Which Airlines Charge for Phone Reservations?
Oct 17, 2005, 10:21 am
#3
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I think nearly all do now.
The real question should be: what airlines are smart enough to know when you are attempting to make a phone purchase that cannot be done online (and should therefore have no $5 fee)?
I know AA does: they have correctly not charged the fee when I've made a phone reservation that couldn't be done any other way. I had to point the fact out, but they quickly agreed with me and didn't charge the $5.
However, DL does not - they insisted that I go online to book my Belize tickets to avoid the fee, but the website wouldn't allow booking to BZE. The phone agent said that's out of her control and was generally unhelpful. But...DL was the only one willing to give me award seats on this particular date, so I didn't fight it too hard: I paid the $5/ticket and was thankful to have the seats. I haven't protested the charge after-the-fact for fear that the whole reservation would be affected.
The real question should be: what airlines are smart enough to know when you are attempting to make a phone purchase that cannot be done online (and should therefore have no $5 fee)?
I know AA does: they have correctly not charged the fee when I've made a phone reservation that couldn't be done any other way. I had to point the fact out, but they quickly agreed with me and didn't charge the $5.
However, DL does not - they insisted that I go online to book my Belize tickets to avoid the fee, but the website wouldn't allow booking to BZE. The phone agent said that's out of her control and was generally unhelpful. But...DL was the only one willing to give me award seats on this particular date, so I didn't fight it too hard: I paid the $5/ticket and was thankful to have the seats. I haven't protested the charge after-the-fact for fear that the whole reservation would be affected.
Oct 17, 2005, 10:30 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 320
WN does not.
Unless things have changed, I did not find this to be the case with AA. Several months ago, I had a paper voucher that couldn't be used online, so I called and was still charged the $5 fee. I argued and argued, to no avail.
Originally Posted by pinniped
The real question should be: what airlines are smart enough to know when you are attempting to make a phone purchase that cannot be done online (and should therefore have no $5 fee)?
I know AA does: they have correctly not charged the fee when I've made a phone reservation that couldn't be done any other way. I had to point the fact out, but they quickly agreed with me and didn't charge the $5.
I know AA does: they have correctly not charged the fee when I've made a phone reservation that couldn't be done any other way. I had to point the fact out, but they quickly agreed with me and didn't charge the $5.
Oct 17, 2005, 11:06 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: NW Plat, CO Plat
Posts: 353
NW and CO do charges phone reservations too. However, they waive the fee for their Platinum elite members.
The worst are some (most?) European carriers, like KLM, Iberia, Spanair, Ryan Air, Virgin express, SN Brussels, etc. They also charge you fees for on-line reservations and/or ticketing (I still can't believe Iberia charged me 12 EUR for issuing an e-ticket)!
Some of them also have the nerves to charge you extra if you pay with a credit card (Ryanair).
The worst are some (most?) European carriers, like KLM, Iberia, Spanair, Ryan Air, Virgin express, SN Brussels, etc. They also charge you fees for on-line reservations and/or ticketing (I still can't believe Iberia charged me 12 EUR for issuing an e-ticket)!
Some of them also have the nerves to charge you extra if you pay with a credit card (Ryanair).
Oct 17, 2005, 1:57 pm
#7
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Different airlines may spin it differently, but most of 'em charge you something for using the phone.
Most majors charge you the $5 + 1000 FF miles. (Surprised no one has mentioned that yet!!
)
WN ranges from charging you nothing to charging you 50% of your WN credits. (As in...right now.) They spin it as a "bonus for not using the phone" but the net result is the same. More than other carriers, WN likes to ratchet up and down the amount of FF credit you get with your flights on a fairly frequent basis. Right now a WN flight is worth two credits each way, but they only give you one of those if you use the phone.
Sounds like B6 has a charge as well, it's just that they spin it as a "discount". He he...that's cute.
Most majors charge you the $5 + 1000 FF miles. (Surprised no one has mentioned that yet!!
)WN ranges from charging you nothing to charging you 50% of your WN credits. (As in...right now.) They spin it as a "bonus for not using the phone" but the net result is the same. More than other carriers, WN likes to ratchet up and down the amount of FF credit you get with your flights on a fairly frequent basis. Right now a WN flight is worth two credits each way, but they only give you one of those if you use the phone.
Sounds like B6 has a charge as well, it's just that they spin it as a "discount". He he...that's cute.