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Air New Zealand Informative - Flight Change Fee - Change fees
Change fees
If I could give half a star I would and I haven't even taken the flight yet. I booked a return flight to Auckland for my wife and myself, a family reunion. Due to some mis-communication I had to change the dates of departure and return. I expected a change fee but was gobsmacked to be hit with a bill for $400. Yes that's right $100 per person per change both ways. This is simply extortion or legal theft. I myself made the changes online so operator intervention was minimal. Updates to records take place in nano seconds so where is the justification for $400? Perhaps checking availability? Nope, this was checked by me prior to making the change. All flight times are the same, even the flight numbers are the same, just a week earlier.
The only explanation I can think is that it is done because it can be done and you the customer can do nothing about it. Airlines and airports are totally out of control. The change fee plus all the other add on costs come to more than the flights cost.
Perhaps if Air NZ cancel the flight I will be able to bill them for $400. Fat Chance!
The only explanation I can think is that it is done because it can be done and you the customer can do nothing about it. Airlines and airports are totally out of control. The change fee plus all the other add on costs come to more than the flights cost.
Perhaps if Air NZ cancel the flight I will be able to bill them for $400. Fat Chance!
Comments:
Posted by Jambra on 2008-01-28:
This is standard procedure for all airlines, unless you bought the more expensive ticket that allows such changes
Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-01-28:
"gobsmacked " I like that word.
Posted by Hugh_Jorgen on 2008-01-28:
I imagine moving your reservation up a week might have had something to do with it. The closer you are to the date of flight, the more expensive the ticket.
Posted by KenPopcorn on 2008-01-28:
Jambra is correct, just about any airline, anywhere is going to hit you for a hundred bucks if you change your tickets.
Posted by guthfrith on 2008-01-28:
Thanks for the comments. I have no problem paying a change fee it is the size of the penalty that is infuriating. The flights cost $923 without other add-ons, the penalty is $400. That's a 43% charge. And the flight is six weeks away. This is profiterring and is out of control. I would like to see a detailed analysis of the steps involved in making a change so it could be independently costed. Fat chance!
Posted by MSCANTBEWRONG on 2008-01-28:
I travel for business a good bit and I've had to make a changes to my flights and was only charged $50.00. On a few occasions, I was issued credits for the difference in flights. I typically fly Delta, Southwest or AirTran. These were also non-refundable tickets. $400 is a lot of money but if that's their fee, there's not much you can do about it. Sorry...
Posted by chris513 on 2008-01-28:
Have to agree w/ everyone else...this is pretty much the standard on a non refundable ticket w/ any airline. it sucks, but it is what it is. consider yourself lucky that it was only 400 bucks. international flights can get extremely pricy to change...
Posted by wgaguy1984 on 2008-01-30:
I'm pretty sure they told you about the change fee when you booked your flight. And $400 for four people is not that bad, most airline change fees run about 100 bucks per person, so it sounds like you're getting the same fare. I'm sure if you had a legitimate reason for changing they'd let you fax something in to get at least one or two waived. But if it's just a discretionary change, quit whining, you agreed to their contract of carriage when you purchased the ticket.
Posted by IM shocked on 2011-06-03:
I am going through the same process with my mother in law. We had to change the ticket a week before travelling. Because she had to go to hospital and found a tumor in her throat. They have removed it and she has been given the clearance to travel. Since she was on a connecting flight. The first airlines with Alaska Airlines to Los Angeles and the second with crappy air nz from los angeles to Auckland. Air New zealand is charging us $800 USD to change the flight. No compassion at all. Worse than the Americans.
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