That headline is copied from a column in the Dallas Morning News written by the “Travel Troubleshooter”,Christopher Elliott. He was responding to a question by a reader who had to cancel an airline flight because his traveling companion became too seriously ill to travel.
Over the past 4-5 years, since the airlines have started charging for all the ancillary services that used to be free, the increased fees have started to be almost as much as the cost of the airline ticket. When one considers the payment of an upgrade fee to a wider seat, luggage cost, early boarding privileges and meals, that is a huge chunk of change the airline is keeping if someone has to cancel their reservations. Then, of course, the airline also charges from $200-$400 a cancellation and change fee, so with all these ancillary fees no wonder they are earning between $8-10 billion additional money a year.
In addition, if someone has paid for an upgraded seat and they have to cancel, you can bet that they will do their best to resell that seat for an additional fee for that cancelled seat….double-dip, if you please.
Mr. Elliott stated that “when passengers see an airline fee, many assume it is refundable since it is an optional service. Since there are no disclosure requirements on refundability, or it is in such small print on the screen of the computer or I-phone, passengers often don’t learn about the restrictions until the last booking screen or, in some cases, after they’ve decided to pay for the extra legroom or early boarding privileges. Airlines assume the opposite: that unless they specifically say it’s refundable, it isn’t.”
Four years ago the U. S. Department of Transportation required that fees for baggage, meals, canceling or changing reservations and upgraded seating be disclosed on the airline websites. They made no mention on whether the airlines should refund those fees if a traveler’s plan changes. The only mention of a refund of these ancillary fees is when a passenger’s luggage is lost, then the airline has to refund the baggage fees, as well as compensation for the lost luggage.
I’m just guessing that somewhere down the line because the airlines are making so much money from these ancillary fees, and the consumer outcry in opposition to the negative treatment when someone has to legitimately cancel their reservations, the DOT will look at some kind of regulation on the airlines to encourage them to fairly treat the consumer. One would think the airline would consider this themselves without government intervention, but it is obvious that the airlines do not consider themselves a service provider anymore; they are a money-making machine!!!
Anyway, that’s all I know about that…I don’t know where the “tip of the day” is in all that “rant”, but like me, take it with a grain of salt, and sent a comment to the DOT and see if you don’t feel any better. Better still, take a vacation and let The Travel Factory help you with your travel plans. We are at 4150 Southwest Drive, Ste. 120, or give the friendly agents a call at 698-1421 or 800-760-4040.