Your Bad Luck Is a Windfall For Airlines

[Walter Plinge]

Interesting item from the Wall Street Journal --

Illness, family emergencies, rescheduled meetings—these are a big business for airlines. The resulting change fees and cancellation penalties passengers end up paying add up to a whopping $2 billion a year, according to new Department of Transportation filings.

At some airlines, the fees are heavier than baggage fees even though they get far less attention. At AMR Corp.’s American Airlines, travelers paid $116 million in change and cancellation penalties in the first quarter this year, compared with only $108 million in baggage fees

Airline Cancellation Fees and Penalties Are a Big Business - WSJ.com

 

[harvyk]

True, but I'm oftan happy to pay the fees on a lower rate ticket because oftan the ticket + cancellation fee will come in less than a full priced ticket. And considering I'll only make a booking if I'm pretty confident of actually travelling the fee's aren't a big concern for me personally.

I've only cancelled 4 flights and moved 3 flights around this year, costing me around the $1600 mark, however had I booked full price tickets on all my flights I'd have easily paid out an extra $30,000 (probably more) for the "ability" to change flights without (or minimal) costs

 

[dajop]

Thankfully Australian domestic change fees haven't (yet) reached the USD 150 mark. In comparison, they seem reasonable.

 

[albatross710]

Interesting item from the Wall Street Journal --

Airline Cancellation Fees and Penalties Are a Big Business - WSJ.com

An interesting angle. In the case of cancellation fees we are all now used to them.

I feel that the airlines run much smoother without all of the last minute changes and the late checkins -not sure how to measure that though.

 

[drron]

The only change fees i have paid AA are those when i have upgraded to F