Originally Posted by orbitmic

Why unfair?? Airlines have always used cancellation, change, and mini/maxi stay rules to manage fare categories depending on demand. Non-changeable fares are a way of ensuring that companies do not book them (but instead more expensive D or C class) for their staff on business travel. If BA relaxed this rule, many would and other fares would have to mathematically go up to compensate lost revenue. So while I don't really see what is an 'unfair' condition (as long as it is legal and effectively doable), I think it is logical that airlines have some non-changeable, some changeable but non refundable, and some changeable and refundable fares at significantly different costs.