Changing Airline tickets

[sln88]

to let people make changes

I think on the cheaper tickets there should be a change fee. I wouldn't want to try and manage the loads on a plane if people could change their plans on a whim.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by sln88
if the OP wants to change to a similarily priced flight, they should let her. Will they? Of course not. It would be the right thing to do.

Most airlines will allow you to make such a change. The fee to make that change varies between airlines. SW doesn't charge a fee and Jet Blue charges $25. People who think they may want to change their plans should take that into consideration when they select their airline.

 

[safetymom]

That is just one airline. I know when I purchase my tickets what the change policy is. If you don't like the policy then try a different airline.

Southwest may have a better way to handle changes but then I don't know if I would fly them because of the no seat assignments. I travel a great deal for business.

If you have concerns about how the airlines handle things have you ever addressed these with the airline?

That is what I do.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by safetymom
That is just one airline. I know when I purchase my tickets what the change policy is. If you don't like the policy then try a different airline.

Southwest may have a better way to handle changes but then I don't know if I would fly them because of the no seat assignments. I travel a great deal for business.

If you have concerns about how the airlines handle things have you ever addressed these with the airline?

That is what I do.

Excellent point!!!! I cannot imagine purchasing anything without knowing the policies for returns, exchanges, changes, etc. Takes about two minutes to read the rules.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by sln88
No, it is called "cheap travel" with non refundable airfares. If you are not solid about your travel dates, then you need to book refundable airfares, at a much higher price. They don't get you coming and going, they are a business and as such need to make money.


But, why is it ok for them to change our flights, but we don't get to charge THEM a change fee? Sure, they need to make $, but if the OP wants to change to a similarily priced flight, they should let her. Will they? Of course not. It would be the right thing to do.

Because they change the flights to accomodate business and to make a profit. I am sure they will let her change her reservation to anything she wants, with a fee. Right thing to do? Perhaps, but, from a business standpoint it is not profitable and buinesses exist because they make a profit and fail if they don't.

SWA does this and they are making a profit, but, SWA is SWA, it has its own rules, and it is a much smaller airline.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Very true, they do, but, if the airfare does go up you do pay the difference. Different business, different rules.

 

[sln88]

"People who think they may want to change their plans should take that into consideration when they select their airline."

Many times, there is not much choice as to which airline you can book on, unless you are willing to pay alot for the ticket, or fly at crummy times, or out of a different airport. And, I don't want to change my plans, but sometimes things happen where you have to. I had to wait much longer than I wanted to to book my tickets because I had to wait for my kids school schedule.


"Excellent point!!!! I cannot imagine purchasing anything without knowing the policies for returns, exchanges, changes, etc. Takes about two minutes to read the rules."

I knew the rules for my ticket- non refundable. Does that mean I have to like it? No- especially when I know they can call me anytime and change my flight time, but I don't get any compensation for that.

"Perhaps, but, from a business standpoint it is not profitable and buinesses exist because they make a profit and fail if they don't. "

Why would they lose money by letting the OP change to a cheaper airfare? Seems like they would make money, since she is getting a lower fare for her original price.

"SWA does this and they are making a profit, but, SWA is SWA, it has its own rules, and it is a much smaller airline."

So, maybe if SWA is making a profit, and many of the other airlines are losing money, they should take a look at SWA and follow that policy. I don't get how you can say it is bad business for one airline to do what is good business for another.

"I travel a great deal for business." " If you don't like the policy then try a different airline."

and so you can pay whatever the airline wants for whatever kind of ticket you want from whatever airline you want. I don't have that luxury.

"If you have concerns about how the airlines handle things have you ever addressed these with the airline?"

Sure, next time I am in need of a 'blah blah blah, policy, blah blah blah' letter, I will address it with them.

 

[safetymom]

Perhaps you should learn how the quote feature.

I don't have the luxury to purchase a ticket at any price when I travel. I have to buy the cheapest and may involve connections and have it approved before purchase and I pay for the ticket out of my pocket and wait to be reimbursed.

What works for one airline doesn't always work for another.

So if you don't want to address it with the airline the problem will never be solved. When I had problems with a airline policy I wrote them. I received a phone call from customer relations. Several weeks later the policy was changed. So instead of complaining about it on an Internet bulletin board I took action.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

I'm kind of sorry I ever started this thread.

 

[safetymom]

Mommy Poppins, I hope you received the answer to your question. The airlines are never easy to deal with but they do have policies that everyone needs to be aware of when purchasing tickets. That is all I was trying to do was answer your question.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Yes, I received the answers I expected to my question. Thank you.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by safetymom
Perhaps you should learn how the quote feature.

I don't have the luxury to purchase a ticket at any price when I travel. I have to buy the cheapest and may involve connections and have it approved before purchase and I pay for the ticket out of my pocket and wait to be reimbursed.

What works for one airline doesn't always work for another.

So if you don't want to address it with the airline the problem will never be solved. When I had problems with a airline policy I wrote them. I received a phone call from customer relations. Several weeks later the policy was changed. So instead of complaining about it on an Internet bulletin board I took action.

ITA, and it is a shame people don't understand what works for one company does not always work for another. And, some, should drop the entitlement mentality.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by sln88
"People who think they may want to change their plans should take that into consideration when they select their airline."

Many times, there is not much choice as to which airline you can book on, unless you are willing to pay alot for the ticket, or fly at crummy times, or out of a different airport. And, I don't want to change my plans, but sometimes things happen where you have to. I had to wait much longer than I wanted to to book my tickets because I had to wait for my kids school schedule.


