Are "Less Flexible" WGA fares in our future?
Mar 4, 2013, 10:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred and CP, Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 158
Are "Less Flexible" WGA fares in our future?
Doesn't sound good:
“We’ll have some changes. Again, stay tuned, more details to come on all of that. I’m not saying it’s necessarily going to be a change fee. But we’ll certainly start moving in the directions to tighten some of the restrictions on our lowest priced fares sometime in 2013,”
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2...ay-fares.html/
“We’ll have some changes. Again, stay tuned, more details to come on all of that. I’m not saying it’s necessarily going to be a change fee. But we’ll certainly start moving in the directions to tighten some of the restrictions on our lowest priced fares sometime in 2013,”
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2...ay-fares.html/
Mar 4, 2013, 10:54 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
I am guessing (hoping?) it is the post flight cancellation fee already discussed and mentioned at the end of the article.
And sometime in 2013, it will begin a new no-show policy that charges a fee to people who don’t fly and don’t cancel in advance.
Mar 4, 2013, 11:37 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Gary just keeps on wanting me to fly Delta more. I understand the no-show issue, but if he starts fiddling with when we have to cancel by, or how long our TTF is good for, or what the TTF can be applied to...
Mar 4, 2013, 11:57 am
#4
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,625
Although management appears to be weighing change fees constantly, there's no indication prior to this story that Southwest is preparing to make a move other than to impose a no-show fee.
Like Ink, I fear that the "no-show" fee will turn out to be a change fee if you don't cancel some days ahead of flight time. If that happens I'll be upset that Southwest spun us with a benign characterization of a major devaluation.
Mar 4, 2013, 1:22 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
At this point, Devolve on a full 737-700 isn't really any better than an A seat on an EMB-140, so if there's going to be a change fee.... I may as well fly AA or DL even though it means spending more time at ORD than MDW.
Mar 4, 2013, 2:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
That's already started; TTF is now limited to the original passenger. Another minor devaluation: It now costs $100 to reissue expired funds (was $75, was earlier $50). All these little things add up, but perhaps not in the way WN expects
Mar 4, 2013, 2:40 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Now, I don't think WN IT can implement those kinds of things. But still...
Mar 4, 2013, 3:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
I don't manage TTF for others, so the whole 'original passenger' thing is something I never remember. I'm worried about nonsense like "it's reuseable only for 6 months, and only on the same city pair" or "it's only reuseable once, and if you cancel that second ticket, the funds are gone."
Now, I don't think WN IT can implement those kinds of things. But still...
Now, I don't think WN IT can implement those kinds of things. But still...
The same passenger limitation is an issue for travelers like families, and for businesses who book (WGA) for employees.
Mar 4, 2013, 3:44 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Alki. Seattle, WA
Programs: WN~A List Pref, CP, Hyatt-Diamond, Hilton Diamond, ANT~a Dave Matthews Addiction thing
Posts: 723
I don't understand(?). I'm not familiar with Delta, but AS makes me pay 75 to change outside first 24 hours of booking......Delta?
Mar 4, 2013, 3:53 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 485
Personally.....I think if you simply never show up for a flight or even worse - check-in get your boarding assignment and still don't show.....then there should be something to pay. Heck that is revenue that SW is out - the possibly could have sold to someone else. It is just curtious.
Mar 4, 2013, 4:44 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
For example, I booked MCI-MDW in January as my return flight home for attending the FT BBQ Do in April. If there was a $75 change fee, I would not have booked Southwest because I'm not 100% sure if I'm going. I would wait until 10-14 and book whichever airline was cheapest at the time.
Mar 4, 2013, 4:46 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Personally.....I think if you simply never show up for a flight or even worse - check-in get your boarding assignment and still don't show.....then there should be something to pay. Heck that is revenue that SW is out - the possibly could have sold to someone else. It is just curtious.
But if that was to become "7 days in advance" or even "24 hours in advance," that would be a serious problem to how I use Southwest.
Mar 4, 2013, 6:00 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,463
With the storm hitting Chicago tomorrow, there is a reasonable chance my flight out will be canceled. No problem. But I book 1-ways. I have a return on Wednesday. They sure better not make a rule where my outbound is canceled, but I can't get full credit for a return on a different PNR.
Mar 4, 2013, 6:04 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
With the storm hitting Chicago tomorrow, there is a reasonable chance my flight out will be canceled. No problem. But I book 1-ways. I have a return on Wednesday. They sure better not make a rule where my outbound is canceled, but I can't get full credit for a return on a different PNR.
Mar 4, 2013, 11:05 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
I'm already flying Alaska way more than last year. A QX Dash 8 is more comfortable than a full Devolve 73G on certain length flights (I'm still not crazy about taking one from say PDX to SFO or SMF). The WN -800s are great, but I'm beginning to really weigh my options this year. Especially since a move up to Phoenix is in the cards.