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Untangling the Rules of Non-Refundable Airfares

Use It - or Lose It:      Untangling the rules of non-refundable airfares      In late August, the major U. S. airlines amended the rules for changing non-refundable tickets. For most airlines, if you don't change your ticket before midnight of departure day, you lose its entire value. Most carriers will charge a $100 change fee plus any difference in fare on the new reservation.      Effective January 1, 2003, many airlines will introduce a $100 fee for same-day standby travel. American, United, America West and Northwest at press time say they will not levy a fee for same-day standby travel. Two have the fee into effect already. US Airways' fee went into effect on October 10, 2002; and Delta Shuttle $100 effective September 5, 2002.      America West will allow unused tickets to be reissued within one year of original issue date without a $100 change fee. Standby on the same day as originally ticketed is permitted at no charge. Southwest allows the purchase price to be applied toward the purchase of future travel within one year without penalty. Standby is not allowed. Fluidity is the name of the game with these rules, as announcements are being made every day with variations and restrictions. This information serves as a basic outline - not as a finished product. For up-to-the-minute details, contact your MTS TRAVEL Consultant. Carrier What happens to the value of your non-refundable ticket if you miss a flight? American, Continential Delta, United, US Airways › Changes are allowed up until midnight of the missed flight's departure day. › You may apply the ticket value to future travel with $100 change fee › If this does not happen the ticket is worthless. Northwest › Changes are allowed on or before the departure date as long as you call the airlines at least 1 hour before departure › You may apply the ticket value to future travel with $100 change fee. › If this does not happen the ticket is worthless. Southwest Airlines, America West › You may rebook without penalty › Your ticket value is good for one year from date of issue Carrier Standby Policy: American, America West, Continental, Northwest, United Delta, US Airways Southwest › NO FEE › $100 Fee ( may be non-refundable) › NO STANDBY Subject to change at any time Use It - and Pay      Is a paper ticket worth the cost?        At one time, the traveler decided between electronic and paper tickets without factoring in a paper-ticket cost. However, airlines are making it more attractive to dispense with a hard copy and rely on e-tickets. By March 2003, American Airlines hopes to eliminate paper tickets for wholly domestic itineraries and for all other travel by December 2003. New Security Rules at Some Airports        Generally, all the proof needed for e-ticket use and airport security checks was a passenger receipt with your itinerary and ticket number clearly visible. However, many airports and carriers are now requiring actual boarding passes for the security check. Be sure to get your boarding pass before proceeding to the gate. In airline hub airports, there may be several automated boarding-pass machines available for your use. Otherwise, you must go to the airline ticket counter. Northwest Airlines' web site nwa.com provides on-line check-in. A Northwest representative claims that the boarding pass printed from your computer will suffice for the domestic security check, but we have not tested this yet. Fees for Paper Tickets.      To induce travelers' use of e-tickets, the carriers recently introduced fees for paper tickets when the itinerary can be e-ticketed. At press time, Southwest was the only major airline not charging for paper tickets. When first announced, some airlines excluded government and group fares, but these exclusions no longer apply on the airlines listed below. US Airways and Southwest are the only major carriers that permit travel agents to issue paper tickets instead of electronic tickets at no charge to the passenger. If you purchase directly from US Airways, the charge will be $25. The following airlines charge $20 for a paper ticket where e-tickets are available: Continental, Delta and United. American and Northwest are $25 each.        We know the airlines want to save money by using electronic tickets. What are the advantages and disadvantages for you, the traveler? Advantages Disadvantages 1. No actual ticket to lose 1. If you fly on full tickets, flight cancellation might make it difficult to have your ticket endorsed over to another airline without waiting in line at the original airline’s counter.* 2. No additional paper ticket fee 2. Some foreign countries require paper tickets, even when e-tickets are available from the airline. 3. Airport security checkpoints generally accept an e-ticket passenger receipt in lieu of paper, even when on heightened alert. (This may not always be true for every airport and airline, however.) 3. If you travel multiple airlines that don’t have “interlining” agreements, you cannot use e-tickets *Passengers traveling on other than full-fare tickets must always get their e- or paper tickets endorsed over to the another carrier by waiting in line at the original carrier. Source for some material: Travel Weekly

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