Originally Posted by
channa
I don't think anyone should be expecting these perks on BE.
Right, but if the fare drops... odds are good the lowest fare was R already, and odds are excellent the lowest fare available on a GARR or a cancel/rebook IS R.
"Hey, you can totally take $5 off that fare using GARR. Kiss your upgrades goodbye. Kiss SDC goodbye. No Premium class. No exit row. No drink in coach. Reduced earnings. Enjoy your low fare guarantee. We have technically offered you one just like Southwest does, since Southwest doesn't actually punish you for saving $5 on a fare drop, and we do, and the fact we made it very unattractive for you to use it doesn't mean we got rid of it."
Imagine if a hotel said "well, you can use our lowest rate guarantee, but we will rebook you into the room with a view of the air conditioning vents, and it's next to the elevator and ice machine. Oh, plus it's half the size of the other rooms. You can't be upgraded out of it or get complimentary breakfast as an elite benefit either". Not much of a guarantee if you ask me. To be honest, you might as well get rid of the GARR because you're going to have to do a big "HEY DUMMY, YOU BOOK THIS FARE IT'S GONNA SUCK" alert any time anyone uses a GARR and it books into an R fare. That isn't going to help with customer satisfaction, is it?
Note that DL/AA/UA don't offer guaranteed lowest fares...