Don't make my mistake!

[nicki.momof3]

OP - Since you were originally willing to spend some $ to exchange the tickets why not use that $ and rent a car. Use your original tickets to fly downt there and rent a one way car to get home.

Just a suggestion if staying the extra 2 nights is a huge deal.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Thanks! this is a good idea. My only problem would be that the boys and myself wouldn't get any break between Disney and school, and I know that is an important part of having time off. We all need a vacation after our vacation right?
I will consider this one...

THANKS FOR FEELING MY PAIN EVERYONE

So now you don't want to stay the extra 2 days? I am confused first you said you really wanted to stay 2 more days but couldn't becauase of hte airline fees now you need to go home for a "vacation" from a "vactation????

 

[doconeill]

I do have one comment about the "cost" of the airline to change tickets...

If I am changing from one flight to another, which has roughly the same fares available, what cost (other than the nominal reprinting - if even necessary nowadays) is there to the airline? I am NOT canceling. The seats are the same. It does not cost them more to fly me one day than another - otherwise the fares would be different.

Now, if the fares weren't available, that would be different.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think most people are talking about the size of the change fees. Not the difference in the prices of tickets. It's still a few months out for the OPs trip and prices of the tickets themselves have not moved up much if at all. The Airlines, specificaly AA, asking for $150 per ticket when it still has over 2 months to resell them is not going to be very hard.

It doesn't matter how long the airline has to resell the tickets, or if they can, or for how much. What matters is the OP - as do most of us - purchased NONREFUNDABLE tickets. One of the conditions of this type of ticket is that the airline charges a set, predetermined, unhidden amount of money to make ANY type of change to the ticket - whether an outright cancellation, or a change (aka cancellation with subsequent rebooking), or even providing a credit for a lowered fare (aka cancellation with subsequent reissue at lower fare). It's the price (no pun intended) we pay for a super-low airfare. Refundable economy class tickets are available on all airlines, at a much higher cost. Passengers are both free and welcome to purchase this type of ticket if we wish the flexibility to make changes at no cost.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If I am changing from one flight to another, which has roughly the same fares available, what cost (other than the nominal reprinting - if even necessary nowadays) is there to the airline? I am NOT canceling.

You may not perceive it as a cancellation, but the airlines do - especially since what they have to do is cancel your existing ticket/reservation and book a new one.

Again, it's the price we pay for choosing the lowest possible fare. There ARE flexible fares readily available, but most of us choose the cheapest one with all its rules and conditions.

 

[doconeill]

You may not perceive it as a cancellation, but the airlines do - especially since what they have to do is cancel your existing ticket/reservation and book a new one.

But my argument is what is the COST of doing that? It didn't cost them $100-150 to do it in the first place. They still have the same opportunity to sell the seats I gave up (as long as I'm doing it reasonably in advance).

I'm just saying that the fee does not really reflect the cost of the procedure. It's just another revenue stream to them now...sure, it may help to drop the price of the lowest price tickets - but at the expense of those who may have had their situation change beyond their control (not referring to the OP's case)

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

Unrestricted? Or nonrefundable? Because $449 seems reasonable:

Per Orbitz, refundable economy ticket, DFW-MCO round trip:
AirTran $875
AA $929
US $677
Delta $931
Northwest $931
Continental $937
United $1,083
Midwest $1,589
Frontier $2,448

Average refundable fare = $1,300, therefore average one-way refundable fare = $650.

But as pointed out by a PP the average one way cost is just $144. So very few are actually buying a refundable ticket.

Of course, this evidence does refute the "more airlines on the route" the more competition there is. It all depends on which airlines are on the route. You can put CO, DL, NW and AA on the same route and prices will remain high you put SW on that route and its amazing how prices drop. It was the US DOT that coined the phrase "Southwest Effect" which refers to how fares drop after SW starts flying a route.

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

But my argument is what is the COST of doing that? It didn't cost them $100-150 to do it in the first place. They still have the same opportunity to sell the seats I gave up (as long as I'm doing it reasonably in advance).

I'm just saying that the fee does not really reflect the cost of the procedure. It's just another revenue stream to them now...sure, it may help to drop the price of the lowest price tickets - but at the expense of those who may have had their situation change beyond their control (not referring to the OP's case)

When weather forces flight cancellations the airlines are able to quickly rebook everyone as they have a system in place to do it. Amazon can take an order on Dec 22nd in the evening and have the item on a plane and delivered before Christmas for $15. Technology breaks so many barriers down, yet AA charges $150 for a customer to change an itenerary.

 

[wdwtweets]

I do feel badly for you, OP. It sucks when a deal comes out that you are so close to being able to take advantage of. However, I don't think this is the airline's fault at all.

You purchased a nonrefundable ticket. Whenever you do so, you are always informed that there will be a fee to make itenerary changes. I guess the lesson is always read the small print. So, whether or not this fee is too high is irrelevant at this point. You agreed to that fee when you originally booked your tickets.

I hope you are able to find a way to make the Disney deal work for you.

 

[msmayor]

But my argument is what is the COST of doing that? It didn't cost them $100-150 to do it in the first place. They still have the same opportunity to sell the seats I gave up (as long as I'm doing it reasonably in advance).

