Moderator: Travel Technology, Travel Photography and JetBlue
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 29,405
Quote:
Originally Posted by stratofortress
There are plenty of benefits. I think you'll find that $150 isn't out of line with what others charge...
Yes, it is. The USD 150 fee is higher than I think even DL has the cojones to charge for a reward ticket change. There was a several hundred post thread about just how crappy this fee is.
And the lack of consideration for the Silver and Gold elites is rather insulting, too. I think this is the biggest problem with the fee.
So, I still had one of my $400 bump vouchers that was set to expire in Sept. So, I used it to book a EWR-MEX-EWR ticket for $495 just to extend the voucher and give myself a little extra in my e voucher. I immediately cancelled the itinerary. I went to go trade it in for a EWR-HNL-EWR earlier tonight, and guess what? The site tried to charge me the $150 change fee! Of course a quick call to co.com got it settled, but I was thoroughly confused when I was trying to book the itinerary.
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Yes, it is. The USD 150 fee is higher than I think even DL has the cojones to charge for a reward ticket change. There was a several hundred post thread about just how crappy this fee is.
And the lack of consideration for the Silver and Gold elites is rather insulting, too. I think this is the biggest problem with the fee.
+1
thank you, sir.
This fee gives me the collic..............or maybe the consumption.......whatever, I don't like it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sbm12
Yes, it is. The USD 150 fee is higher than I think even DL has the cojones to charge for a reward ticket change. There was a several hundred post thread about just how crappy this fee is.
And the lack of consideration for the Silver and Gold elites is rather insulting, too. I think this is the biggest problem with the fee.
Agreed. And it also fails to take into consideration that people book suboptimal trips due to tight award availability (odd connections, routes, dates, times, etc.) and when better flights open up, it's $150 to change regardless of the type of change (date/time change or destination change or full redeposit).
These types of changes should have a reduced or waived fee.
Agreed. And it also fails to take into consideration that people book suboptimal trips due to tight award availability (odd connections, routes, dates, times, etc.) and when better flights open up, it's $150 to change regardless of the type of change (date/time change or destination change or full redeposit).
These types of changes should have a reduced or waived fee.
I've never tried this before...I think one can do it on UA but I've never tried on CO. Can one book one of these 'suboptimal trips' using miles and waitlist for the more optimal trip...and if availability opens up, it changes your itin for free? I suspect not. Sure, one would have to call and likely pay the fee. I remember doing it with a reward ticket on UA and it worked wonderfully....now this was a few years ago so I'm not sure how this would work on them today.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Renard
I've never tried this before...I think one can do it on UA but I've never tried on CO. Can one book one of these 'suboptimal trips' using miles and waitlist for the more optimal trip...and if availability opens up, it changes your itin for free? I suspect not. Sure, one would have to call and likely pay the fee. I remember doing it with a reward ticket on UA and it worked wonderfully....now this was a few years ago so I'm not sure how this would work on them today.
I think if the optimal trip that was waitlisted becomes available, they'd still charge you the fee because the ticket has to be re-issued. My only experience with this was as a Platinum, so there was no charge...
Moderator: Travel Technology, Travel Photography and JetBlue
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 29,405
Quote:
Originally Posted by CAL PHL FLYER
CO change fee seems fair to me..Its the cost of doing business..Im Ok with it..
Cost to whom??
It certainly does not cost CO $150 in ANY hard costs to make a reward reservation change. I don't even buy the argument that they are making up for potential lost revenue, as if they are releasing the seats to reward inventory it is because they do not expect to sell them for cash.
It is truly a cost of the reward program now, but it is a crappy policy and one that is the least competitive in the industry at this point. And they provide no leniency to golds and silvers, which is a pretty crappy way to treat some of your "elite" passengers.
With the economy in full blown recession and airlines cutting fares left and right to fill their planes, I wonder how long it will be before CO rescinds its various "enhancements" that were implemented in 2008...
I hope this ridiculous $150 change fee for reward tickets is the first to go, especially for elites.
I've changed a number of tickets for our company on these big airlines and their big fees. Frequent fliers have become somewhat accustom to the new change fees. Infrequent fliers are always shocked when they hear the increased change fee and difference in ticket.
On the other hand, for those who’ve bought WN and B6 tickets and the time comes to change, there is little shock as they seem to expect to have to pay something. These two airlines at the moment have reasonable change fees and it endears customers to become repeat customers.
In these uncertain times it seems to me the best business structure would be the one that makes the customer feel good about the money the spend.
Most times these days I buy a new one way ticket on the best price. Usually this always beats the change fee plus difference in ticket price
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.
It's up to par?? Let's see: What other US carrier charges 50 dollars for same day stand by? What is the highest change fee among US carriers on domestic flights?? What airline charges their top tier levels fees while on most other carriers exempt all fees for top tier elites? Who often charges more for a pet to be carried on board in a little bag than the ticket for a seat costs??
Up to par?? Not close. CO has gone from First to Worst. Gordon is turning over in his grave and the guy isn't even close to being dead
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy777
L...O...L
It's up to par?? Let's see: What other US carrier charges 50 dollars for same day stand by? What is the highest change fee among US carriers on domestic flights?? What airline charges their top tier levels fees while on most other carriers exempt all fees for top tier elites? Who often charges more for a pet to be carried on board in a little bag than the ticket for a seat costs??
Up to par?? Not close. CO has gone from First to Worst. Gordon is turning over in his grave and the guy isn't even close to being dead
Indeed.
Then again, if Gordon wants someone to blame he should take a hard look in the mirror since the current occupant at the helm of CO was Bethune's hand-picked successor.
Accountants make great CFO's but usually make lousy CEO's because they rarely understand that making a profit isn't just about making money, it's also about the customer's psychology, something most accountants not only do not understand, but are in fact terrified by.
Costs and fees they can control. Psychology they cannot even quantify.
To an accountant raising a change fee a few bucks seems like a great idea because they cannot compute the psychological consequences it will have on the company's customers, especially the most loyal ones who, today, have every right to be fuming mad.
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