Airline wants 100 per ticket to change 9/27 flight. Should I "push" the issue?

[Hunnypot]

Hi everyone. We're scheduled to leave 9/27 from Newark. My husband and I feel that it's best for us to postpone until Nov or Dec. Continental says that I miss their free ticket change by 2 days and it will be 100 change per ticket. I really would like to postpone and Disney has been wonderful saying they will honor my rate to re-book. Should I call back and speak to a manager. Is there any hope? Any personal experiences or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Cora]

Wow, I'm surprised by Continental. You're trying just to change dates, I called United on Friday to cancel my mom's trip to Calif on Oct 3 and was given a full refund (I was fully prepared to have them say sorry, use it within one year). No questions asked...in a heart beat I will fly United...I don't think I will ever fly Continental if this is how they are treating their passengers. Just to let you know the reservationist at United said "How can we make people fly, when this horrible thing just occurred!"
Cora

 

[rascalmom]

I pulled information off Continental's web site late last week (Friday or Saturday) saying that they would waive the change fee. I noticed yesterday that there web site no longer included that information. We have not yet made our decision regarding our Oct. 13-21 trip, but if we decided to postpone, I will be going to a Continental ticket counter with my printout of that web site page. The page didn't say anything about there being a time limit on that offer. It did say full refunds would be given only for flights through a certain date. I would be happy with postponing. Let me know what you decide to do & how it turns out. I may be in the same boat soon!

 

[macs4us]

We were suppose to leave on the 26th (from SAN via ATL). I called Delta and was first told I could change or cancel without penalty. My husband and I discussed it, and decided we don't want to fly at this time. I called back and they refused to cancel without penalty - and they were VERY rude about it. We are waiting a few more days to see if policy changes again, and then cancelling. Our plan is if they are still maintaining this policy, we will call customer relations. If this is to no avail, we will be disputing the charges on the credit card and writing to the PRES/CEO of Delta.

(SOAPBOX) In our society many have become complacent by taking whatever is dished out to us. When we purchase airline tickets, the airlines have a responsibility (written or implied) to assure we are safe while on their aircraft, and they can not and will not make that guarantee (yes, I asked). I do not mind sacrifices for safety, but it is impossible for them to put into place meaningful security measures (thermographic scan machines at all airports, armed marshals on all flights) in the span of a few weeks. People may state we are safer than before, but I have to respectfully disagree - people are still getting through security with weapons, and people are still in our country waiting to strike. I hope these arguments help people who choose not to fly at this time get some sort of solution to their airline ticket dilemmas. (OFF OF SOAPBOX)

I wish you the best of luck in resolving this issue with Continental.

Bests,
Amy

 

[robinb]

... will be disputing the charges on the credit card and writing to the PRES/CEO of Delta.

I may be in the minority here, but I don't think you have a legal leg to stand on. You are choosing not to fly on the dates that you bought tickets for. You are certainly within your rights to change your mind about flying because you are frightened, but you are still under the contact and agreement that you made with the airline. Delta cannot control how you feel. They can only provide you with transportation from SNA to ORD, something which they are still willing to do. Can they guarantee that nothing will happen to your flight. No. They couldn't when you made your reservation either. It is up to you to decide if you are willing to take the risk of air travel across the US on a plane with a belly full of fuel. You can not and should not make Delta pay for your own fears.

 

[macs4us]

Please do not assume that everyone is not flying out of fear, for there is a larger good to be gained by not flying at this time. The airlines had a duty to provide safe transportation when the ticket was purchased, as they do now - flying is not playing roulette. When a bomb or a terrorist is able to take down a plane, this is the airlines failing to do their job somewhere along the line (they hire the security firms, the ticket agents, the baggage handlers, etc). If we want to illustrate another point, it is unconscionable that the airlines are putting profit before customers at this time - especially when billions of our tax dollars are about to be handed over to them.

As someone who at one time worked in PR, this attitude is not a good way to keep customers. Their complaints about having to pay for more security is just another example of profit before people, and plainly in very poor taste. If consumers do not challenge this twisted idea, which is a perverted form of great American capitalism, then it will not stop. In my honest opinion, it is our duty and responsibility to let the airlines know we expect them to step up.

Safe travels to all....

Bests,
Amy

 

[jel0511]

Again, I might be in the minority, but I agree with Robinb. I did have a trip planned in the middle of October and have cancelled it. I was told that I would have to pay a $75 change fee, to have the tickets changed, but my tickets would be good for one year. The airlines ARE NOT responsible for security in the airport, that is the responsibility of each airport. So, if you want to blame somebody, blame the airports these flights departed from. Also, I did lose a lot of money in the market yesterday, and probably will lose more today. Does that give me carte blance to call my broker and say, "Hey, I know you this isn't your responsibility, it's caused by a terrorist action, but I lost alot of money yesterday, can you refund it to me?" All the airlines are doing is running a business, trying to sruvive in an industry that basically gets by on a daily basis and any stoppage of their business can mean bankruptcy. The stoppage wasn't their fault, it was determined by the FAA giving the airlines no control over what they could do to make their businesses work. They are offering people the option of changing their travel until when they believe air travel again will be at 100%. I understand that I'm making a choice not to fly and I have to pay the consequences. I don't expect the airlines to just say, O.K. I know you're afraid to get on an airplane, or that you don't htink it's a good time to travel, so here's your money back. I bought my ticket fulling knowing the restrictions placed on my ticket and am willing to pay the change fee, since it is MY decision not to fly. I'm sure my flight will leave on time (or close to it) and would have arrived safely. Again, to fly, or not to fly is a personal decision, and yours to make, not the airlines to say, o.k. let's all go belly up since some people are afraid to fly. The last major hijacking incidents in the US was back in 1986 I believe, the airlines didn't refund money back for people canceling their trips, granted it wasn't on the same scale of this tragedy, but again, all they are trying is to survive and not go bankrupt, remember that. I lost many friends in this tragedy, my husband was down there and is safe, I don't take this personally and accept the fact that this is just comapnies trying to survive, as I am trying and my family and friends are trying to do.