"Excellent point!!!! I cannot imagine purchasing anything without knowing the policies for returns, exchanges, changes, etc. Takes about two minutes to read the rules."

I knew the rules for my ticket- non refundable. Does that mean I have to like it? No- especially when I know they can call me anytime and change my flight time, but I don't get any compensation for that.

"Perhaps, but, from a business standpoint it is not profitable and buinesses exist because they make a profit and fail if they don't. "

Why would they lose money by letting the OP change to a cheaper airfare? Seems like they would make money, since she is getting a lower fare for her original price.

"SWA does this and they are making a profit, but, SWA is SWA, it has its own rules, and it is a much smaller airline."

So, maybe if SWA is making a profit, and many of the other airlines are losing money, they should take a look at SWA and follow that policy. I don't get how you can say it is bad business for one airline to do what is good business for another.

"I travel a great deal for business." " If you don't like the policy then try a different airline."

and so you can pay whatever the airline wants for whatever kind of ticket you want from whatever airline you want. I don't have that luxury.

"If you have concerns about how the airlines handle things have you ever addressed these with the airline?"

Sure, next time I am in need of a 'blah blah blah, policy, blah blah blah' letter, I will address it with them.

When you make your plans, you make a choice, if they choice is to spend money on airfare, then you have to follow the rules. The fact that you have kids, etc. means nothing to the airlines. Many people with kids fly and don't complain about the times, the money or the policy. You make having kids sound like a liability.

You don't have to like it and you did not have to purchase it, no one held a gun to your head. If you read the policy, they can make changes and you are informed of that before you purchae, assuming you take the time to read the Contract of Carraige.

Why would they lose money by letting the OP change to a cheaper airfare? Seems like they would make money, since she is getting a lower fare for her original price.

That made absolutely no sense. Obviously if they let her change to a cheaper airfare, they would loose money.

What is good business for one, is not always good business for another. Basic knowledge of business would tell you that.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Mommy Poppins
I'm kind of sorry I ever started this thread.

Don't be sorry for starting a thread. We ask questions to learn.
Some people cannot get past business policies, you, apparently can.

 

[mcnuss]

"I travel a great deal for business." " If you don't like the policy then try a different airline."

and so you can pay whatever the airline wants for whatever kind of ticket you want from whatever airline you want. I don't have that luxury.

ROTFL-- You think? Those days are gone! Thanks for the giggle though. Business travel ain't luxurious, we're even more at the mercy of the airlines than you think, plus most of us have a labrynth of rules to follow when booking travel. Recently, I went thru Chicago to get to Cleveland from Manchester, NH. This saved $1000! Was I happy? No, it was not even close to logical to go that far west to backtrack to CLE. But if I had not, the fare would have been $1600. For one day. For one meeting.

The best thing is to know what you're buying and how to "return" it, just as you would if you bought something at a store. Some give store credit, others cash, others nothing at all if it was on sale. Airlines aren't much different.

 

[NotUrsula]

This one did puzzle me, too:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would they lose money by letting the OP change to a cheaper airfare? Seems like they would make money, since she is getting a lower fare for her original price.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not the original poster, but after having time to think about it, I'm wondering if perhaps this was the logic behind that statement:

The original purchaser takes a cheaper seat, therefore freeing up the original seat to be re-sold at a higher fare than what the OP got it for. At the same time, the airline earns a cash change fee that costs them nothing out of overhead, and they also presumably earn interest on whatever balance the passenger is carrying on account with the airline. It's a bit convoluted, but if all those things held true, the airline would come out ahead.

Of course, over and above all that is the goodwill that an airline earns by willingness to be flexible, which is darn near priceless in today's market. There are an enormous number of people (myself included) who will not fly any big-6 airline on a route where they compete with SWA, just b/c SWA is so much more reasonable about changes and refunds. They can match price all they like; given the choice, I'm going with SWA.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mcnuss
ROTFL-- You think? Those days are gone! Thanks for the giggle though. Business travel ain't luxurious, we're even more at the mercy of the airlines than you think, plus most of us have a labrynth of rules to follow when booking travel. Recently, I went thru Chicago to get to Cleveland from Manchester, NH. This saved $1000! Was I happy? No, it was not even close to logical to go that far west to backtrack to CLE. But if I had not, the fare would have been $1600. For one day. For one meeting.

The best thing is to know what you're buying and how to "return" it, just as you would if you bought something at a store. Some give store credit, others cash, others nothing at all if it was on sale. Airlines aren't much different.

Of course, we all know business travelers are rich and don't worry about money. You all are not like families with children.
Airlines are not different than businesses? Who'd a thunk it?

Sure glad I did not have to attend your meeting.

 

[safetymom]

McNuss, I have had a few business trips like that. I once had to go to Raleigh NC to get to Hartford CT. I am in Pittsburgh PA. All to save money. Or the time I had to fly to Midway airport in Chicago because it was cheaper. Then had to take a $75 cab ride to get 5 miles from O'Hare.

 

[safetymom]

Gail, my favorite from when I had my own home based business. Oh you are looking for your check???? Oh I thought you didn't need the money since you are working from home.

Did I ever tell you about all the money I have stashed in my mattress???? Not!!!!

 

[mcnuss]

Of course, we all know business travelers are rich and don't worry about money. You all are not like families with children.

Hee hee.

I actually enjoy when we travel for pleasure bc I get to choose the airline, the dates, the times we travel, and best of all, the rate!!!!