I'm just saying that the fee does not really reflect the cost of the procedure. It's just another revenue stream to them now...sure, it may help to drop the price of the lowest price tickets - but at the expense of those who may have had their situation change beyond their control (not referring to the OP's case)

Maybe it doesn't cost them $100-$150 to make the change...but they are well within their rights to charge whatever they want as a penalty for changing a low-cost ticket, especially since it is disclosed at time of purchase.

These fees are not surprises. If the purchaser feels the fees are outrageous then don't buy the airfare to begin with.

Perhaps airlines don't want to encourage constant changes to their passenger loads on popular routes. I mean, considering how often some folks change their dates and resorts when planning trips to WDW, imagine if they were on the phone moving their air travel arrangements around just as much. When they sell a ticket they want it SOLD. The change fee discourages all that constant movement.

 

[DebbieB]

When the price of oil went sky high, the airlines looked for ways to increase revenue other than raising ticket prices. The change fee was one of them. It used to be only $50, then $100, now $150.

 

[doconeill]

When the price of oil went sky high, the airlines looked for ways to increase revenue other than raising ticket prices. The change fee was one of them. It used to be only $50, then $100, now $150.

Which, of course, they did not roll back when the price of oil then swung back the other way...

 

[DebbieB]

Which, of course, they did not roll back when the price of oil then swung back the other way...

The airlines are still losing money, the bad economy is not helping. I think SW posted their first quarterly loss this year.

 

[gigi1313]

I just need to share this because I'm bummed out

DH and I booked our March 2010 trip in July for us and DSS8 and DSS12 from the 13th to the 18th. We got plane tickets through American Airlines with a credit we had at expedia. In October the buy 4 get 3 free deal came out and we extended our trip for a full week only to find out from AA that the plane tickets have a $150 change fee for EACH ticket Not only that, but the tickets are $100 more than they were so we'd have to pay that too. That's $1000!!!
We had hoped to save extra money but after two family emergencys (DH hurt his back and his ex-wife had a heart attack) our money situation won't accomodate paying for the airline ticket change.
We have to go for 5 nights instead of 7 and I am BUMMED. Espicially since the 2 nights we're giving up ar FREE
Of course I'm still glad we're going but my brother and dad don't understand why I'm upset so I wanted to share this with people who understand why I'm bummed out...

DON'T BOOK WITH AMERICAN. USE SOUTHWEST IF YOU CAN. NO CHANGE FEES.

i'm not sure if in the 4 pages since the OP anyone suggested this or not, but try calling disney (or your travel agent or whomever you booked your package thru) and switch from the "buy 5/get 2 free" package to the "$300 gift card w/5 night stay at a value resort" package! QUICKLY!!!

 

[gigi1313]

Sorry about your airline frustrations! Have you looked into Disney's new offer? It's good for most of the spring and only has a 5 night minimum. It's not quite as good as the 4/3 (get a Disney gift card with resort/ticket package) but at least you can take advantage of a deal and not have to bear the expense of changing your flights

actually, at a value resort (buy 5 get 2 free) the new deal *is* better! i believe for two s, (not sure why disboards are blocking out the word A.D.U.L.T.S) at a value resort, no hopper, you come out $94 ahead w/the new deal

 

[KittyKitty]

deleted

 

[sters]

I think Southwest has few if any fees for rebooking.

 

[seadd67]

Yes the airlines did nothing wrong except offer a little custumer service skills and compassion!. There Business nothing else!, and there willing to make a dollar no matter who they walk on! ya we are force to take It because no one wants to tell the airlines how much they can charge for rebooking. If the ticket Is the same price and all you want Is a diffrent day,why In the world should they have the right to charge you 150!!!.It takes what 10 min to change and Its not like there going to lose money they will just turn around and re sell those tickets maybe for even more money!
Ya they did nothing wrong they where all with In there rights and laws!,but maybe thats the problem

 

[lugnut33]

AA isn't jerking anybody around. Customers can bad mouth, but there is no jerking around going on. Rules are rules. Don't book AA (or DL or anybody except WN) if you don't like the fare rules.

Excellent advice. I have stopped booking AA. I hate AA now. After flying on Southwest I will hopefully never have to return to AA. For all I care, I hope AA goes bankrupt (but all their employees find better jobs elsewhere). They are the Ebenezer Scrooge (before he's visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley) of the flying community.

 

[DisneyFanSince71]

Maybe it doesn't cost them $100-$150 to make the change...but they are well within their rights to charge whatever they want as a penalty for changing a low-cost ticket, especially since it is disclosed at time of purchase.

These fees are not surprises. If the purchaser feels the fees are outrageous then don't buy the airfare to begin with.

Perhaps airlines don't want to encourage constant changes to their passenger loads on popular routes. I mean, considering how often some folks change their dates and resorts when planning trips to WDW, imagine if they were on the phone moving their air travel arrangements around just as much. When they sell a ticket they want it SOLD. The change fee discourages all that constant movement.

No one disputes that airlines can do this. What surprises me is how a number of DIS members seem to believe that a charge of $150 x6 is justifiable to make a small itenerary change. Once you buy an airline ticket then the airlines have everything in their favor. Its possible that for some valued customers, AA will make the changes for no charge as a "courtesy". But to aggrevate your customer base seems very with an excessive charge seems stupid.

I presume that the OP (who lives in Dallas) will now look for ways to not fly AA. How many of the other members who contributed to the 2,920 views of this thread will do the same thing.