 

[Beckles]

Even if you argue that the airlines are responsible for keeping you safe (which they are, including running the security checkpoints which they do at most (if not all) US airports), the fact of the matter is that I don't think you can argue that flying is less safe now than whenever you bought your tickets (within the past 330 days), even if you did not realize that was the case at the time.

I had a ticket for last Friday, and I was disappointed that US Airways would not let me change the ticket to four weeks later (can only change it to travel up to seven days later), but they did refund the purchase price without a problem (both flights I was scheduled on ended up being cancelled).

 

[CarolA]

I am with those who think that the airlines need to stick to their rules. It is not their fault that you chose to change your plans. I realize that this is not a popular decision, but the fact is that flying is NOT significantly more dangerous this week than when you bought your ticket. The only thing that has changed is our perception of the the danger. It has always been there we just either did not know it or chose to ignore it. Hijackings have occued throughout the history of commercial air travel. The big difference is the willingness of these hijackers to die. In the past they just wanted something (money, polictical prisoners etc..). If your flight is going and you chose not to go then you will have to pay the price. Only you can decide if the price is acceptable.

 

[seashoreCM]

I think that flying on 9/27 is just as safe or even safer than flying a few months later. In these next few weeks any terrorists are going lay low, and when people start becoming complacent again, maybe 6 months from now, then .... watch out!

But I would take advantage of airlines' compassion for people's fears and change my ticket not because of afraid of flying but rather afraid I would get to the airport and find it is opening and closing and have to wait around a lot because the flight schedules have not stabilized.

Passengers should not be expected to head for the airport until after the airport actually re-opens. This means that free ticket changes should be allowed even for the first few hours' worth of flights that do take off. There will generally be plenty of standbys waiting to get aboard those first flights.

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[Beverly Lynn]

ok I have to say somehting here. the airlines do not hire the security personnel at teh airports. at least not here in pit we don't. they are hired by Hunt_leigh. they in turn got a contract with the airport from the county. right now due to the situation I think people are entitled to make a change on their tkts. maybe not a refund but a change. like maybe for a later date with no penalty. I have been on both sides of the counter so to speak and I thik right now in lui of what has happened they should give soemthign or work with people until this entire thing gets resolved. the security that you go thru with the scanners is not the carriers its a different company. they don't do their jobs. as for the couple of pilots that were terrorists that was the airlines part. if they were employed by american then they didn't do the background investigation part to the full extent that it shoudl have. (I read and heard that one of the pilots on american was actually one of these people. not sure if its true)
so much of the travel industry is suffering right now with what happened. if the carriers continue to lose some will definitely go under. its going to get worse before it gets better. I have so many friends that were out of a job as of yesterday. some I feel for and some I laugh at.(personal reasons here) its tough out there and I hope that they do something with management instead fo the little guy. my suggestion to you is to call or contact the consumer affairs department of the carrier you are flying and discuss it with them in a calm manner and see if they will work with you on this. make the offer of a change of dates with no penalty if they won't do a refund. this way in the future you may not be so apprehensive. I am flying out in the early am and I have no fears whatsoever.

 

[macs4us]

First of all, the statements I make pertain to the airports I depart from (where the respective port authorities have stated that the individual airlines do choose and hire their own security throughout the airport). Regardless of any of these matters, I was told one thing by Delta, and then treated rudely a few hours later when I asked them to fufill the terms of the policy they had outlined; in fact, when I asked to talk to a supervisor, they told me that their supervisors don't talk to people and proceeded to hang up on me. I would not want to give my business to any company (airline or otherwise) that addresses their customers in such a way, especially at such an extraordinary time (which it really is).

Let's all agree to disagree on this issue, as I feel continuing this line of discussion defeats the beginning of this thread. I stand by my choice of action, as I am sure others stand by whatever choices they make. Everyone has different ideas and values, which is what makes this America.

Good luck to everyone. I now withdraw...

 

[skeezixspud]

... there are hundreds of people working the phones, and some of them are more courteous and reasonable than others. The best thing to do when you get a person who is discourteous is to politely tell them, "thank you for your trouble", then wait a little while and call back.

I was scheduled to return from Orlando next week on SW's first flight of the day, and I am pretty sure that I would have had a hellish time getting my 4 yo DS up and out to leave for the airport at 4:45 am. Other passengers did not need to be subjected to the bad mood he would undoubtedly have been in. When I first called SW I was told that because I had not called more than 7 days in advance of our departure, they would have to charge full price for the new flight; a total of $900 for the 3 of us (though they would not charge the $75 change fees.) If I had called 7 days in advance I would have been calling in the middle of the ground-stop, so this woman was obviously not thinking. I thanked her and hung up.

A few hours later I called again, and the agent I got that time understood. She conceded that since the airport was saying 2-3 hours, that it would be best to put us on a later flight. I told her I did not care which flight of the 3 others she chose, whichever had the most space available. She changed us to a noon flight at no charge whatsoever.

If the airline has stated a policy limiting the dates, then the agents have to abide by the rules, but many of them will try to help in whatever way that they can.