Why is Changing a ticket class so impossible?
Feb 13, 2009 | 5:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Woodlands, Tx
Programs: CO Silver-finally, HH Gold, GP, and a host of others
Posts: 39
Why is Changing a ticket class so impossible?
I am booked on IAH-PHX in a week. Because the flight was booked by my corp's travel agent I ended up with a W fare.
Just to see how much it would cost to change to a higher fare class, I called CO and was told: a $150 Change fee, a $25 Re-ticketing fee and whatever the up charge fee would have been to the new fare.
Since I earn my Elite status based on points and not miles, the W fare means I get zip in EQP's.
All I wanted to do was to give CO a few dollars out of my pocket in return for a couple of EQP's.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Just to see how much it would cost to change to a higher fare class, I called CO and was told: a $150 Change fee, a $25 Re-ticketing fee and whatever the up charge fee would have been to the new fare.
Since I earn my Elite status based on points and not miles, the W fare means I get zip in EQP's.
All I wanted to do was to give CO a few dollars out of my pocket in return for a couple of EQP's.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Feb 13, 2009 | 5:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: UA, AA, AF, IB
Posts: 388
I am booked on IAH-PHX in a week. Because the flight was booked by my corp's travel agent I ended up with a W fare.
Just to see how much it would cost to change to a higher fare class, I called CO and was told: a $150 Change fee, a $25 Re-ticketing fee and whatever the up charge fee would have been to the new fare.
Since I earn my Elite status based on points and not miles, the W fare means I get zip in EQP's.
All I wanted to do was to give CO a few dollars out of my pocket in return for a couple of EQP's.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Just to see how much it would cost to change to a higher fare class, I called CO and was told: a $150 Change fee, a $25 Re-ticketing fee and whatever the up charge fee would have been to the new fare.
Since I earn my Elite status based on points and not miles, the W fare means I get zip in EQP's.
All I wanted to do was to give CO a few dollars out of my pocket in return for a couple of EQP's.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Since many of us are restricted to buying tickets through our Corporate Travel Agent; and therefore, getting either half EQMs or 0 points - Why does Continental not offer the chance to buy up for a different class of service, within a reasonable period of time (let's say 24 hours) since the reservation was originally booked?
You would not be changing any flight date or time, just the class of service. This would provide additional income for the airline - Just my two cents.
Feb 13, 2009 | 5:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
They do let you do this within 24 hours of ticket purchase without a change fee. I have done so more than once.
Feb 13, 2009 | 5:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SJO
Programs: CO Gold
Posts: 1,230
since lately we have a fee for everything.....and this is a fee that people are asking for.....I hope CO Insider takes note. Worth making the experiment IMO
Feb 13, 2009 | 5:59 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
Programs: UA Aluminum 0.6MM, Bonvoy Life Sentence, Hyatt Eliteist, AA Super Plutonium
Posts: 2,878
Wouldn't the 24 hour flexible booking policy cover this issue??? 
Feb 13, 2009 | 6:12 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Woodlands, Tx
Programs: CO Silver-finally, HH Gold, GP, and a host of others
Posts: 39
Past the first 24 hours, I don't see why it should cost extra to increase my fare class. It's not like I am changing flights or dates.
This would be a great way to allow CO to increase their revenues with almost no effort, especially if I can make the change on-line.
This would be a great way to allow CO to increase their revenues with almost no effort, especially if I can make the change on-line.
Feb 13, 2009 | 6:33 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Priority Pass, DL SM, UA G, VA GM, SPG GM, HHonors GM, Marriott PM
Posts: 400
I have ran into this problem as well, sometimes I do not get my booking email till after the 24hr window as I have to go thru clients travel services alot. As such they nail you with that fee each time. you would think that me spending a few hundred extra $'s for the same seat would be good for them, or even better me buying a fc or be seat.
Feb 14, 2009 | 10:15 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: CO Gold
Posts: 52
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...e-classes.html
Feb 14, 2009 | 10:20 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,608
I agree that changing to a higher fare class should not involve a change fee --- after all this is simply putting more money into the airline!
The one caveat would be with the "full fare" tickets. If you buy up to a full fare within 24 hours ... great. If you buy up to a full fare after 24 hours, it should be allowed without the change fee, however, it should not be refundable. Otherwise, people could buy non-refundable tickets, and then when they need to refund it, they could buy up to a Y class ticket and then refund.
The one caveat would be with the "full fare" tickets. If you buy up to a full fare within 24 hours ... great. If you buy up to a full fare after 24 hours, it should be allowed without the change fee, however, it should not be refundable. Otherwise, people could buy non-refundable tickets, and then when they need to refund it, they could buy up to a Y class ticket and then refund.
Feb 14, 2009 | 11:26 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1MM Gold, Hhonors Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 553
I was talking to an agent the other day about an upgrade and she said that starting around February 23 CO would be able to do a revenue upgrade, i.e: fare change from ____ class in economy to first, without a change fee. The CSR was excited that it would be easier to calculate and do. Maybe it will work to get from chepo class to B too.
Feb 14, 2009 | 11:28 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
Programs: UA Aluminum 0.6MM, Bonvoy Life Sentence, Hyatt Eliteist, AA Super Plutonium
Posts: 2,878
I was talking to an agent the other day about an upgrade and she said that starting around February 23 CO would be able to do a revenue upgrade, i.e: fare change from ____ class in economy to first, without a change fee. The CSR was excited that it would be easier to calculate and do. Maybe it will work to get from chepo class to B too.
Feb 14, 2009 | 11:42 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
I was talking to an agent the other day about an upgrade and she said that starting around February 23 CO would be able to do a revenue upgrade, i.e: fare change from ____ class in economy to first, without a change fee. The CSR was excited that it would be easier to calculate and do. Maybe it will work to get from chepo class to B too.
Won't change fare class, and won't happen until after all elite upgrades (although there are those who have posted their concerns that it won't happen that way).
Feb 14, 2009 | 12:05 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1MM Gold, Hhonors Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 553
Nope. Info is here: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...elnotices.aspx and has been previously posted on other threads.
Won't change fare class, and won't happen until after all elite upgrades (although there are those who have posted their concerns that it won't happen that way).
Won't change fare class, and won't happen until after all elite upgrades (although there are those who have posted their concerns that it won't happen that way).
Feb 14, 2009 | 12:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
Also, I've called and managed to pay the difference from coach to first after the 24 hour mark without a change fee. There have been sporadic reports of others who have also done this (and people who've been turned down). It's the change in-cabin that they hit you up for, and I agree should not. If someone wants to pay for a higher fare class, same flight, cabin and refundability, there shouldn't, IMHO, be a change fee.
Feb 19, 2009 | 8:50 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
I checked and see that the CSR was quoting the correct policy. I think that this one should be changed ASAP. Bad enough that we get 50% eqm on deep discount fares we're required to book through a travel agent. But when we're willing to buy up with our own funds to get full EQM, we shouldn't also be hit with a change fee.