WOW... I feel like a STAR that Southwest has actually linked to one of MY posts! Its kind of an honor!
I really can not believe, with all of the press that WN has been putting out in the last six months, that change fees are coming our way. Colleen Barrett had an article about this, now this posting on their blog? WN has always differenciated themselves with no change fees. Seems like a 180 degree reverse course to change that. Even on a DING fare, I can't see them doing it.
To UALOneKPlus... I think that there are more and more of us doing it than United thinks. Hopefully someone at United is monitoring this thread. The least they could do is drop it for TED flights. When United sees how much business they get back, they will see the advantage of dropping change fees systemwide.
Hmmmm. I remember all the brownies here talking up WN's "service", seats, etc. Now the only reason many seem to be flying WN is the lack of change fees?
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I suffer from stAAgnation in the Age of Arpey
Hmmmm. I remember all the brownies here talking up WN's "service", seats, etc. Now the only reason many seem to be flying WN is the lack of change fees?
The lack of change fees is only part of it. If you know the system, you can generally work it to get good seating compared to a middle seat on a legacy, especially on a last-minute purchase. Legroom is part, (for me) avoiding connections is part, and cheaper last minute fares is part (Mrs. GHF is on WN revenue this week at $500 savings compared to any other airline, and award seats were unavailable on the others).
I realized that I'd be better off on WN direct flights than majors with a connection when I ended up booking several WN one-ways as backup to make sure I could get home on Friday nights.
Programs: DL PM, .6MM; AA Plat; Marriott Platinum Premier
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i think the no-change-fees policy suffers from a bit of customer-confusion since WN does not do same-day-standby in the manner most other carriers do. When ma and pa kettle hear that WN has no change fees, they tend to think that they can just go to the airport any time on their day of departure and take an earlier flight. When WN informs them that going on an earlier flight requires a fare upgrade to full fare, the Kettles may feel resentful at having to pay for something which they had believed would be free. (and yes, there are signs around the airport explaining the standby policy)
Has anybody either experienced this or seen others experiencing it?
Hmmmm. I remember all the brownies here talking up WN's "service", seats, etc. Now the only reason many seem to be flying WN is the lack of change fees?
I doubt anyone flies a carrier for just one reason.
