that hasn't been the case since about 1981. Over the course of the 1980's, the majors gravitated to a standard where the lowest fares were completely non-reusable (100% penalty for cancellation or change, 75, 50, or 25% for higher fare classes, 0% for full Y only), the 100% penalty system having been popularized by the new lcc's like PeoplExpress.

As a vestige of the Value Pricing plan of 1992, AA and friends switched to a system where most nonrefundable fares were reusable for a $25 fee (they have kept the 100% penalty system for holiday peak day fares to high-demand destinations like the Caribbean). Over the years since then, the domestic re-use/change fee increased to $35, then $50, and so on ultimately $100, and for the last few years it has applied to "rollover" fare drops as well. There is also now in place the rule that no-shows lose the reusability.