Delta: High Change Ticket Fee?

[mtblujeans]

I bought a Delta ticket for out of state travel. The ticket cost me $492.00 RT. My plans changed and I wanted to leave 1 day earlier but with the same connections. I called Delta and they wanted to charge me $238.00 to change the ticket by one day....same flights/connections.

I haven’t flown much in the last year or so. Is this normal for ticket change fees now?

 

[Jestocost]

I bought a Delta ticket for out of state travel. The ticket cost me $492.00 RT. My plans changed and I wanted to leave 1 day earlier but with the same connections. I called Delta and they wanted to charge me $238.00 to change the ticket by one day....same flights/connections.

I haven’t flown much in the last year or so. Is this normal for ticket change fees now?

To do what you want, you would be charged a change fee of generally $150 plus (or minus) any difference in the price you paid and the current fare for the flight you want. That usually makes it worthless to switch to a lower-priced flight because the change fees are higher than the savings. In your case, it sounds like the current ticket price for the flight you want is $88 more than what you paid, so with the change fee the total difference is $238.

Virtually all airlines charge those change fees now (Southwest does not).

 

[mtblujeans]

To do what you want, you would be charged a change fee of generally $150 plus (or minus) any difference in the price you paid and the current fare for the flight you want. That usually makes it worthless to switch to a lower-priced flight because the change fees are higher than the savings. In your case, it sounds like the current ticket price for the flight you want is $88 more than what you paid, so with the change fee the total difference is $238.

Virtually all airlines charge those change fees now (Southwest does not).

Thank you for your info. I guess we just don't travel enough...or we can't keep up with the fee changes fast enough. The airlines sure make it more tempting to drive any more.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I haven’t flown much in the last year or so. Is this normal for ticket change fees now?

America's "legacy carriers" (the big airlines that have been around for a long time) typically charge $150 plus any fare difference to change a nonrefundable ticket.

If Delta demands $238.00 to change the ticket by one day, that's probably due to the fare currently being $88 higher on the new day you want to travel.

The $150 fee is a slimy charge because it substantially exceeds any realistic costs that the airlines incur in facilitating a change. Essentially the airlines are selling cheap tickets and hoping that you'll need to change your tickets due to illness, family situations, work pressure, or some other reason. That's where they make almost pure profit.

The fare rules are available to you at time of ticket purchase.

The legacy carriers also sell fully refundable tickets, which can be changed (or refunded) without any fee. But these are usually several times the price of nonrefundable tickets.

If I think there's more than a slight chance that I might need to change my flights, I look to Southwest which does not charge a change fee.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I also want to mention that all of this would have been spelled out in the contract agreement that you should have reviewed at the time of your purchase (prior preferrably).

 

[Lewisc]

I wouldn't call a change fee "slimy". Passengers have the option of paying $$$ for tickets that are refundable and changeable. The change fee is an alternative to telling the passenger the ticket has no value and, if applicable, make a claim against your travel policy.

An airline is giving a discounted fares in exchange for a commitment. Passengers have the option of waiting until their plans are firm before booking airfare. Passengers that want to book deeply discounted fares, during a promotion, have to decide if the savings are enough to offset any possible change fees.

Customers don't want to pay profitable fares. Airlines have learned fees to check luggage and change fees are an easier sell.

 

[mtblujeans]

I luv Southwest Airlines but they don't fly into Montana. We have flown SW to Orlando in the past but we have to drive 5-6 hours over to Spokane, Washington to use SW.

I was confused because I got various different answers from Delta was to why I would be expected to pay 1/2 again what the original ticket cost. First, I called Delta and I was told I would be charged the $238.00 fee because one part of the ticket had gone up.

Then, I went out to our little airport and spoke to a Delta Rep and he told me I could just fly out at the different time and they would charge me a $25 fee to 'hold the seat'. He seemed as surprised as I was to see that there would be a $238.00 change fee.

Then, I sent an email to complain to Delta about the change fee and I was given some completely different reason for the change fee calculation....I don't even remember what it was now as it seemed kinda' odd.

The last time we had to change a ticket with an airlines, there was a flat $50.00 fee. As I previously posted, we are clearly out of the loop when it comes to having to change any part of an airline ticket.

 

[Brian Noble]

The $150 fee is a slimy charge because it substantially exceeds any realistic costs that the airlines incur in facilitating a change.

Not necessarily. As lewisc points out, the airlines have more of a commitment from you when you buy this ticket compared to those that are fully refundable. That makes it easier for them to manage load, so that they don't fly a plane with too many empty seats, or bump too many (any) passengers. Both of those cost real money, so in turn the commitment carries real value.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Then, I went out to our little airport and spoke to a Delta Rep and he told me I could just fly out at the different time and they would charge me a $25 fee to 'hold the seat'. He seemed as surprised as I was to see that there would be a $238.00 change fee.

