In yet another show that airlines are finding every way to squeeze more money out of the consumer, United has augmenting its charge for making changes to domestic itineraries to $200, an increase of $50.
The "price-adjustment" that also covers itineraries between the USA and Canada that took effect on April 18 isn't the only enlargement of fare-fees:
According to USA Today, "United also hiked its change fee to $300 for changes to certain destinations in South America, up from the previous $250. The change fee for other international itineraries -- including to Asia and Europe -- remains at $250."
"We carefully manage our seat inventory and incur costs when a traveler elects not to fly in a reserved seat. We adjusted this fee to better compensate us for those costs," said a United spokesman to USA Today.
The increase puts United on the top of fee-hike list among the United States' five biggest airlines.
The change doesn't seem to be affecting Southwest, America's largest carrier of domestic passengers, but Henry Harteveldt, airline and travel industry analyst with Hudson Crossing, told CNBC ""I won't be surprised if other airlines match United."
Harteveldt made it clear that "if they (other airlines) don't (change their bag-fee policy), United has two choices: callback the change fee to $150, or stand alone."
One way for United to avoid this whole issue, maybe to follow American Airlines plans.
The experiment from AA comes on the cusp of a new fare structure American introduced this past December. The policy allows AA to waive its $150 domestic change fee if passengers pay a little bit more for its nonrefundable tickets.
The options are as followed:
AA's "Choice Essential" fares come with less rules than its cheapest "Choice" fares, and also give fliers one checked bag for free and early boarding access.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
