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Southwest flight change extortion
Airfare - Complaint
Review by eackerman16 on 2012-08-07
Rating: 
NAPA, CALIFORNIA -- Let me start off by saying I generally have had positive experiences with Southwest in the past. That being said they have failed miserably on my most recent encounter with the airline. My wife and 10 week old son were set to return from a family trip to Iowa this week when my wife came down with the flu. When we tried to move her flight the first time I was charged an additional $142 and I was told it was due to changing the return city from SFO to Sacramento. I understood that and was told IF I needed to change my flight again due to her illness that as long as the itinerary stayed the same I would not encounter additional change fees.
Unfortunately my wife is still down with the flu and I had to extend the return flight this morning once again to give her time to rest. I was told to do so, even though I was using the same itinerary, that I would be charged and ADDITIONAL $150. My original cost was $210 for the return flight. My current cost to get my family home is now $502. All of this and the customer service agent tried to tell me SW does not have "change fees". That is blatant false advertising. They can say they do not have a change fee and claim that "her original fare was no longer available" but this is a change fee no matter how you slice it. Again, I was fine with the $142 as I changed the itinerary but the last $150 this AM is utter extortion. I feel taken advantage of and I just hope that you don't get sick if you fly Southwest.
The irony is my wife most likely got sick on their plane. Great little profit center they have created.
Southwest - I am 31 and travel for business at miminum twice per month. You have lost my business along with the business of anyone I can convince not to fly with you and it's a shame because your flight attendants are some of the best in the business. It's too bad your customer service and business practices do not match their professionalism.
Unfortunately my wife is still down with the flu and I had to extend the return flight this morning once again to give her time to rest. I was told to do so, even though I was using the same itinerary, that I would be charged and ADDITIONAL $150. My original cost was $210 for the return flight. My current cost to get my family home is now $502. All of this and the customer service agent tried to tell me SW does not have "change fees". That is blatant false advertising. They can say they do not have a change fee and claim that "her original fare was no longer available" but this is a change fee no matter how you slice it. Again, I was fine with the $142 as I changed the itinerary but the last $150 this AM is utter extortion. I feel taken advantage of and I just hope that you don't get sick if you fly Southwest.
The irony is my wife most likely got sick on their plane. Great little profit center they have created.
Southwest - I am 31 and travel for business at miminum twice per month. You have lost my business along with the business of anyone I can convince not to fly with you and it's a shame because your flight attendants are some of the best in the business. It's too bad your customer service and business practices do not match their professionalism.
Comments:
Posted by Dukemom on 2012-08-07:
As a frequent flyer I'm sure that understand about fare changes. Any other airline you would be faced with the increase in fare AND their $150 (or whatever) change fee. I think that you're being unreasonable to not expect to pay the increase in the fare.
Posted by jonthethird on 2012-08-07:
Which fare structure did you use when you purchased the original tickets?
The "wanna get away" is least expensive, but very restricted.
The "anytime" is far more expensive, but much more flexible.
If you did the WGA fare, you rolled the dice and hit snake eyes.
The "wanna get away" is least expensive, but very restricted.
The "anytime" is far more expensive, but much more flexible.
If you did the WGA fare, you rolled the dice and hit snake eyes.
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