September 6, 2002
Delta, Northwest, United, American and Continental Airlines have followed US Airways' lead and tightened restrictions on leisure-fare tickets, hoping to drive business-class travelers back to full-fare tickets.
While details vary, all of the airlines have made it much harder for anyone holding a discount ticket to make itinerary changes. The carriers have eliminated the one-year grace period, meaning that travelers can no longer hold a credit for a year or more after missing a flight or changing an itinerary.
Most are now requiring that a traveler who changes an itinerary on a discount ticket must immediately rebook on a specific flight.
Additionally, travelers who miss a flight without notifying the airline and rebooking in advance will lose the full value of their discount ticket.
The carriers are also increasing the fees they charge for making changes. Most will begin charging $100 for passengers on restricted tickets who change their travel plans and want to fly standby on the same day as their original flight.
Passengers and consumer groups are not reacting well to the changes. Dr. Peter DeFranco of Hueytown, Ala., complained that US Airways charged him $100 when his plans changed because of illness.
"If you get sick you are penalized by this company. This is wrong!" DeFranco said in a complaint to ConsumerAffairs.com. "For all I know I may have the West Nile Virus since I was bitten by mosquitos in Florida this weekend. Airplanes have poor ventilation and I feel that flying may put other passengers at risk."
"I think airlines should be mandated to return the full price of a ticket with a doctor's excuse and will begin lobbying my congressman for this change. They are ripping people off while providing poor protection for consumers. I am against the US Government bailing out this company, and believe the judge handling this case should force them into chapter 7, so that this company can be bought out by another carrier that is more consumer oriented," DeFranco said.
