Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
I think the issue has attracted discussion because the "flex" fare claims to be refundable which it is except it is refundable with a fee. Also, I think the OP was confused with the "lowest fare" -- perhaps not realizing that there are / can be multiple fully refundable fares, some lower than others. Especially if booked with long advance purchase timeframes.
Refundable, whether with a fee or not, is still refundable. Same with changeable. I think the issue is more with perception and habit - since the refundable with a fee is relatively new - but people are used to its either fully refundable (with no fee) or non-refundable.
Outside of the US, there are many places where this is the norm on discounted fares. When I was ex-India, almost every fare on every non LCC (including UA) was refundable but with a fee which could vary highly. AI was about $10 for domestic often (I think $15 for some international), I had some TK fares where it was about 75 or 100 Euros (IIRC) and even UAs low fares were - I think to refund the L fares I saw ex-BOM was 100 or 150 EUR. Still displayed the green this fare is refundable message at booking.
Refundable doesn't mean that it is fee-free, just that you have he option to have $ put back into the original form of payment, as opposed to having to use it to rebook with the carrier.