP FLYING ANYWHERE for a minimum of 2 days/15 days for some months. This form of “PEOPLE BOYCOTT” should rectify all the BAD HABITS THAT HAVE INVADED MOST INDUSTRIES. It is also one reason why I have not been traveling anywhere – NO LOSS – I HAVE ALREADY TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY.
The bottom line is the ugly fact that airlines make the highest profits when planes are oversold, packed and customer service is at the worst.
They love these over crowded times which give them the chance to charge all these fees and on top of it add luxury fees if per chance you wish a small amount of leg room, 10 minutes in the airline club lounge. Given their choice, they would do NOTHING to change the current status quo. They love to blame everything except themselves for the current horrid state of air travel. The reality is they are unable to make money any other way.
Nothing but a serious passenger bill of rights will change their ways.
Fly Southwest… period. Other airlines have to realize they stand to lose their market share unless they do anything about it. Why complain? Take some action for once.
my honest opinion on this, it’s pretty blunt and simple (in true midwestern fashion) just hit the road, that way, you control your schedule, and not the airlines, with the higher speed limits and the ever-present grace of the bears and the county mounties lettin you edge an xtra 10mph, on the highway. driving is a real time saver. the only way that it makes sense to fly is if it involves traveling to focus jobs in a concentrated area more than a couple of days from your home base. or if it involves traveling over water, the last time i checked, the only one that had a car that could travel through water was james bond.
The airline fees need to go both ways. If you are charged $100 to change to a later flight, the airline should pay you $100 when you get bumped. If there is a bigger penalty for last minute changes, the airline should refund the same amount to passengers.
As far as hostility towards the people at the gates, in general I am polite to everyone. Recently, this muscle bound ape in a flight attendant’s uniform spilled half of my meal overpriced meal box did I get an “I’m sorry” or a towel or even a replacement meal? NO. I was told when I tried to speak to the head flight attendant that if I wasn’t careful, they would arrest me for interfering with the flight crew.
Of course, congress will exempt them from lawsuits that every other industry in the U.S. would have to defend when the public gets fed up.
My daughter was taking a NWA flight and got bumped by the airline. Then they wanted to charge her full fare for the booking—- a $600 ticket.
Don’t let Southwest fool you! they don’t charge a “change fee”, but do charge the difference in fare. In other words, if you got a “deal” on one of the low $59.00 fares and need to change it, they will upgrade you to a full fare ticket. In many cases, this will exceed the change fee levied by other airlines
You mention that Southwest has no change fee. That is not really true. Southwest allows you to change flights for free, IF, the flight you are changing to costs the exact same. This happened to me last week. I was scheduled to take an 8pm flight from RSW to MDW on Southwest. I wanted to take an earlier flight because my meeting was done earlier than expected. I paid $130 for that leg of the flight at the time I purchased it. Had I wanted to change flights that day to an earlier flight (with empty seats on it!), they would have charged me $166, or the difference between the current fare ($296) and what I paid ($130). I like Southwest, but absolutely loathe their flight changing policies!!!!!!!!
I think if “change fees” were to be made reciprocal — in other words, if an airline can charge $100 for you to change your reservation, I think that should be the penalty for the airline if they cancel your flight or change the times of your flight FOR ANY REASON!
Everything in this talkback session is nicely SAID.
Unfortunately that’s all that happens every time – (TALK). Let’s form an initiative and do something about it, let’s raise hell.
I too believe that these companies do as they please, and that’s wrong.
Pam Moore must work for an airline or has never traveled using an airline in the last three years. Who gets food on an airline? And I believe most of these people are talking about business class. Call up US airways or American or Delta and ask their customer service anything and see how you are treated. These people don’t expect first class service, just a smiling face and service that you come to expect from a respected business.
I’m old enough to remember when the airlines were deregulated. The arguments were lower prices and better service. I never believed any good would come of it. First thing the airlines did was to stop servicing smaller communities and build their obnoxious “hub” system which clearly benefits them but not the customer since it nearly always mandates a layover. Who can remember decent airline meals as part of the ticket price? Comfortable seats with leg room? Dependable flight schedules? Reliable baggage service? Believe it or not, when the Civil Aeronautics Board regulated the airlines, all this was a reality. Yes, Virginia, there did used to be a Santa Clause, but they cancelled his flight.
Ouch…those fees hurt! I do not think a change fee should cost more than $25 per seat if there are seats available on the flight. I am a high mile American Airlines customer. I was on vacation with my family of 4. For the trip, I had spent a little over $5,000.00 on airfare. We wanted to stay 3 extra days and fly home on a Wednesday instead of a Sunday. American charged me an additional $400 to make the change. When we got on the flight, there were at least 20 open seats. It made me feel really good about being a loyal American Airlines customer!
There are countless stories about the “unfairness” of air travel charges…I have two that have not been discussed…no sense piling on – but I saw a story the other day about the abuse by travellers to customer service people (counter and gate attendants, flight attendants, etc.) – the disrespect is a reaction to the perceived disrespect of the whole air liner industry…I don’t see it getting better. Frankly – cutting out meals and other nicities is okay with me – good for the fooderies at the airport – so that doesn’t bother me…but failure to recognize the inconviences that they cause travellers is a true aggravation.