Typically if you arrive at the airport before your scheduled flight time, and there is availability on an earlier flight you can change to the earlier flight with no fee or a small one. This typically is only day of the event, so possibly the ticket agent thought it was a then and now event, not hypothetical future one or possibly, this is the seat hold fee they charge to make sure when you make the transfer there is a seat available, but you would still be responsible for the main office fees ($150) and difference in prices.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I also want to mention that all of this would have been spelled out in the contract agreement that you should have reviewed at the time of your purchase (prior preferrably).

Delta's Domestic General Rules Tariff (domestic contract of carriage agreement) is a 58-page document. And it doesn't say anything about the $150 change fee, only that Delta may charge "an administrative service fee" (change fee).

The actual fee is in the fare rules, not in the Domestic General Rules Tariff.

Telling people that they need to be aware that they are bound by the contract of carriage is good advice. But that doesn't mean that every customer needs to read the document every time they buy a ticket.

The last time we had to change a ticket with an airlines, there was a flat $50.00 fee.

The change fee has been going up over the years.

The legacy carriers are betting that most customers will not be concerned about the possibility of having to change the tickets at a later date.

The legacy carriers hope to benefit from the customers' illnesses, family emergencies, problems at their destination, employment pressures, and other unforeseeable events that will force their passengers to reschedule flights. It's now usually $150 per ticket plus and the fare difference. That's $600 down the drain for a family of four (and that's before accounting for any fare difference).

As lewisc points out, the airlines have more of a commitment from you when you buy this ticket compared to those that are fully refundable.

Yes. It makes sense that cheap tickets are tied to a commitment. A reasonable fee (such as the $50 that airlines used to charge), no refunds (except in the case of death), and completion of travel one year from original ticket purchase seem like a fair commitment to me.

Hoping to profit greatly from the misfortunes of customers is a hostile business practice.

 

[mtblujeans]

....Yes. It makes sense that cheap tickets are tied to a commitment. A reasonable fee (such as the $50 that airlines used to charge), no refunds (except in the case of death), and completion of travel one year from original ticket purchase seem like a fair commitment to me.

Hoping to profit greatly from the misfortunes of customers is a hostile business practice.

I agree.

 

[mtblujeans]

Typically if you arrive at the airport before your scheduled flight time, and there is availability on an earlier flight you can change to the earlier flight with no fee or a small one. This typically is only day of the event, so possibly the ticket agent thought it was a then and now event, not hypothetical future one or possibly, this is the seat hold fee they charge to make sure when you make the transfer there is a seat available, but you would still be responsible for the main office fees ($150) and difference in prices.

Is there no more stand-by flying allowed with your previously purchased ticket?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You would need to see the rules of your specific airline regarding standby travel. Some allow it, some don't. Search around the website a bit. While it's likely addressed in the Contract of Carriage, it's also very like somewhere easier to find and easier to read

 

[mtblujeans]

Thanks for all the help, everyone.

 

[Lewisc]

The vast majority of the time I agree with your posts but I don't agree with your point.

The customer doesn't have to read the CoC. Before you click on the tab to review and purchase you have an option to click on the fare rules. A pop up will give you the details. Many airlines will provide a full refund if you cancel shortly after you book. Some midnight, some 24 hours. A passenger who reviews the emailed confirmation and doesn't like the terms can probably immediately cancel. A customer doesn't have to read a long document every time they purchase a ticket.

Change fees are a result of airlines looking for revenue sources to offset the kinds of money losing fares DIS look for. Some of the fares DIS post won't be profitable even if you add $150 to the cost of the ticket. Look at the price for a fully refundable ticket. Passengers who pay a change fee, and fare difference, are still getting a discount off the price of a full fare ticket.

Famlies should either book airlines with small or no change fees such as SW or wait to book until their plans are firm. Passengers shouldn't think they can book as soon as an airline posts money losing sale fares but expect the flexibility of a full fare ticket.

Few airlines are making a profit. Airlines aren't profiting

greatly from the misfortunes of customers

Airlines are charging high change fees for customers who want to make a change in order to allow them to charge low fares to customers that don't make changes.

is a hostile business practice

I don't agree. The airlines are using change fees from one class of customers to subsidize the fares of others. How many posters are complaining about SW fares? Numerous threads are started from DIS that aren't happy now that SW doesn't always offer rock bottom fares. SW doesn't have change fees or fees for checked luggage but you can frequently get better fares from other airlines.

AC has different fares, with different change fees. http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html

Airlines want to use a fare sale to attract new bookings. Give some of the blame to the passengers who used the change fee "loophole" to rebook at a lower fare for the increased change fees.

A compromise might be to have a lower change fee with the customer paying any fare increase but getting no credit if the fare went down. This would make logical sense but I doubt it could be sold to the public as being fair.

Delta's Domestic General Rules Tariff (domestic contract of carriage agreement) is a 58-page document. And it doesn't say anything about the $150 change fee, only that Delta may charge "an administrative service fee" (change fee).

The actual fee is in the fare rules, not in the Domestic General Rules Tariff.

Telling people that they need to be aware that they are bound by the contract of carriage is good advice. But that doesn't mean that every customer needs to read the document every time they buy a ticket.


The change fee has been going up over the years.

