FlyerTalk Forums - Is the Intl Change fee really $200 USD?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijgordon (Post 7737975)

They charge what the market can bear -- in terms of both fares and change fees. It's pretty much a basic tenets of economics, and it doesn't matter whether or not you invest in the business. It's about being realistic. Nobody's cheering for change fees. It's just that the enlightened ones recognize the reality of the situation. ... And I think it's been mentioned, but you should definitely note that there exist fares on foreign carriers that are absolutely non-changeable. Not even for a fee.

Look, I'm not saying that I don't expect it, but I just don't think it so unreasonable to b**ch about it. It stinks when you get stuck with it, all of us have, and I just don't understand why there is so little sympathy here for some guy when he does get hit. Everyone prattles on about CO service, but they are willing to stick it to even Plats on a regular basis - look at Channa and his schedule change. And then they are going to stick it to us when 1 time out of 50, we have a simple date change?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijgordon (Post 7737975)

Do you care to share with us why you don't think it's so clear cut? Why don't they just lower ALL their fares by $50 or whatever?

This was all in my post. The only consistently profitable airline doesn't do it... Customer loyalty... Collect more money for increased fares... Fill a seat that might go empty on another flight... Improved reputation among biz travelers... There are other examples of customer friendly policies at some of the most successful retail chains that would seem crazy on their own; like the fact that you can return anything to Nordstrom.

Just because something seems, at first glance to contribute to the bottom line, doesn't mean that the net impact of all the associated fallout yields positive results. I'm not saying they don't, but I do not think it is clear cut either way, and I would presume that any impact is minimal, at best. You can disagree, but I just don't think the evidence or the theory warrants the kind of certainty thrown out on this forum.