Most of the major airlines charge us up to $100 when we need to make a change of schedule or itinerary.
How about when the airlines make a schedule change and we need to be re-booked: should not the airlines likewise be required to reimburse us $100 for the change in schedule affecting our travel plans???
Yes, its a total rip off. I paid once $250 for a ticket from austin to NJ and because of some events i informed them about the change in plans a week ahead which needed to be postponed to later that same month. They charged me $100 extra for that change. Now what would you like to call that if not a “Rip Off ” ?
I actually had a good experience: Last summer I fell off a ladder and sprained my back the afternoon before a trip to St. Louis. I called Continental and explained that I was unable to travel and would like to change my plans. I even offered to send them medical confirmation of my injury. The woman on the phone, who couldn’t have been nicer, said that wasn’t necessary and waived the $100 fee to change the flights; I received full credit for my initial purchase, which was applied to the cost of the new flights: about $60 more, as I recall. When I called to confirm the new reservation, the person on the other end asked, “How’s the back feeling?” Hey, no airline’s perfect, but Continental really won me over with this one.
If you think U.S. airlines are ripping us off, I had to change a flight on Avianca, the Colombian airline, and they gave me absolutely no credit for the already outrageous amount of money I had paid for my ticket. I ended up paying about $2,000 for a $599 ticket. No regulation, no recourse.
I have actually started looking at taking AMTRAK from Boston to DC due to these fees. When you factor in all of the extra time due to security, and the fact that AMTRAK does allow you to change your plans – it pays to take rail instead.
The airlines should be able to charge whatever they want
BUT
It should be a two-way street. I should be able to charge the airlines whatever I want whenever they decide to cancel a flight, delay a flight, lose luggage or change anything that they charge me to change.
That’s the injustice. The airlines focus on the “added costs” they incur when passengers make changes BUT FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FOCUS ON COSTS PASSENGERS INCUR WHEN AIRLINES MAKE CHANGES.
Airline fees are only the beginning. No one expects much in the way of service, food, or amenities these days unless they’ve been in a coma for the last ten years. The concepts of “service” and “on-time” are a joke. Delays and cancelations are now the norm with passengers routinely treated with contempt. Travelers now book their own flights, print their own tickets and boarding passes, wait in long check-in lines, often schlep their own bags to an x-ray station, half undress to get through security, and endure long waits in overcrowded boarding areas before being herded onto overbooked planes with poor ventilation and squeezed into smaller and smaller seats with less and less leg room. And try getting information about a flight’s arrival or departure. Welcome to automated response system hell. Frequent flyer programs are the biggest joke. Technology now allows the airlines to game the system, blacking out the most convenient dates and flights and doubling the mile requirements for a “free” ticket or upgrade at their whim. What’s to stop them? Those programs are unregulated. Competition is a joke too. Smaller markets are lucky to get any service much less offer a travler choices. The airline industry is bascially one big unregulated monopoly. What are a traveler’s options? Train, car, or bus — all very impractical for long distances. When was the last time you heard a passenger say they ENJOYED their flight? Airline travel today is ENDURED — a necessary evil to suffer through to get to where you want or need to go.
I am beginning to wonder if the airlines are a subsidary of the U.S. Postal Department. Seems they both have the same attitude toward customers
I travel for business several times a month. As long as the airlines are upfront about the fees, I don’t have a problem. It’s when the fee shows up on my credit card bill that I’m submitting for reimbursement is when it becomes deceiving. I understand they’re running a business but they need to be upfront about any fees they would like to charge.
I am responding to your Airline Fee article. When my son was hired for a teaching job in Phoenix this past July, I purchased a one-way ticket for him and a round-trip ticket for myself (Indianapolis – Phoenix) from US Airways. At the last minute my son informed me that he wanted to buy a car in Indiana and drive out so he could take some items with him in the move. I purchased the tickets through Travelocity and checked with their fees to change the tickets and realized it would cost more to change and just thought I would absorb the loss of my son’s ticket and my ticket from Indy to Phoenix and use the return ticket (which was paid for) from Phoenix to Indianapolis. The day before returning to Indy, I went online to check in, but to my surprise I found that my trip was canceled due to not showing up for the first flight from Indy to Phoenix. I called Travelocity and while on the phone they called US Airways and were told that their policy was to cancel the whole trip if the person did not show up for the first flight. I was told that in order to free up the seat (which I had already paid for) that there would be a $100 penalty fee plus the price of a regular ticket (would have cost about $320 total for the one way). I told them it would be ridiculous for me to pay for a penalty fee just to free up the seat which I had already paid for. I got a ticket through another Airline (Frontier) for $190 and swore never to us US Airline again. I could not find the policy on Travelocity or US Airlines websites, but when contacting US Airlines customer service they informed me that it was their policy and could not help me.
I am not surprised that the Airline companies are in financial trouble with the service and policies they are providing. I will not us US Airlines Ever again due to this one incident and have found that Frontier Airline is much more customer friendly and plan on using them for all our future flights.