The legacy carriers are betting that most customers will not be concerned about the possibility of having to change the tickets at a later date.

The legacy carriers hope to benefit from the customers' illnesses, family emergencies, problems at their destination, employment pressures, and other unforeseeable events that will force their passengers to reschedule flights. It's now usually $150 per ticket plus and the fare difference. That's $600 down the drain for a family of four (and that's before accounting for any fare difference).


Yes. It makes sense that cheap tickets are tied to a commitment. A reasonable fee (such as the $50 that airlines used to charge), no refunds (except in the case of death), and completion of travel one year from original ticket purchase seem like a fair commitment to me.

Hoping to profit greatly from the misfortunes of customers is a hostile business practice.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The vast majority of the time I agree with your posts but I don't agree with your point.

The customer doesn't have to read the CoC. Before you click on the tab to review and purchase you have an option to click on the fare rules. A pop up will give you the details. Many airlines will provide a full refund if you cancel shortly after you book. Some midnight, some 24 hours. A passenger who reviews the emailed confirmation and doesn't like the terms can probably immediately cancel. A customer doesn't have to read a long document every time they purchase a ticket.

I wasn't saying that customers have to read the contract of carriage document. I was commenting on the post by jlewisinsyr that the OP "should have reviewed [the contract agreement] at the time of your purchase". In fact, I was saying that Delta's contract agreement doesn't even explain the change fees and how they work.

I agree that it's important to look at the fare rules when purchasing. Often the fare rules are full of jargon and abbreviations, but it should be possible to pick out the important points, such as whether the fare is or isn't refundable and the amount of any change fee.

Change fees are a result of airlines looking for revenue sources to offset the kinds of money losing fares DIS look for.

Exactly. The change fee is a revenue source (not really the "administrative fee" that the Delta contract of carriage mentions). And it's a revenue source that preys upon unforeseeable events in customers' lives, often events that are already causing other hardships in customers' lives.

Few airlines are making a profit. Airlines aren't profiting

There is a difference between "profiting" from a particular revenue source and making an overall profit. The airlines are definitely profiting from change fees because the fees are much, much higher than the underlying administrative costs.

I stand by my opinion that the $150 change fee is too high and a hostile business practice.

The legacy carriers have been taking desperate steps to stay afloat financially. Change fees are a prime example. But that doesn't make the fees fair or reasonable.

 

[Lewisc]

A (small) part of the change fee is to cover administrative costs. The balance is a penalty to the customer for wanting to change the contract. JMO but the fee is fair if the customer took advantage of a fare sale and booked a money losing fare (under $300 R/T). Revenue from the change fees is being used to subsidize low fares which benefit passengers who don't change.

The answer may be to come up with a new type of ticket. Profitable fares, free checked luggage and little or no change fees. Sorry but DIS that decide SW is too expensive can't complain when lower fares offered by other airlines have "issues".

How many passengers would book a more expensive ticket with Delta, if it offered cheaper change fees and included luggage? I suspect most DIS would go for the lower fare.

Passengers may want to re-think purchasing travel insurance.

There is a difference between "profiting" from a particular revenue source and making an overall profit. The airlines are definitely profiting from change fees because the fees are much, much higher than the underlying administrative costs.

I stand by my opinion that the $150 change fee is too high and a hostile business practice.

The legacy carriers have been taking desperate steps to stay afloat financially. Change fees are a prime example. But that doesn't make the fees fair or reasonable.

 

[crashbb]

Sorry but DIS that decide SW is too expensive can't complain when lower fares offered by other airlines have "issues".

Well, they *can* complain (and do). The question is whether they *should* complain.

I have to say, AC has its issues, but a passenger has no excuse for not knowing what they were getting into when choosing their fare class (as evidence by the table to which you linked).

 

[Brian Noble]

Yes. It makes sense that cheap tickets are tied to a commitment. A reasonable fee (such as the $50 that airlines used to charge), no refunds (except in the case of death), and completion of travel one year from original ticket purchase seem like a fair commitment to me.

Hoping to profit greatly from the misfortunes of customers is a hostile business practice.

To mis-quote Shaw: "We've already established the purpose of the fee. Now we're just haggling over price."

What's rapaciously expensive to some is reasonable to others. As consumers, we have the freedom to book with airlines whose policies are more in line with our preferences. However, as the market at large makes its choices, fees will tend to settle into what "the market" considers to be "fair". On this point, the market has spoken, and only a few holdouts remain.

 

[MAH4546]

The $150 fee is a slimy charge because it substantially exceeds any realistic costs that the airlines incur in facilitating a change. Essentially the airlines are selling cheap tickets and hoping that you'll need to change your tickets due to illness, family situations, work pressure, or some other reason. That's where they make almost pure profit.

Absolutely not.

When somebody books a ticket, you are removing a seat from that flight that might not be re-sold. If there were no high change fees, then people who juggle their plans around so much that yield-management and capacity control would be an absolute nightmare. You think oversold flights are a problem now? Imagine the disaster it would be if airlines did not create a disincentive for flight changes.