Question: Need Help ASAP

[kstategrad]

That is crazy to pay that to change! I know airtran charges $75 per person to change. Does northwest not have a set fee?? I just noticed our airtran just changed it by 25 minutes flying out. I am going to call them and see if I can get on the earlier flight and tell them this one isn't going to work. Not sure what they do if you have an assigned seat though? Do they change that?

Their charge is $150 per ticket, which should be a total of $600, BUT if the fare has gone up since your purchase, you will pay the $150 plus the difference in the fare. Ridiculous!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Their charge is $150 per ticket, which should be a total of $600, BUT if the fare has gone up since your purchase, you will pay the $150 plus the difference in the fare. Ridiculous!

I don't see how this it is ridiculous. The fee you agreed to, so that's pretty much understood, at least I hope. The difference in fare makes sense because you are attempting to change your ticket. Basically you are buying a new ticket, and because there is not a ticket available at the fare you originally paid you need to pay the difference. It would be like buying the ticket out right, you'd be paying more for it.

I can understand being upset, but I don't think its fair to hold it against the airline or their policies that you agreed to.

 

[kstategrad]

Update: Using the AirTran coupon deal, I was able to get all 4 of us round-trip tickets from Memphis to Orlando and back for only $466, so thanks to the poster who told me about the deal!!

Still don't know what we'll do with the November tickets, but the $466 we just paid was much better than paying the change fees through NWA!!

 

[kstategrad]

I don't see how this it is ridiculous. The fee you agreed, to, so that's pretty much understood, at least I hope. The difference in fare makes sense because you are attempting to change your ticket. Basically you are buying a new ticket, and because there is not a ticket available at the fare you originally paid you need to pay the difference. It would be like buying the ticket out right, you'd be paying more for it.

I can understand being upset, but I don't think its fair to hold it against the airline or their policies that you agreed to.

What I think is ridiculous is the amount of the fee. I thought that the change fee was $75 when I booked the ticket, so I was surprised to find it was $150 per ticket. I think it's outrageous for the change fee to be almost as much as the original ticket. But that's just me...

Oh well, it's all worked out now. Yay AirTran!

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's been $150 for quite a while. That's the typical fee charged by the legacy airlines for changes or cancellations made on nonrefundable tickets.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

What I think is ridiculous is the amount of the fee. I thought that the change fee was $75 when I booked the ticket, so I was surprised to find it was $150 per ticket. I think it's outrageous for the change fee to be almost as much as the original ticket. But that's just me...

Oh well, it's all worked out now. Yay AirTran!

I think you're not taking responsibility on this as well. You hold the key to understanding what you are buying, including change fees. These details are outlined at the time of purchase, and it is up to you, the purchaser to read the details.

Considering most purchase tickets based on price, these threads of change fees are very common, and are not met with much enthusiasm on this board in terms of sympathy. There are a few on here (including myself) that book refundable airfares or higher priced fares with varying change fees precisely because we realize things may change for us. Maybe you should consider booking refundable fares in the future, this would help eliminate the misunderstanding of what the fees are for changing.

 

[kstategrad]

Good for you.

Since I requested no flames (you're accusing me of being irresponsible), I'm going to choose to not respond, except to say thank you to everyone for the advice.

It's a shame people have to be judgmental instead of helpful, but that's the way the world is sometimes, unfortunately.

Good night, and thanks to all who were helpful!!

 

[JJZMgailey]

I think you're not taking responsibility on this as well. You hold the key to understanding what you are buying, including change fees. These details are outlined at the time of purchase, and it is up to you, the purchaser to read the details.

Considering most purchase tickets based on price, these threads of change fees are very common, and are not met with much enthusiasm on this board in terms of sympathy. There are a few on here (including myself) that book refundable airfares or higher priced fares with varying change fees precisely because we realize things may change for us. Maybe you should consider booking refundable fares in the future, this would help eliminate the misunderstanding of what the fees are for changing.

WHATEVER!! Everyone makes a mistake every now & then. She asked for no flaming!!

Anyway...to the OP, I'm so happy you were able to get those new tickets & my suggestion to you would be to upgrade your park tickets to AP's if can & go back again in November!!!

 

[DVCBELLE]

OP - I am glad that you were able to book the Airtran flights!! I found this on the NW website...

11. There was a schedule change in my reservation. Due to other travel plans, I won't be able to make this new time. What do I need to do?
If there has been a change to your reservation and you are unable to accept the new the times, please contact Reservations at 1-800-225-2525. They will assist you with finding other possible flights or explaining other options to you.

Call NW and try asking again...if the agent says no politely ask for a supervisor. Explain again to the supervisor that you are not happy with either of the new flights and if they say no - cite this from their website. Tell them that the site does not specify a time frame and that your other travel plans make this a problem for you.

If that doesn't work - hold tight - they will probably change the flights again...

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Since I requested no flames (you're accusing me of being irresponsible), I'm going to choose to not respond, except to say thank you to everyone for the advice.

It's a shame people have to be judgmental instead of helpful, but that's the way the world is sometimes, unfortunately.

WHATEVER!! Everyone makes a mistake every now & then. She asked for no flaming!!

I was responding to the statement of the airlines fees being "ridiculous." I was not be judgemental, nor did I flame anyone saying they were a bad person, or anything. To be clear we've all made mistakes, but there is a difference between realizing the mistake is one you made and accepting it versus blaming the other party, in this case the airline.

