United dropped from $425 to $181!

[treloarf]

Last week in Sept., my friend & I booked a flight to MCO (from Pgh) for just a 3 night getaway in Nov. We were leaving Sat. 11/12 & returning Tues. 11/15. The cheapest fare I could find was $181 on United, but we had to leave at 6:25 am & get into MCO at 1:00 (over a 6 hr duration) & had to connect in Chicago.

We really wanted United's 7;30 am direct flight getting us into MCO at 10:40am It was $425. Last week that flight came down to $181 after AirTran & Southwest announced their sales. I'm upset! I called United to see if we could switch our flight down - sure - for an extra $100 change fee. But they did tell me if I had booked the flight & paid $425 they would have refunded me the difference in a voucher.

Sorry, but I know that Nov. is not a heavily traveled month. I think these airlines really need to do something about their pricing especially for the business travelers. This is such a GAME! Meanwhile, it's going to take me 6 hours to fly from Pgh. to Orlando - what a shame!!! Plus the chance of delays.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I know it's disappointing, but United (or any other airline) is within its rights. The airlines all publish their change/cancellation policies on their websites.

Now, on the other hand... while it's NOT as cheap as $181 each, isn't it still cheaper to "pay" the $100 change fee and switch to your preferred flights? You're still saving $144 each!

 

[lilstint]

Last week in Sept., my friend & I booked a flight to MCO (from Pgh) for just a 3 night getaway in Nov. We were leaving Sat. 11/12 & returning Tues. 11/15. The cheapest fare I could find was $181 on United, but we had to leave at 6:25 am & get into MCO at 1:00 (over a 6 hr duration) & had to connect in Chicago.

We really wanted United's 7;30 am direct flight getting us into MCO at 10:40am It was $425. Last week that flight came down to $181 after AirTran & Southwest announced their sales. I'm upset! I called United to see if we could switch our flight down - sure - for an extra $100 change fee. But they did tell me if I had booked the flight & paid $425 they would have refunded me the difference in a voucher.

Sorry, but I know that Nov. is not a heavily traveled month. I think these airlines really need to do something about their pricing especially for the business travelers. This is such a GAME! Meanwhile, it's going to take me 6 hours to fly from Pgh. to Orlando - what a shame!!! Plus the chance of delays.

This is why I LUV Southwest. I got soooo tired of all the rules and restrictions -Saturday night layovers (do other airlines still have these???), paying as much (or more) for one way as for r/t, no refunds or credits (once they got your money it was GONE), fees for changes (which cost them nothing), changed flights, cancelled flights... I could go on and on. How is it that Southwest can forgo all these restrictions and be the only airline in the industry making money??? I'll never fly another airline again.

 

[lilstint]

Sorry double post

 

[treloarf]

Not to say anything bad about Southwest, but when I booked my flights (end of Sept), Southwest fares were HIGH. They just recently came down.