Thank you for your article,
Anyone that thinks these fares are a just way of doing business must be crazy. I fly US Air every week (because I have no other airline to choose a direct flight on) Monday morning scheduled for 6:40 am flight…at 5:30 am I called to say I would be missing my scheduled departure and if I could get on the 7:40 or 9:30 am flight instead…I was told sure that will be $360 as I could take an earlier flight with no fee but not a later one….however last week trying to return home on a Friday flight was delayed for two hours since we were missing one flight attendent that did not show up…I did not receive a refund. Flight prices are lower that the past, but airlines like US Air are making a profit ($3 billion last quarter)and that is with higher gas prices. The reason for lower fares is because they have increased the traffic in the air by adding more flights which cause more delays. Fares certainly are not lower because of competition in most markets.
This past summer my parents and I flew to Dallas on United Airlines. My father went into the hospital while in Dallas. When I called to change the reservation, and told them the reason why, they said that they do not waive the change fee for medical reasons. So I ended up paying a $100 change fee for EACH ticket. Yet,did the airline give ME a change fee when my flight for another trip got cancelled and rescheduled 2 days later? Nope!
We’ve been charged $100/ticket per person, per change w/American Airlines. We’ve had to change our tickets twice, we’re flying to Fl for a NASA launch (it’s been rescheduled twice). We’ve definitely racked up a bundle just in “charges”.
I am not a fan of unnecesary government regulation but airlines clearly are unable to regulate them selves. Instead of peanlizing the employees with increased hours, wage and benefit cuts – the CEO’s with obscene salaries and bail-out packages for running companies into bankruptcy should be held accountable for the airlines success (and failures).
Last April, I was flying JetBlue to New York with plans to fly (after a three hour layover), fly Aer Lingus to Dublin. I thought I had a significant margin of safety in my plans.
Unfortunately, the JetBlue flight was over three hours late getting to New York (Air Traffic flow was the reason).
My Aer Lingus flight had already left when i arrived in NY.
Aer Lingus booked us for the next day at an additional fee of $920.00 for two people, very little less than our original round trip tickets cost.
I was shocked.
Needless to say, I have not flown JetBlue or Aer Lingus again.
Airline fees are BS and is a factor when I purchase tickets…SOUTHWEST ROCKS!!!!! The rest of the airlines need to think this one over again and knock it off!!!
I was charged a $25 fee on Delta because my bag was 2 pounds over the limit. The person sitting to my left on the plane was at least 150 pounds heavier than me. (and took some space in my seat). Did he pay a fee for being larger than the average passenger? Is this a fair system?
Airline Fees
I just do not understand why they have to charge the change of itinerary fees. Not that they are giving us the remaining money as refund. I am a business traveler and I change my schedule very frequently and since I fly US Air most of the times I end up coughing up $100 change fee. That is not the only thing. The worst things about US Airways is if you are just changing one leg of your travel you still pay the difference in fare for both the legs of travel. That means if you change just your departure date then you pay the difference between the departure and even the arrival fare even when you are traveling the same flight same time while coming back.
You call them up no one has any answer. The worst ever customer service. They just do not care. I have asked couple times to transfer me to manager, they hang up.
I do not have time and money to go after them but I am sure this is unjust way of doing the business. There is someone out there who will sue them and get them on their knees.
We pay for their bankruptcy, they get help from government through our taxes for bankruptcy protection and all they still do not care about anyone. And they all are in bankruptcy because they did not do the business well I do not care if they and together with them the entire workforce loose their job. That’s the way America is and it is capitalism.
Anyways, Southwest has the best form of advertisement informing no charges for change of plans. They are here to stay longer than others for sure.
I have so many other cases which I can discuss about Delta and US air but that for some other day.
I hope Congress looks into it and get this resolved unless they are involved in this scam too.
Hi,
I book my flight two month ago for my daugther and myself. At the very last moment I got injured and my wife decided to take my ticket. Try to guess how much extra it cost us. $700 !!! Flight was overbooked, and when we canceled my ticket it was no way to get a ticket for my wife. She end up flighing using different flight.
Cancellation charges were rediculus. I was charged by NW airlines for cancellation not from one way but for two stops. Double the charges for the round trip. It would had been cheaper just not using the ticket.
An airline is a business and must make a profit. Fares overall are much lower than they used to be, especially when inflation is factored in. Many people still expect First Class service, food, and all the amenaties while paying rock-bottom prices. That is unrealistic. You get what you pay for, and these extra fees are part of what you get for lower fares overall.
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I had no idea that I would be charged 600 for a mistake. When I ordered my tickets on line I somehow didn’t notice that I had ended up with Feb 7 instead of Mar 7 as my departure date. When it was noted I called Expedia to fix it and was informed that it would be $300 to change the two tickets. The total cost for two tickets to Tucson was $630. To rebook was and additional $740. I told them just to cancel the trip and was told I would have a 330 credit. Now I try to use the $330 I think I have as a credit only to be told that there is a rebooking fee of 150 per ticket or another $300. Basically, the airline is keeping my $600 for the mistake. This is crazy. If I pay to cancel how can I be rebooking? One fee or the other not both.