I do hope that you don't expect CO to let you fly EWR-IAH and then IAH-EWR for a $50 change fee :-D I think you mean IAH-MSY. Just a hunch <g>

-RM

Since the airlines are getting little velocity in increasing fares, these kinds of changes are the only way to increase revenue.

I wish the airlines would take a long look a their entire fare structure. It is archaic and I suspect actually costs them money. The poster abvoe who wants to reroute MSY/IAH/EWR is right that they won't let that happen becuase of the routing. This is non-sensical. If they free up two seats on crwoded flights to take two seats on less crowded flights, it actually opens up possible sales. reduces VDBs and IDBs, etc.

Plus how much does CO (and others) spend enforcing all these rules. Perhpas its cheaper to give more discretion to TAs and GAs with clarity about managing to a series of goals (reduce VDBs and IDBs, provide better service to passengers needing changes (elites ), reduce loads on phone CSRs, etc.

But insted the legacy carriers have held firm to their legacy pricing and fare structure. They need to focus as much on these issues as they do other cost cutting measures.

I would not expect a platinum waiver, as the fee is not waived today. I've only paid the $25 maybe once, and I almost certainly won't pay the $50. Then again, we actually know better than most of the regular folks out there, so most of us just do the free standby. Unless that disappears this isn't too big a deal to me. I just hope that CO Insider doesn't consider this to be one of his 6 in 6.

I suspect that most users of the change fee are those that buy the later, cheaper fare but plan to travel on an earlier flight. The $25 change fee was less than buying the earlier flight. The $50 probably helps to neutralize the cost savings from buying a more off peak flight.

Not sure about this. Have used the $25 on both DL and NW. It usually has nothing to do with fares at time of purchase and more to do with change of plans on trip. Usually tickets are pruchased based on price/times of flights. Plans however can change..

I just today did this very thing in JAN and was charged $25, not $50. Not implemented? Plat 'discount'? Dunno.

You're right - my sloppy keying

It's just been announced yesterday... was not in effect in JAN. Part of the $200mm CO is seeking in savings and additional revenues.

JAN is a place, not a month. The OP meant that they did it today in Jackson, Mississippi. I had to read it three times before I realized that earlier.

Wish it was January, it was stinking hot!

Whoops. I missed the "today."

I do wonder what "effective immediately" means when posted here by Scott at 7pm. I wouldn't be surprised if he means "we're putting it into the system now and as soon as that's done and propogates out in the next day or two, the charge will be higher."

Even US waives this fee for its elites.

I've rarely paid it, unless traveling with a non-status companion and wanted to ensure we got seats. As a Plat, clearing SBY on my route has been 100%.

I hope CO remembers that a big part of the reason we need same day flexibility is because their EWR schedule is more of a general outline than any sort of rigid execution. I don't get on earlier flights to dodge higher fares or to get home earlier, I do it when I see EWR is a mess and I want to get home period.

I am guessing that one of the delayed features with this change will be an increase in the time to confirm. Rather than 3 hours, maybe 12 or 24 hours. Some other airlines have a longer change time.

Likely the reason for not announcing a change now - is that CO has to program and test it first. Just changing the dollar amount is an easier change.

Expanding the change time makes sense. If you happen to be on an oversold flight and want to change to an earlier flight - that frees up a seat on your oversold flight. Win/win for both you and CO.

Plus - I suspect that CO will make this feature available on line - rather then having to call.

Also - I do not see an Elite benefit here, as CO is so Elite heavy, what would be the point of the fee. CO could also have variable release times for allowing changes to particular flights. If a flight is nearly full, that could be held back - so not to impact sales. If light - then open right away at the window. If real light, maybe allow changes a couple of days sooner.

Probably right about the expanded window and online functionality. Probably also the aforementioned routing issue, which also could be win/win for CO and pax.

Another reason for raising the fee immediately could be to pay the programmers for making the other changes.

Well it appears that nickel-and-diming is what CO's all about.

Co appears to be implementing the $150 fee. I knew they would....the change fee is one of their favorite...and if it goes over well, they'll try to raise it again!

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...=1#post9629018