If this were me, I'd be mad at myself and only myself, I don't see how any anger or feelings of poor customer service should be portrayed towards the airline.

 

[kstategrad]

WHATEVER!! Everyone makes a mistake every now & then. She asked for no flaming!!

Anyway...to the OP, I'm so happy you were able to get those new tickets & my suggestion to you would be to upgrade your park tickets to AP's if can & go back again in November!!!

Wonderful idea!!! We may just do that...why not? I hadn't even thought of that.

And thank you for being nice.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was responding to the statement of the airlines fees being "ridiculous." I was not be judgemental, nor did I flame anyone saying they were a bad person, or anything.

Gotta agree. Stating someone needs to take responsibility for a decision they made is in no way calling that person irresponsible or flaming them. I thought the post for which jlewis is being called out is clear, lucid, unemotional, and factual. I don't see why he's now being attacked.

 

[kstategrad]

I was responding to the statement of the airlines fees being "ridiculous." I was not be judgemental, nor did I flame anyone saying they were a bad person, or anything. To be clear we've all made mistakes, but there is a difference between realizing the mistake is one you made and accepting it versus blaming the other party, in this case the airline.

If this were me, I'd be mad at myself and only myself, I don't see how any anger or feelings of poor customer service should be portrayed towards the airline.

I wasn't blaming the airline...I just think the fees are too high and I was just posing a question regarding how much of a time change would be significant enough to get my tickets changed. I don't think I blamed the airline for anything, and you did accuse me of being irresponsible. Your response to me was exactly what I was referring to as "self-righteous." Oh well, all's well that ends well.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Wonderful idea!!! We may just do that...why not? I hadn't even thought of that.

And thank you for being nice.

I think nice is the only way to be - after all, we only live once!!

I didn't get the impression by anything you wrote that you were mad at the airline, but just hoping they would help you out by not charging their insane fees.

My DH is laughing right now because if this happened to us, we would be going on another trip 2 months later! He's thankful that we are so far away from WDW or we would be living in the castle for sure!!

 

[kstategrad]

Gotta agree. Stating someone needs to take responsibility for a decision they made is in no way calling that person irresponsible or flaming them. I thought the post for which jlewis is being called out is clear, lucid, unemotional, and factual. I don't see why he's now being attacked.

Well, as I said before, my original post was just asking a question. I don't need opinions regarding my responsibility or what's my fault or what's the airline's fault. I just wanted to know who had success in getting fees waived, and I wanted to know if my slight time change was enough to warrant a change. That's all.

No need for anyone to tell me who I should/shouldn't blame, or whether or not I'm a responsible person (I am).

 

[kstategrad]

I think nice is the only way to be - after all, we only live once!!

I didn't get the impression by anything you wrote that you were mad at the airline, but just hoping they would help you out by not charging their insane fees.

My DH is laughing right now because if this happened to us, we would be going on another trip 2 months later! He's thankful that we are so far away from WDW or we would be living in the castle for sure!!

My DH said, "let's go to the beach for a few days in November." Well, I love beaches and all, but if I have an excuse to see The Mouse, I'm there!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Well, as I said before, my original post was just asking a question. I don't need opinions regarding my responsibility or what's my fault or what's the airline's fault. I just wanted to know who had success in getting fees waived, and I wanted to know if my slight time change was enough to warrant a change. That's all.

No need for anyone to tell me who I should/shouldn't blame, or whether or not I'm a responsible person (I am).

My first response was exactly that, it was clearly defined in what is considered a signficant change, the chance of the change fee being waived, a clear breakdown for other readers of the variances between the costs (ie. the change fee was static, just the differences in fares was generating the escalating costs).

However, my response was not satisfactory because it didn't support your wish to change without a charge, at that point and through other various responses, you made it clear that you felt the airline change fee was too high and continued to press that you shouldn't have to pay it. At that point it became fault with the airline for the fee they were imposing, one you agreed to.

 

[JJZMgailey]

My DH said, "let's go to the beach for a few days in November." Well, I love beaches and all, but if I have an excuse to see The Mouse, I'm there!

OMG!! Me too! Love the mouse!!

 

[JJZMgailey]

So I have to share that last April (2008) we went to WDW from Seattle & there were 8 of us total. We flew on Alaska Airlines. We decided to add 2 days onto the end of our vacation & when I called to see about changing the flights, the lady told me it was $75 per ticket to make the change but she said she wouldn't charge me for even one of them because she could hear how excited I was to add 2 days on & how disappointed I was when she told me the cost. She was a manager & said that it doesn't cost the airline anything at all to make a change like that so she was glad to do it! You just never know what's going to happen until you ask!

Had she charged us, it would have been an extra $600 on top of hotel & park tickets & there's no way we would have done it!

 

[kstategrad]

My first response was exactly that, it was clearly defined in what is considered a signficant change, the chance of the change fee being waived, a clear breakdown for other readers of the variances between the costs (ie. the change fee was static, just the differences in fares was generating the escalating costs).

However, my response was not satisfactory because it didn't support your wish to change without a charge, at that point and through other various responses, you made it clear that you felt the airline change fee was too high and continued to press that you shouldn't have to pay it. At that point it became fault with the airline for the fee they were imposing, one you agreed to.

Again, your opinion. I never once said, "This is the airline's fault." Yes, I have the opinion that the fees are too high. I also don't have to argue with someone on a message board. If you felt like you answered my question, there was no need for you to continue to hang out in this thread.

I will take the high road and tell you that I am glad you responded to my question and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.