Credit on nonrefundable tickets
Oct 31, 2011, 6:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA 1k, AA plat, HH, Marriott Platinum,
Posts: 65
Credit on nonrefundable tickets
Just had an experience with the CO elite desk. I cancelled my RT from EWR to India and back because I was unable to get the upgrade cleared. I used the ticket proceeds and applied it to a one way (got the other way on miles) tckt and I was credited with $350. However instead of giving me a credit of $100 ($250 change fee), they made me pay $250 and will issue a credit voucher for $350. 
Oct 31, 2011, 7:15 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Just had an experience with the CO elite desk. I cancelled my RT from EWR to India and back because I was unable to get the upgrade cleared. I used the ticket proceeds and applied it to a one way (got the other way on miles) tckt and I was credited with $350. However instead of giving me a credit of $100 ($250 change fee), they made me pay $250 and will issue a credit voucher for $350.
In your case it doesn't matter because you used the credit immediately. But, if you had cancelled and wanted to hold the credit for a period of time, you would be out the $250 cash.
Oct 31, 2011, 7:29 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,243
You don't pay the change fee until you rebook. Assuming you intend to fly on the airline in the future there is no real difference between this and letting you use the original credit to pay the change fee.
Oct 31, 2011, 10:12 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,714
Yep, this is the CO "new money" scam.
More for them.
More for them.
Nov 1, 2011, 6:31 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It brings CO into alignment with most of the industry. I think that we are talking about "non-refundable" fares here, so I have zero problem with charging the fee rather than washing it out of the credit. With full Y/B fares running 9-10x the bottom fare buckets, the question becomes why anybody would pay Y/B if the cheaper fare were "almost as good." Without Y/B (and premium cabin), CO would fail.
Nov 1, 2011, 7:23 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,243
It brings CO into alignment with most of the industry. I think that we are talking about "non-refundable" fares here, so I have zero problem with charging the fee rather than washing it out of the credit. With full Y/B fares running 9-10x the bottom fare buckets, the question becomes why anybody would pay Y/B if the cheaper fare were "almost as good." Without Y/B (and premium cabin), CO would fail.
Nov 1, 2011, 10:39 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,072
Nov 1, 2011, 8:50 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,714
It brings CO into alignment with most of the industry. I think that we are talking about "non-refundable" fares here, so I have zero problem with charging the fee rather than washing it out of the credit. With full Y/B fares running 9-10x the bottom fare buckets, the question becomes why anybody would pay Y/B if the cheaper fare were "almost as good." Without Y/B (and premium cabin), CO would fail.
We're not talking about non-refundable fares, since they're non-refundable. We're talking about fares that are refundable with a cancellation fee.
Buying Y/B/premium is unrelated.
Nov 1, 2011, 11:30 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,243
It's out of line with the industry: CO is the largest US based airline to implement this customer-hostile policy. AA/DL/UA all take it out of the refund, leaving the customer with less cash out of pocket.
We're not talking about non-refundable fares, since they're non-refundable. We're talking about fares that are refundable with a cancellation fee.
Buying Y/B/premium is unrelated.
We're not talking about non-refundable fares, since they're non-refundable. We're talking about fares that are refundable with a cancellation fee.
Buying Y/B/premium is unrelated.
That credit is not the same as a refund at all. It can only be used for a ticket for that person, and there are intl / domestic restrictions too depending on the original ticket.