OK, I'll admit it. I've taken advantage of the war policy to reschedule trips that became inconvenient to me. I feel sort of bad about it, but rules are rules, and given the rules sometimes hurt and sometimes help, I'm going to take advantage when I can.

Am I a cheat? Am on the phone with SAS rescheduling a trip by 6 days, and changing the destinations, and they know I have no fear of travel due to the war, but I am just taking advantage of a publicized loophole to do a cancel/rebook instead of paying a $1000 change penalty.

I've got a similar call to make to NW next.

So? This isn't taking advantage.

There is nothing in the these war fare rule relaxation that says you have to be scared of flying to a particular place for some reason related to the war directly.

The airlines instituted this policy because of the steep decline in traveling during this time. That's it. So I don't see what you are doing as exploiting anything -- you are traveling when many people are staying home. That is why the airlines are "rewarding" you with the fare rule relaxation.

well, if you have not already, hurry up and use the "excuse" if needed. I believe President Bush will declare that the "war phase" is over in the very near future. Don't be surprised if the airlines end this option.

Every airline wrote their own policy and applied their own criteria. If SAS is letting you do it, knowing the trip is only put off by 6 days then its their choice. Not every airline would honor the waiver in your case.

My only specific info is for US; their policy was put in place on March 18 with a declared expiration date of June 17. I don't see that they'd end it sooner (though I guess they could if they wanted to). I too invoked "Peace of Mind" more for reasons of convenience than war fears for a London trip that fell too close to an important work deadline. I cancelled via US's online form and then called to reschedule for 3 weeks later.

If you'll miss the Iraq War flexible policy, fear not, for there is now a CDC Alert flexible policy.

Interestingly, the term "Travel Alert" from the CDC seems only to apply to Toronto. Other Asian destinations only have a "Travel Advisory" (not that US would fly there directly).

This is the airline industry we are talking about. These are the people that don't hesitate to kick your teeth down your throat every chance they get. Change fees, redeposit fees, expedite fees, etc.

If they feel the need to revise a policy that benefits the customer, and you can maximize its benefit to you, do so. They consider you, the paying customer, a nuisance most of the time. There is no need for you to "play nice" or try and understand the "spirit" of the policy.

On the morning of March 18th, I was supposed to begin a trip, but had to completely cancel the trip at the last-minute for personal reasons. Because I didn't reschedule and pay $100, the entire ticket was lost. However, that afternoon troops moved into Iraq, and at about 10PM I read on FT that the airlines kicked in their wartime travel policies allowing 1 free change. Just before midnight, I called the airline, made some date changes, and used the ticket in April.

I have also paid a redeposit fee this year on a ticket that was canceled because of my wife's pregnancy. (No waivers for that: I got a hateful lecture from an airline employee about how I'm trying to cheat the system with the medical excuse.) Therefore, I don't feel guilty about "working the system". We, the paying customers, are the Enemy.

I haven't had to change anything yet; however I will without a hint of guilt if the need or convenience factor arises. They have given me the shaft enough times so I feel absolutely no remorse in taking advantage of an airline induced policy.

I have changed two tickets using this policy (one free, one purchased). They didn't ask me why I want to change my ticket, just as they never asked me why in the past when there was a change fee.

They don't care why, they just follow policy as should we. Don't worry about it!

[quote]<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pdhenry:

Quote:

I don't see that they'd end it sooner (though I guess they could if they wanted to).

According to today's WSJ (can't find an online source) Midwest Express has rescinded their flexible policy that was supposed to run until May 18...