Airline Anger
I'm completely frustrated with American Airlines.
My boyfriend and I both bought nice and inexpensive tickets to get
home for the holidays -- mine brought me home for two weeks (12-15 -
12-29), he is to join me in a week (12-23 - 12-29). Originally, I had
more time to spend in upstate NY as I am a student, and he was working
full time. Unfortunately, he has just lost his job, but now he is
stuck in Chicago until the 23rd, alone, miserable, and wishing he were
out here with me and his family.
Obviously, changing his ticket to an earlier date was out of the
question, as the time was so short notice. We were hoping that he'd
be able to take the train out early, and just fly back with me at the
original date. However, the airline will not allow him to forfeit half
of his ticket without cancelling the whole thing! This strikes me as
crazy. They have NOTHING to loose -- they could even have a whole
extra seat to sell on the 23rd of December -- probably one of the
highest demand travel days of the month.
According to the airline, if he only wanted to use the second half,
he'd have to buy a whole new one way ticket. (Meanwhile, the flight I
was on today was only 1/4 full, if even. They could easily have
EXCHANGED his ticket and resold the one for the 23rd if they so
desired. Of course they don't.)
It seems the airlines have us totally at their mercy. I assume they
all have this policy, or they couldn't afford treating people so
coldly. As far as we're concerned, we've bought a service, and it's
our business if we want to use it all or not. They, of course, see it
as a contract -- but one they don't necessarily take seriously given
the extent to which they overbooks flights and count on people
forfeiting tickets.
--Jennifer
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