Sometimes it's good to pay full price

[greatam]

equivalent to American Airlines' "Concierge Key."

 

Just curious-where do the "old" Airpass fliers fall in the heirarchy? They used to get EVERYTHING-escorts, transport, AC, you name it they got it. Then when AA realized just how much they were loosing-even at $1,000,000 for one Airpass-spouse was at a discount-just wondered how much the status of Airpass fliers diminished? Damn, that would have been nice to have a liquid $250,000 floating around in the 80's.

 

 

I have had EXP status with AA for a number of years and while I've been in several "IRROPS" (irregular operations) situations I have never been given a seat when somebody else got bumped. And frankly I probably wouldn't take it anyway.

 

I was displaced by Della Reece in F to Hawaii. She had an Airpass, I was just a lowly EXP mileage upgrade flier. Fought like hell-got the trip in J free plus 20,000 miles. All was well in the end.

[greatam]

My husband purposely books flights where he is likely to get bumped, and we pay for very few tickets for personal travel as a result.

 

My "mileage hound" employees spend HOURS looking at EF and KVS betting which planes will have bumps. They have taken some very nice trips on the cheap.

 

I ALWAYS volunteer (I make sure I have the extra time 95% of my flights). Even though I am overloaded with miles from actually flying, those "freebies" are sure nice.

[waterbug123]

The airlines overbook because some passengers don't show up but people with nonrefundable tickets can't get any money back if they don't show up so noone can blame them for that! Because of that, I don't think that it's fair to "take" their seat because of overbooking!

 

You know this happens, and you know the rules. If you don't like them, don't fly. By continuing to fly, you are essentially telling the airline, "your rules are ok with me."

 

I understand the problem. Lots of people always look for the cheapest option. I never look for the cheapest option when it comes to flying because for me vacation is not about getting the cheapest possible vacation, it's about getting the best vacation!

 

Then chances are you don't have to worry about getting bumped, so why all the hullaballoo about overbooking policies? :confused:

[sverigecruiser]

Anyone can choose to not show up. Your logic is flawed.

 

Of course anyone can choose not to show up. Most people understand that I meant that only passengers paying full fare can get their money back if they don't show up.

 

 

For me logic isn't as strict as it might be for other people. For me it's logic to say that you have to eat, because if you don't eat you die. Other people might say that you can choose not to eat and that's logic for them. Yes you die, but you can still choose not to eat.

 

 

I apologize for not explaining that to you.

[sverigecruiser]

You know this happens, and you know the rules. If you don't like them, don't fly. By continuing to fly, you are essentially telling the airline, "your rules are ok with me."

 

 

 

Then chances are you don't have to worry about getting bumped, so why all the hullaballoo about overbooking policies? :confused:

 

Most people have some kind of budget to stick with and so do I. When I say that I don't look for the cheapest possible but for the best I don't mean that I can afford to spend a few months salary on a ticket and get "the best". I only mean that I don't pick airline after which is 5 or 100 $ cheaper than my favorite airline. I book the cheapest ticket I can on "my" airline, I don't look for the cheapest airline.

 

I think that rules shall be fair and I don't think that it's fair that someone with a nonrefundable ticket shall be bumped because of overbooking made because some people choose not to show up! For me it's important that rules are fair but is it more important than cruising? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! I live with the rules they have because I want to get to my cruiseship.

 

I just don't think that it's fair to overbook and then refuse people who has paid for a nonrefundable ticket to board the plane. If you buy a ticket, you shall also get a seat. I might add that I think that flying is very cheap. My first flight to America twenty years ago costed almost as much as my most recent flight to America.

 

What do you mean with "all the hullaballoo"? I only gave my opinion. This is not an important thing for me. I can live with the risk that I someday might be refused to board a plane because of overbooking. Do I think that it's fair? NO. Can I live with it? YES.

[4774Papa]

Sorry, but paying full fare is just plain dumb.

[ducklite]

Sorry, but paying full fare is just plain dumb.

 

Sometimes it's not an option. When a customer wants you in there office to sign a multi-million dollar contract the next day, you go.

[ducklite]

Of course anyone can choose not to show up. Most people understand that I meant that only passengers paying full fare can get their money back if they don't show up.

 

 

For me logic isn't as strict as it might be for other people. For me it's logic to say that you have to eat, because if you don't eat you die. Other people might say that you can choose not to eat and that's logic for them. Yes you die, but you can still choose not to eat.

 

 

I apologize for not explaining that to you.

 

On many airlines, passengers can get their airfare credited as long as they cancel before the plane leaves.

[sverigecruiser]

On many airlines, passengers can get their airfare credited as long as they cancel before the plane leaves.

 

I have never heared of that before! Can you mention some of those airlines?

[4774Papa]

Sometimes it's not an option. When a customer wants you in there office to sign a multi-million dollar contract the next day, you go.

Agree. Also, when someone in your family passes away and you got to get there.

However, I was referring to flying on vacations or for a cruise.

[Zach1213]

Sorry, but paying full fare is just plain dumb.

It really isn't. As mentioned, sometimes last minute tickets mean that is all that is available. I've had to book some last minute tickets before where the only option was full fare.

