Comments on: More than half of air travelers would fly with the flu to avoid a change fee http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/ The travel troubleshooter. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:45:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Geoff http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-26083 Geoff Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:16:10 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-26083 $150.00 is a completely inaccurate. The rules say that it is $150.00 plus any difference in the cost of the new flight. Very rarley do I see just $150.00 and yes I would deffinitely fly ill, rather than pay the airlines 1 red cent. $150.00 is a completely inaccurate. The rules say that it is $150.00 plus any difference in the cost of the new flight. Very rarley do I see just $150.00 and yes I would deffinitely fly ill, rather than pay the airlines 1 red cent.

]]> By: Beth http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-26033 Beth Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:35:18 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-26033 I had a moron behind me on an AA (full) flight last week that was obviously sick - coughing, sneezing, temperature (his wife sitting next to him would ask what his temp was - heard him say 101.8), everything. Actually sneezed on me at one point when he stood up to go to the restroom. A few days later I come down with symptoms and then swine flu - thanks. Thank goodness my elderly mother (who was sitting next to me) is fine. Yeah, there are going to be people who say "you can't pinpoint that it came from him".... Well, I take great care of myself and stay away from those who appear to be sick and I was stuck in a tube with this guy for over 4 hours, inhaling his germs from less that 3 feet away. Seems pretty obvious to me. I find it hard to believe that AA staff didn't see this passenger was sick and forbid him to get on the plane. He was sweating, he was pale, he was SICK. Guess AA just cares about the money. I try and fly them as little as possible, and this was the icing on the cake. I had a moron behind me on an AA (full) flight last week that was obviously sick – coughing, sneezing, temperature (his wife sitting next to him would ask what his temp was – heard him say 101.8), everything. Actually sneezed on me at one point when he stood up to go to the restroom. A few days later I come down with symptoms and then swine flu – thanks. Thank goodness my elderly mother (who was sitting next to me) is fine.

Yeah, there are going to be people who say “you can’t pinpoint that it came from him”…. Well, I take great care of myself and stay away from those who appear to be sick and I was stuck in a tube with this guy for over 4 hours, inhaling his germs from less that 3 feet away. Seems pretty obvious to me.

I find it hard to believe that AA staff didn’t see this passenger was sick and forbid him to get on the plane. He was sweating, he was pale, he was SICK. Guess AA just cares about the money. I try and fly them as little as possible, and this was the icing on the cake.

]]> By: David Z http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25996 David Z Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:37:03 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25996 <blockquote>airlines could also implement sustainable business plans and profitable or break-even pricing structures</blockquote> Aren't they, albeit it's just getting harder to do so nowadays?

airlines could also implement sustainable business plans and profitable or break-even pricing structures

Aren’t they, albeit it’s just getting harder to do so nowadays?

]]> By: Jennifer (the other one) http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25988 Jennifer (the other one) Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:35:53 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25988 Did they say 'fly or lose your money', or did they say 'we'll reschedule, but there are no seats available for the next month'? Those are two entirely different things. Should they bump someone else to make room for you? $287 is about 10% of the normal cost of an upgrade on a long-haul flight - it sounds to me like they're trying to work with you, but if they're completely sold out, there's not a lot they can do. Did they say ‘fly or lose your money’, or did they say ‘we’ll reschedule, but there are no seats available for the next month’? Those are two entirely different things. Should they bump someone else to make room for you? $287 is about 10% of the normal cost of an upgrade on a long-haul flight – it sounds to me like they’re trying to work with you, but if they’re completely sold out, there’s not a lot they can do.

]]> By: Lisa S http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25983 Lisa S Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:01:28 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25983 @Joe, usually I like your posts and think you are pretty even handed, but I think you are dead wrong here. (Gallows humor there.) If one buys a non-refundable ticket when one is not sick and then one becomes sick (as opposed to buying a ticket for dates when one knows one will be sick--which would be rather rude and discourteous), you could equally say that is the luck of the draw and everyone's--the airlines' and other passengers' and the sick person who is flying--misfortune. After all, the person didn't know he or she was going to be sick. However, the airlines knowingly sell tickets at price points they decide upon with ever increasing fees attached to them. If airlines really cared about their employees, they would encourage passengers to reschedule their flights when they are sick by WAIVING the change fees. Alternatively, airlines could also implement sustainable business plans and profitable or break-even pricing structures, but they choose not to do so and complain that they lose money. Obviously, the airlines really don't care about employees or passengers, although they claim they do care. Actions speak louder than words, and the airlines have shown by their actions that all they care about are profits. @Joe, usually I like your posts and think you are pretty even handed, but I think you are dead wrong here. (Gallows humor there.) If one buys a non-refundable ticket when one is not sick and then one becomes sick (as opposed to buying a ticket for dates when one knows one will be sick–which would be rather rude and discourteous), you could equally say that is the luck of the draw and everyone’s–the airlines’ and other passengers’ and the sick person who is flying–misfortune. After all, the person didn’t know he or she was going to be sick.

