I bought some tickets about two weeks ago from Qantas for travel next week -- non-refundable, e-tickets, etc. Now I discovered that the exact same tickets can be purchased for $20 less each.

I called them up and asked if they would issue a credit voucher or similar. No way, they said, they just don't do that. The fares go up or down, and they wouldn't ask for you to pay a higher fare if it had changed, the agent said. Now, a US airline would have issued a credit voucher for the difference, I believe.

I mention this b/c in general I've noticed much stricter operating procedures in foreign airlines. No standbys, no upgrades, no refunds, etc. The rules are the rules.

Do you find this to be true -- foreign airlines really stick to what they say while US airlines undercut their positions by giving out all sorts of concessions/exceptions?