 

In addition, some companies have plans that change so frequently that having a full fare ticket is worth the risk, as a good chunk of the time their plans do change, so the flexibility is worth it.

 

As a "regular" vacationer, I would probably never may full fare. But there are times when a full fare ticket makes perfect sense.

[ducklite]

I have never heared of that before! Can you mention some of those airlines?

 

Most US carriers will allow you to cancel and apply your air fare towards another ticket.

[ducklite]

Agree. Also, when someone in your family passes away and you got to get there.

However, I was referring to flying on vacations or for a cruise.

 

I just paid full fare for two Premium Economy seats on Air France. I've been watching for about a year, and the price on those hasn't changed by more than a few dollars in either direction that entire time. With only 30 or so of those seats available on any given long-haul, I wasn't going to wait for a sale that would probably never come and end up not getting the seats I want--or even that category at all.

[PennyAgain]

My "mileage hound" employees spend HOURS looking at EF and KVS betting which planes will have bumps. They have taken some very nice trips on the cheap.

 

I ALWAYS volunteer (I make sure I have the extra time 95% of my flights). Even though I am overloaded with miles from actually flying, those "freebies" are sure nice.

 

Wish I could take bumps, but I'm not the boss. I run to the company's schedule even now that I am half retired.

 

I agree that paying full fare for a ticket is not foolish or dumb when you are earning a living and not on vacation.

[barry.lori]

I am not sure if this is the right place for this question. We are flying Toronto to Munich to Milan. Where do we clear customs?

Thanks to all.

Barry.lori

[slidergirl]

I have never heared of that before! Can you mention some of those airlines?

 

I believe you are confusing "crediting" with "getting a refund." The crediting happens all the time. I used it once when I got violently ill the morning of a flight I was supposed to take that evening. I had a SLUT fare, but Delta gave me a credit equal to what I paid for the trip. I was able to use the credit to make that same trip a month later... Non-refundable is just that. But, you don't lose the money, it's just moved over for you to use on another trip.

[Gardyloo]

I am not sure if this is the right place for this question. We are flying Toronto to Munich to Milan. Where do we clear customs?

Thanks to all.

Barry.lori

This is not the right place, but the answer is that you'll clear immigration/passport control at Munich and customs in Milan. "Customs" involves walking out through a "nothing to declare" (green) door.

[barry.lori]

Thanks for the quick answer. Much appreciated.

Barry.lori

[sverigecruiser]

I believe you are confusing "crediting" with "getting a refund." The crediting happens all the time. I used it once when I got violently ill the morning of a flight I was supposed to take that evening. I had a SLUT fare, but Delta gave me a credit equal to what I paid for the trip. I was able to use the credit to make that same trip a month later... Non-refundable is just that. But, you don't lose the money, it's just moved over for you to use on another trip.

 

I know the difference between crediting and refund. I have never seen any information about that it's possible to get a credit to use on a later flight when cancelling the originally booked flight.

 

This is from British Airways site:

 

"If you want to cancel your flight

There are no refunds except for any government and airport taxes"

 

Does that only mean that it's not possible to get the money back but the fare paid will be credited?

[waterbug123]

I know the difference between crediting and refund. I have never seen any information about that it's possible to get a credit to use on a later flight when cancelling the originally booked flight.

 

This is from British Airways site:

 

"If you want to cancel your flight

There are no refunds except for any government and airport taxes"

 

Does that only mean that it's not possible to get the money back but the fare paid will be credited?

 

I'm not specifically familiar with BA, but yes, often "no refund" means exactly that: They will not send you cash (or refund your credit card) but will credit the amount paid toward a future flight. Of course, also common is that a change fee, or cancellation fee will be charge, i.e. You pay $500 for a flight, ticket is non-refundable, you cancel the ticket, the company has a $150 change/cancellation fee, so they do one of two things- they either deduct the $150 fee and credit you $350 toward a future flight, or they actually charge you $150 for the fee, and then credit the entire $500 toward a future flight. Typically they will give you a voucher number that you keep, and enter that as payment or partial payment when you decide to book another flight. Keep in mind that the credit may only be good for a set period of time before it expires.

[odysee]

And often no refund on European carriers also means that you only get the taxes, airport fees back, but that you completely loose the fare. And you get no credit for future flights either. It has happened to us a couple of times, but on the whole we still come out ahead on these cheap tickets we often book to see family.

[iancal]

The challenge with some cruise air tickets is that most people do not know that they may well be 'at the very bottom of the line' when a problem occurs. And even then they may not even know that they have been relegated to the lowest priority when re-scheduling occurs. They only know that there is a delay.

 

They assume that the cruise line will take care of them and give them top priority. Not so, once you are in the airline's control so to speak, you are treated according to your ticket code. There is no magic in this.

 

We book inexpensive fares, sometimes use consolidators. We know what can happen so we always arrive a few days early. We only do it when we can use the same carrier from start to finish and when it is a popular route with multiple carriers and flights.

 

Cruise air tickets, for the most part, are at the same priority as consolidator tickets....at the very bottom of pack. Nothing wrong with this...except that the cruise lines will never tell you this. It only becomes a problem for a minute percentage of cruise air ticket holders-and usually only those who are arriving on the same day as the cruise.