01-03-2009, 08:53 AM
Hope, as a former Quality Management Sup for America West Airlines I can tell you the unfortunate truth - airlines will do everything they can to encourage a roundtrip purchase from you and it is almost ALWAYS non-refundable.
The only way you get your money refunded is by purchasing a whopping full fare refundable ticket - almost never done 'cause the costs are astronomical.
Those people in first class are 98% frequent flier business people who use their miles or frequent flier awards to get there. RARELY does anyone pay first class full fare for a ticket.
As an aircraft fills up, the price goes up. You could be sitting next to someone who paid $100 more or less than you. They are not all priced the same. If there are only a few seats left on the aircraft, chances are you will be paying more than anyone else on the flight.
I have heard many theories here about the right time to purchase tickets, the truth is that if you are lucky enough to be one of the first people to purchase on a flight, you will probably have a lower fare.
P.S. Oh yeah I forgot - airlines are required to hold 20-25% of the seating until 24 hours prior to departure. So that's why sometimes you purchase a ticket but there's no seat to choose. It's there, but they can't give it to you until then. Also - they are required to hold bulkhead seating open until prior to departure to allow for people with service animals or people to have fused limbs or are disabled and need the space.
Exit aisles are not supposed to be assigned until day of departure, but I have seen that one waived for people who are frequent fliers and their history shows they are physically able to carry out the possible duties that go along with an emergency exit.
Carrie Rojo
"Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable."
-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The only way you get your money refunded is by purchasing a whopping full fare refundable ticket - almost never done 'cause the costs are astronomical.
Those people in first class are 98% frequent flier business people who use their miles or frequent flier awards to get there. RARELY does anyone pay first class full fare for a ticket.
As an aircraft fills up, the price goes up. You could be sitting next to someone who paid $100 more or less than you. They are not all priced the same. If there are only a few seats left on the aircraft, chances are you will be paying more than anyone else on the flight.
I have heard many theories here about the right time to purchase tickets, the truth is that if you are lucky enough to be one of the first people to purchase on a flight, you will probably have a lower fare.
P.S. Oh yeah I forgot - airlines are required to hold 20-25% of the seating until 24 hours prior to departure. So that's why sometimes you purchase a ticket but there's no seat to choose. It's there, but they can't give it to you until then. Also - they are required to hold bulkhead seating open until prior to departure to allow for people with service animals or people to have fused limbs or are disabled and need the space.
Exit aisles are not supposed to be assigned until day of departure, but I have seen that one waived for people who are frequent fliers and their history shows they are physically able to carry out the possible duties that go along with an emergency exit.
Carrie Rojo
"Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable."
-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Carrie Rojo
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future..." Galadriel LOTR
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future..." Galadriel LOTR