Airline Change Fees $100

[TravelSheryl]

I learned today that Continental Airlines has slipped into the fare rules that appear on travel agent terminals that effective 1/20/01, the change fee is $100. While I have not heard if any other airline has similarly increased their change fee from $75 to $100, I suspect they will all do so, as that is what happened several years ago when the change fee was increased from $50 to $75.

The CO rule that I read applies to all U.S. domestic and U.S. to Canada, Mexico and Caribbean flights.

Change fees are now as high as some roundtrip fares.

As always, Southwest Airlines does not charge a change fee.

 

[jk1]

I find it amazing that airlines can increase their prices in this way and it is not considered price-fixing. Travelers are at the mercy of the airlines that fly in and out of their airports and if they all charge the same thing, there is nothing you can do to "protest" their prices except not fly at all!

Kudos to Southwest for still thinking of their customers!

-jk

 

[TravelSheryl]

While I do agree that $100 is very high, it is certainly not price fixing. When you purchase a non-refundable airline ticket, the airline is not obligated to allow any changes if they so state in their contract of carriage.

Hotels offer non-refundable promos all the time. They require full payment in advance and do not allow changes for any fee. The airlines policy is very generous in comparison.

 

[Tina]

I really hate change fees and we always seem to have last minutes changes that need to be made! Fortunately, when we canceled our January 2001 trip, we were pleasantly surprised with USAirways. We booked our tickets online. When I called to cancel, I was told there is no change fee to rebook. We only need to book our new tickets online again by placing a "hold" on the tickets, then call reservations and have them transfer the credit. Voila! New flights and no fees!

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[jk1]

TravelSheryl, I must not have made myself clear. I was referring to how when one airline institutes a change, they all seem to match that price. I recall times when one large airline would refuse to "go along" with the increase, the originating airline "rolled-back" their increase. Seems many times in the airline industry, it is "monkey see, monkey do". (And I am in no way insinuating that the airlines are like monkeys nor have the mental capacity of a monkey!)

I do believe that the airlines have the right to charge a changing fee for non-refundable fares. Travelers need to take that into consideration when booking such fares.

And thanks for the heads up on this change!

-jk

 

[SJCSuzy]

So far only AA has gone along with CO in raising their change fee price. They raised it to $90 as of Jan 24. We'll have to see what everybody else does.

Suzy

 

[Beverly Lynn]

it will all come in due time. the increase in the change fee has been talked about for over 6 mths now. I thought for sure it would have been done earlier than it was. the reason they do this is so that less people will change a ticket once purchased. they hope that this disuades them from doing this.

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[dmfuru]

Well it must be true! I read about the increase in the paper today. It's reported only AA and Cont. are the only airlines doing it for now. Could it be that they are in need of some extra cash for their bids to buyout TWA????!!!!! Hmmmm????

 

[CookieGVB]

I saw that on the news, and just went through our company travel agency to change a Continental ticket, and was still quoted $75 as the charge to change...maybe it hasn't changed yet? (or maybe - which wouldn't surprise me - our travel agency hasn't updated their information...)

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