Why do you think that? That's the case for every ticket, refundable or non-refundable.

Can you provide and example of what a ticket change without ticket reissue would be?

If you have a ticket and need to change just the travel date, and the fare is valid for the new date, and inventory exists, then the ticket can be changed for just the change fee.

Anything else requires a new ticket, with a new price.

Virtually every DL non-refundable ticket has the stated clause. And you can always cancel and rebook for the fee plus the price difference.

EDIT: Can ANYBODY come up with a case where a "normal" DL ticket could not be canceled for the $150/250 fee?

Hmm I seem to remember a case where the lowest available fare was "higher" but the agent mentioned not charging me since they were both L fares, maybe not as the recollection is hazy. Does the same fare basis necessarily mean the same price or can they reprice a fare basis?

They can reprice a particular fare-basis code, but the different dates on it will mean it's technically a different fare basis.

Were you on a return leg? Most reissue procedures once you've flown a leg of your trip only require same fare class +change fee.

I had a routing restriction imposed on me by DL about 18 months ago. I had booked SVO-JFK-SVO, then had to cancel that, and stored the value of the ticket (which I knew would be subject to a 150 EUR -- it was ex-EUR, not ex-USA -- rebooking fee). A short while later, I attempted to book ARN-JFK-SVO and apply the value of the prior cancelled ticket. I was told by an apologetic agent at international reissue that routing changes were not allowed under the terms of the SVO-JFK-SVO ticket. (Fortunately, I had to fly that particular routing anyway a few months later, so just waited to apply the stored value of the original ticket til then.)

DL has done worse before. Around four years ago they nearly lost my business for good when, around 12 hours before the outbound departure of another SVO-JFK-SVO ticket, I called to try to switch the ticket to a few days later, fully prepared of course to pay the change fee (I had already confirmed that the same fare class was available). I was shocked to be told that the fare rules of the particular ticket I had bought (which was a U or T, but not super-discounted) permitted changes or cancellations only at least 24 hours in advance. With considerable difficulty and reluctance, not to mention resentment, I made the original flight. DL missed out on the extra 150 EUR, of course.

@ bennos, that's a great idea that I too have advocated for some time. Perhaps someone needs to start a consumer campaign, and/or a letter-writing campaign to Congress. I am all for airlines pricing their tickets however they want, but they should be transparent about it.

Many of the discounted international tickets originating in europe will not allow changes. AF/KL r-fare basis, t-fares basis, and u-fare basis.

Cancellations are free the penalty is assessed on the reissue.

Thanks Exwannabe
 

This is my experience of many years too. I did not know that nearly every DL non-refundable ticket has this clause - which appears from what you are saying to have no meaning, which is why I do not understand why it is there. Over the years I have ditched quite a few tickets on a number of airlines, lost the $250 (or whatever the fee was at the time) and bought completely different tickets to other destinations on different fare bases. Never had any problems. Never liked doing it as I lost $250 but it was straight forward.

Another question - in the past I have scrapped an international ticket and then bought multiple domestics from the proceeds. Should this work?