Change Fee Increase to $200/300
Apr 18, 2013, 5:59 pm
#46
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Management is thinking that they need to (somehow) recoup the costs of those 60+ minute by phone changes + multiple calls + 3 supervisors + the 600+ agents hired. SHARES anyone?
...bleeding...bleeding...
...sad...sad...
David
...bleeding...bleeding...
...sad...sad...
David
Apr 18, 2013, 6:09 pm
#47
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If my plans change by a couple of hours, there may be a tiny benefit to having booked UA. *
Anything else UA loses. I should say, the customer loses big.
* I can cancel and re-buy on day of travel on WN and circumvent full fare upgrade for standby, buckets permitting.
Apr 18, 2013, 6:12 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,552
It will be interesting to hear how this meshes with UA's stated goal/strategy to be a "business flyer" airline. I guess that goal from last year is officially dead when you combine this with all the other issues for elites. My personal experience is that change fees matter less to me on leisure travel since I have planned for the vacation. My changes tend to be on business flights, and this would help nudge me (and a lot of corporate travel managers) to AA (which even gave me a soft landing from EXP).
Apr 18, 2013, 6:17 pm
#49
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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Change Fee Increase to $200/300
Humbly disagree - change fees hammer families that book multiple tickets in advance only to have conflicts crop up closer to departure.
I recently ate $600 for family of 4. Never again.
A biz related change, well the biz eats the fee.
I recently ate $600 for family of 4. Never again.
A biz related change, well the biz eats the fee.
Apr 18, 2013, 6:22 pm
#50
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I'm surprised you of all people couldn't see the inference that many people believe United is being run by legacy CO people (HouCrew). And I did re-read the post, by saying "paging UA Insider for the latest spin from the HouCrew on this change we are going to like" that pretty much lumps UA Insider in with the "HouCrew."
He is most certainly not lumped in. His role at times is to disseminate information. That information comes from the HouCrew, not him himself.
Most major corporations have spokespeople who are paid to communicate what they're told. They're just regular people who go home at night like the rest of us. They don't have to agree with what they say, they just have to say it.
Apr 18, 2013, 6:25 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,904
At $250, maybe UA can start offering a "change fee award." Pay 25,000 miles to change your cash ticket. P.S. I remember paying $25 on AA in the 90s!
Apr 18, 2013, 6:37 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I booked one-way ~$150 YYZ-EWR UA flight 2 days ago (4/16) and if I recalled, the change fee was $200~$250 (yes, way more than the value of the flight, or my $250 TCVA voucher)
It's sad that change fee on long-haul Asian carriers are cheaper instead ($50 to $150)
It's sad that change fee on long-haul Asian carriers are cheaper instead ($50 to $150)
Apr 18, 2013, 6:43 pm
#53
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I miss E+ and the true blue widebody transpac UNITED crews greatly. But the HouCrew have left me little choice.
Apr 18, 2013, 6:54 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
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Posts: 4,419
I'm going to earn 5 more free tickets by May 15th.
Apr 18, 2013, 7:00 pm
#55
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nor Cal
Programs: UA Global Svcs 3 MM, LH Senator, BA Gold
Posts: 537
It will be interesting to hear how this meshes with UA's stated goal/strategy to be a "business flyer" airline. I guess that goal from last year is officially dead when you combine this with all the other issues for elites. My personal experience is that change fees matter less to me on leisure travel since I have planned for the vacation. My changes tend to be on business flights, and this would help nudge me (and a lot of corporate travel managers) to AA (which even gave me a soft landing from EXP).
I can tell you that I just received today my status match to gold on VX. And tomorrow, when DL is more convenient, I'm flying it rather than waiting around to take UA. And oh, by the way, the DL discounted F was over $1,000 less than UA. And the plane has wifi. I've become a Kayaker...
Last edited by Marin 1K; Apr 18, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Apr 18, 2013, 7:01 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,330
Y'all enjoy this crap-fest as it continues its downward spiral. This SO reinforces my decision to take my domestic flying to WN. The only thing I miss are the upgrades...of which I never got in my last year with UA, due to the fact that I was a lowly 1K.
Apr 18, 2013, 7:20 pm
#57
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If you re-read the post, the poster is asking UA Insider for the latest spin from the HouCrew. The poster is not referring to UA Insider as "HouCrew," but is only asking him to relay the details from the HouCrew.
Even then, is "HouCrew" an insult? Or is it just a term that acknowledges CO's proud heritage back in Houston? And, do we even know if Aaron is ex-CO or ex-UA.
Even then, is "HouCrew" an insult? Or is it just a term that acknowledges CO's proud heritage back in Houston? And, do we even know if Aaron is ex-CO or ex-UA.
I'm surprised you of all people couldn't see the inference that many people believe United is being run by legacy CO people (HouCrew). And I did re-read the post, by saying "paging UA Insider for the latest spin from the HouCrew on this change we are going to like" that pretty much lumps UA Insider in with the "HouCrew."
Apr 18, 2013, 7:29 pm
#58
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: AA EXP MM/UA MM/Marriott PLT Premier-LT PLT
Posts: 383
I like what AA does. For about $25 you can book with a no change fee for changes. Since on AA booking early is the tiebreaker for EXP upgrades, this allows me to book far into the future with limited risk. AA started this about the first of the year.
Apr 18, 2013, 7:35 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Apr 18, 2013, 7:41 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
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Posts: 6,393
Given that change fees are purely a relic of the past and not indicative of the amount of work involved to change a ticket.....
And given that Kettles (and probably most business travelers) don't consider the cost of changing a ticket WHEN BOOKING THE TICKET.....
Why stop at $200/$300? Why not make it $500? How about $1000? How about 10% of your AJI from your most recent 1040?
Arguing about what is a reasonable change fee is like debating the intrinsic value of an ounce of gold! There are no fundamental arguments for either one!
And given that Kettles (and probably most business travelers) don't consider the cost of changing a ticket WHEN BOOKING THE TICKET.....
Why stop at $200/$300? Why not make it $500? How about $1000? How about 10% of your AJI from your most recent 1040?
Arguing about what is a reasonable change fee is like debating the intrinsic value of an ounce of gold! There are no fundamental arguments for either one!