However, the airlines knowingly sell tickets at price points they decide upon with ever increasing fees attached to them. If airlines really cared about their employees, they would encourage passengers to reschedule their flights when they are sick by WAIVING the change fees. Alternatively, airlines could also implement sustainable business plans and profitable or break-even pricing structures, but they choose not to do so and complain that they lose money. Obviously, the airlines really don’t care about employees or passengers, although they claim they do care. Actions speak louder than words, and the airlines have shown by their actions that all they care about are profits.

]]> By: Carrie Charney http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25980 Carrie Charney Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:12:45 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25980 I didn't get to vote in the poll, but I will FWS if I can manage it. I also suspect I've caught an illness or two from a plane (or a super market or the bus, etc.) Unless we live in a bubble, we will be exposed and perhaps most (not all) immune systems are the stronger for it. I didn’t get to vote in the poll, but I will FWS if I can manage it. I also suspect I’ve caught an illness or two from a plane (or a super market or the bus, etc.) Unless we live in a bubble, we will be exposed and perhaps most (not all) immune systems are the stronger for it.

]]> By: C.B.Osborne http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25979 C.B.Osborne Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:30:51 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25979 I`m being forced to fly with Singapore Airlines next week despite having a lung infection and a medical letter to say I shouldn`t fly. There were no seats available for a month in economy and to upgrade will cost $187, plus $100 change of booking fee, plus a further $187 if there is no availability in the next class. Which wasn`t possible to advise. In my own case, it is not infectious, but despite breathing difficulties I must endure the 22 hour flight Sydney- London. I`m being forced to fly with Singapore Airlines next week despite having a lung infection and a medical letter to say I shouldn`t fly. There were no seats available for a month in economy and to upgrade will cost $187, plus $100 change of booking fee, plus a further $187 if there is no availability in the next class. Which wasn`t possible to advise. In my own case, it is not infectious, but despite breathing difficulties I must endure the 22 hour flight Sydney- London.

]]> By: Brian http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25966 Brian Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:22:15 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25966 Imagine if I was sick with H1N1 (not that I have it right now) and my boss told me that I could be terminated from my job if I didn't come to work; despite my sickness. It would be interesting if passengers start filing a lawsuit against the airlines for taking advantage of a passenger's sickness in the name of profit. I would probably would do the same (whether I win or lose) since it could get the attention of the media. Imagine if I was sick with H1N1 (not that I have it right now) and my boss told me that I could be terminated from my job if I didn’t come to work; despite my sickness. It would be interesting if passengers start filing a lawsuit against the airlines for taking advantage of a passenger’s sickness in the name of profit. I would probably would do the same (whether I win or lose) since it could get the attention of the media.

]]> By: Dave http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25964 Dave Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:06:17 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25964 I say this as one who leans libertarian: This is an area where the government could reasonably step in and create some regulations requiring reasonable cost changes for people who are truly sick. Would it cost the airlines some money? Yes. Does it cost restaurants some money to maintain sanitary conditions so people are not made sick? Also yes. Does anyone question the necessity of health regulations at restaurants? They are both reasonable costs to bear to minimize the spread of disease. Fly Southwest! They are the only ones who get it! I say this as one who leans libertarian: This is an area where the government could reasonably step in and create some regulations requiring reasonable cost changes for people who are truly sick. Would it cost the airlines some money? Yes. Does it cost restaurants some money to maintain sanitary conditions so people are not made sick? Also yes. Does anyone question the necessity of health regulations at restaurants? They are both reasonable costs to bear to minimize the spread of disease.

Fly Southwest! They are the only ones who get it!

]]> By: Jim http://www.elliott.org/blog/more-than-half-of-air-travelers-would-fly-with-the-flu-to-avoid-a-change-fee/comment-page-1/#comment-25953 Jim Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:20:38 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9120#comment-25953 Of course people fly sick. Airlines punish you for changing your flight when you're ill. Of course people fly sick. Airlines punish you for changing your flight when you’re ill.

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