This change is among those Continental pushed through citing "high fuel prices." It was clever because, unlike the fuel surcharges that other airlines had implemented, CO's changes of course aren't retracted when the price of oil corrects. And by clever I mean sleazy.
The fees created/increased due to the "high fuel prices" will be here to stay for a while. All of the airlines continue to struggle financially even with the recent collapse of oil. In fact many hedged 40 - 60% of their fuel at the equivalent of $120/barrel so they are overpaying as we speak. Also, many other problems including the drop in demand are forcing the airlines to keep these fees.
My guess is things will turn around for the airline industry, but a lot of ground has been lost already. Now we need to play some catchup.
It is ridiculous and outrageous!!!
Last year they were only charging $35 as a silver elite member, and now they have increased it to such ungodly amount! what happened to the benefits of being part of the One Pass Frequent Flyer program?!!
Welcome to the wonderful world of CO...they love gouging fees Now of course others have also instituted them but it seems that the fee increases for CO silver/gold elites have been especially high percentage wise. They'll give tons of reasons why they need to do this...but it all boils down to the fact that airlines in general can NEVER get enough money. If you give them $500, they want $600. Has been like this for as long as I remember and likely always will. They will gouge for as much as they think that they can get away with.
Sorry, the fee seems fine to me. If you can't commit to certain travel times and dates, don't buy the ticket yet, or buy a fully changeable fare.
Given that the OP quoted the old change/redeposit fee for reward tickets ($35), I think that it is safe to assume he is talking about Reward tickets. I doubt that too many CO non-refundable tickets for purchase have had a change fee of $35 in quite some time...there might be a a rare case done for competitive purposes . There are NO reward tickets--with CO at least--that don't come with some kind of a change/redeposit fee--including sleezypass.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yoyi18
It is ridiculous and outrageous!!!
Last year they were only charging $35 as a silver elite member, and now they have increased it to such ungodly amount! what happened to the benefits of being part of the One Pass Frequent Flyer program?!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stratofortress
I honestly don't understand all the kvetching. Continental's fee structure was long the most generous in the industry. Now it's up to par. Big whoop. It's done, and it's not changing.
Put on your big girl britches and get over it.
So you're saying that CO had a good deal while all the others sucked, so now that CO sucks too, nobody should complain?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bspencerco
And another "one post wonder" miraculously appears out of nowhere.
Sorry, the fee seems fine to me. If you can't commit to certain travel times and dates, don't buy the ticket yet, or buy a fully changeable fare.
If I agree with him, does that make me a "14,000 post wonder"? Really, we were all "one post wonders" at one time, though some have forgotten.
To the OP: I would challenge you to pick a better airline, and good luck. SouthWest (WN) does not charge these fees, but then they might or might not fly to your destination.
I honestly don't understand all the kvetching. Continental's fee structure was long the most generous in the industry. Now it's up to par. Big whoop. It's done, and it's not changing.
Put on your big girl britches and get over it.
Easy for you to say if you are not the one paying. I am a frequent flyer, and unfortunately, once in a while, plans do change. Increasing the fee from $35 to $150 is a 400%+ increase!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rolov
He must be talking about reward flights, it was not $35 to change a regular booking las year, elite or not .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renard
Given that the OP quoted the old change/redeposit fee for reward tickets ($35), I think that it is safe to assume he is talking about Reward tickets. I doubt that too many CO non-refundable tickets for purchase have had a change fee of $35 in quite some time...there might be a a rare case done for competitive purposes . There are NO reward tickets--with CO at least--that don't come with some kind of a change/redeposit fee--including sleezypass.
Not too long ago CO had lower change fees in some LCC markets. I paid $35 for changes to regular (revenue) tickets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yoyi18
Easy for you to say if you are not the one paying. I am a frequent flyer, and unfortunately, once in a while, plans do change. Increasing the fee from $35 to $150 is a 400%+ increase!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COpltASgldPHX
Not too long ago CO had lower change fees in some LCC markets. I paid $35 for changes to regular (revenue) tickets.
Post #2!
I don't recall any $35 change fees at any time recently, and I pretty much fly LCC markets exclusively. I do end up getting a lot of refundable discount economy fares which often means "change fees" (actually changes in fares from one ticket to another) in the $30-50 range, but those are not really change fees.
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Not too long ago CO had lower change fees in some LCC markets. I paid $35 for changes to regular (revenue) tickets.
Post #2!
That is why I carefully worded it: "I doubt that too many CO non-refundable tickets for purchase have had a change fee of $35 in quite some time...there might be a a rare case done for competitive purposes ."
I'm didn't say that they didn't exist....I said that the weren't too common....and in any case, the OP talked about the silver elite rate....with revenue tickets, elite status doesn't matter as far as the change fee is concerned.
Now of course others have also instituted them but it seems that the fee increases for CO silver/gold elites have been especially high percentage wise. They'll give tons of reasons why they need to do this...but it all boils down to the fact that airlines in general can NEVER get enough money. If you give them $500, they want $600. Has been like this for as long as I remember and likely always will. They will gouge for as much as they think that they can get away with.
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