Penalty for SDC when same fare class isn't available?
In the past, every time I've called to do a SDC and my same fare class was not available on my desired flight, I was permitted to simply pay the difference in fare without being charged the $200 change penalty.
... until today. I tried a HUCA but I got the same answer: the $200 penalty applies if there's no availability in the same fare class.
Has Delta changed their position on this recently or did I just have bad luck / get bad agents?
If the policy is in fact to charge the penalty in addition to the fare difference for same day changes when the same fare class isn't available, I find this policy ridiculously rigid and mean spirited.