Don't make my mistake!

[kaytieeldr]

I don't quite buy this. You seem to be implying that they are selling the seats at a loss. If they did that they'd already be broke

Broke, no - although several legacy carriers have been in and out of bankruptcy over the last few years, some more than once. But losing money on most individual passengers? Sure. So it's not unreasonable for the airlines to attempt to add revenue - and maybe even someday in the distant future operate in the black - via any legal means.

Again, anyone who feels the $100 or $150 to make ANY change to a nonrefundable ticket is draconian has options: be 100% positive of one's travel plans so there's no need to cancel or change a ticket; don't fly; fly Southwest; purchase a refundable, no-penalty fare.

 

[pickles]

Once I tried southwest, I was so well pleased, I cant see why anyone else would try any other airline if they have the choice.

Southwest is competively priced
Great service..love the singing
reasonable or better when it comes to changing flights/credits
no baggage fees

You talk about their business model, well whatever it is I suggest other airlines get on the ball and learn from it.

I can see a small fee for making changes. I can see having to pay more if the new flight you want costs more, but $150 may be industry standard but it is unreasonable and I hope southwest burries them all until they figure it out...industry standard doesnt mean good business.

Southwest must have been following Disneys business model that is all I can figure

 

[MAH4546]

Once I tried southwest, I was so well pleased, I cant see why anyone else would try any other airline if they have the choice.

If one is a frequent traveler, Southwest makes no sense - no assigned seats, no preferred seats, no first class (which means no free upgrades and no meals), no lounge access, no international network, no ticket honoring on other airlines, no interlining, etc., etc. (and frequent fliers get free baggage, so that's moot).

If one travels infrequently on vacation, Southwest is often the best choice, though the fares are often not the lowest.

 

[pickles]

you can get assigned seats by paying $10 more
fly 18 times you get a free flight (think that is what the promo is)

I guess I dont travel enough to care about lounges etc

as far as price. I have only done SWA from Chicago to MCO and Kansas city to MCO and SWA has always been the cheapest flight and direct nonstop flights. They have never changed a flight on me and loading has always gone easily for us. hopefully, we will continue to have good luck!

Perhaps, the non frequent flyer folks who get stuck paying $150 ticket change fees is whats covering your fancy lounges and your no baggage fees etc...? nothing is ever free, someone pays for it somewhere, otherwise it would not be a business in business for long

 

[dydo2424]

SW also has non-stop flights from San Antonio to Orlando.. Very convenient!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can see a small fee for making changes. I can see having to pay more if the new flight you want costs more, but $150 may be industry standard but it is unreasonable

It isn't any more unreasonable than purchasing a low, nonrefundable and agreeing to all the conditions of the ticket (including that there is a $150 or $100 or whatever charge to make ANY changes - whether outright cancellation or itinerary change), and then expecting the airline to not charge that fee because one's situation is 'special' or because the passenger feels the fee isn't 'fair' or 'reasonable'.

 

[kaytieeldr]

you can get assigned seats by paying $10 more

You might want to double-check your source. There are NO assigned seats on Southwest. The $10 per person per direction is for early-bird check-in, which SIMPLY assigns one's boarding pass number before the 24-hour mark.

Not assigned seating in any form.

fly 18 times you get a free flight (think that is what the promo is)

Don't believe MAH4546 mentioned free flights. Free upgrades is an entirely different animal - one that matters to many frequent travelers.

I guess I dont travel enough to care about lounges etc

But business travelers and other frequent fliers do care.

as far as price. I have only done SWA from Chicago to MCO and Kansas city to MCO and SWA has always been the cheapest flight and direct nonstop flights.

BOS-MCO on Delta is $202 in the middle of January - and you can preselect your seats, and if for some reason Delta can't get you out, they may well be able to get your ticket honored on another airline. Southwest is $333 for the same trip. Even with Delta's checked luggage fee, they're still over $100 cheaper than Southwest.

Perhaps, the non frequent flyer folks who get stuck paying $150 ticket change fees is whats covering your fancy lounges and your no baggage fees etc...?

Much more likely, it's the frequent traveler's membership fee that pays for the 'fancy' lounge; and it's the (much) higher, relatively last-minute or unrestricted fare they paid that covers their 'free' checked luggage.

By the way - even the frequent fliers who purchase nonrefundable tickets pay that $150 if they need to make any change to the itinerary. The airline doesn't look at your past flight history when charging this penalty. They simply look at "did the passenger buy a nonrefundable ticket?" and "is the passenger making any change whatsoever to that ticket/itinerary?"

 

[Glencora]

Much more likely, it's the frequent traveler's membership fee that pays for the 'fancy' lounge; and it's the (much) higher, relatively last-minute or unrestricted fare they paid that covers their 'free' checked luggage.

By the way - even the frequent fliers who purchase nonrefundable tickets pay that $150 if they need to make any change to the itinerary. The airline doesn't look at your past flight history when charging this penalty. They simply look at "did the passenger buy a nonrefundable ticket?" and "is the passenger making any change whatsoever to that ticket/itinerary?"

Having worked for a corporate travel agency, I can GUARANTEE you that it's the higher prices business fliers pay that give them any perks they get. Most businesses purchase fully refundable fares (usually full coach, although some discounted fares can also be refundable). Business plans simply change too frequently to make it cost effective to do anything else. The whole reason that frequent-flier miles were invested was to lure business travels to a specific airline.

The reason the airlines can charge $150 change fee is because it's almost always a leisure traveler making the change. If they lose your one or two flights a year over that, it's no big deal. It's losing corporate customers they care about, so any changes to airline policy will pretty much always benefit them.

And I can't remember who doubted the statement, but it is absolutely true that airlines sell seats at a huge loss. If Americans had to pay for the true cost of the flight, a good percentage couldn't afford to fly. It's kind of the same with gasoline - Americans pay a relatively small amount for gas, considering what the true cost of gas is. Ask anyone visiting from anywhere in Europe what they pay for gas - you'll probably be quite surprised.

 

[ksucats]

AA is not being rude.

In exchange for getting a substantial discount on your ticket over the regular fare, you agreed to pay a $150 change fee if your plans change. It's that simple.

Sorry for sounding like a jerk, but as somebody who has worked on the finance side of airlines, that's how things work. If people could just book tickets and cancel them free of charge, there would be no such thing as $99 one-way fares.

Southwest has a totally different business model than the other carriers which is friendlier for refunds, but in exchange it doesn't reward frequent flyers as well as American Airlines.

$150 is the industry standard change fee used by the major carriers, including United, Delta, US Airways and Continental.

+1

I am sure others have chimed in & I am done reading. You agreed to those terms when you bought the ticket. They may suck, but don't blame the airline. You agreed to them.

 

[wdwtweets]

However, when flying to Orlando, I will use Airtran or Allegiant, especially since Allegiant will now be flying into MCO instead of Sanford!

While I do find this discussion to be interesting, I'm most interested in the above. This is exciting news to me. Can anyone tell me when Allegiant will begin flying into MCO? I'm sure their ticket prices will have to go up somewhat but they will likely be very competitive and they are the only airline that offer a direct flight from our area to Orlando.