i actually think this is fair. southwest has a pretty decent record and their prices are low. i dont think charging for these special services is asking too much. people probably take advantage of them anyway. its not like charging for extra bags in general or to use the bathroom.

We are rapidly reaching that breaking point where it is cheaper to utilize alternate forms of transportation. Go ahead price yourself out of the market. Gone are the days when I automatically booked an airline ticket.

Soon to come: fee to board the plane; fee to purchase a seat belt; fee to fasten the seat belt; fee to use the restroom; fee to talk to the flight attendant, etc.

What a crock. Let's see, if I'm delayed because of over-booking practices, bogus weather claims, or SW folks on strike that reduce flights - I get charged. If I can't make it to the airport because I'm in an accident, have a medical emergency, or get stalled by TSA lock-downs - I get charged. So now I get charged for being late, my luggage, meals, snacks, pillows or blankets, extra-leg room, airport use fees etc etc. rockmebritney - there is NO excuse for these escalating fees that airlines that mainly greedy, poorly functioning US carriers do in order to keep their unions happy at the expense of the customers. I'm embarrased when I go to 3rd world countries and fly in new jets, with impeccable service, and customer-focused and then come back to the US to fly crap service carriers. As of the first of the year when this kicks I STOP FLYING SOUTHEST and encourage other's to do the same. They now share my "kiss-my-a— _" list with American, Midwest, Republic, Jet Blue, and Delta.

nme--you know, I am a 'frequent' flyer (10-12 trips a year, pleasure only, to see my kids) and I have HEARD passengers bragging in the waiting room about how they deliberately book several flights on the same day IN CASE they don't get there in time for the earlier one. Meanwhile, a friend of my parents used to BRAG about walking down the ramp just as they were getting ready to close the doors, since THEY didn't like to wait in the waiting room. There ARE a lot of fees, but there is also a reason why many are instituted. Nearly every flight I take is absolutely full, and there are nearly always 6-8 folks on standby who get on because of no-shows. As for the high costs, I DO on occasion drive to Houston from MO to visit my daughter, and by the time we figure gas, and the cost of a hotel room, and 7 meals on the road, wear and tear on the car, etc. it is not THAT much cheaper then flying it.

If I buy a ticket to a movie and don't go, I'm out the price of the ticket. Why should a flight be any different? If you can't show that factors outside your control caused you to miss it, then you've no one to blame but yourself.

its not like charging for extra bags in general or to use the bathroom.

You just gave the gougers another idea

Oh, don't think for a second that they haven't been thinking about this for a long time. The day they charge to go to the bathroom on a flight will be the day I stop flying forever. As it is, I only do it if absolutely necessary. It's a miserable way to travel.

I agree with rockmebritney (?). That is one thing I have always appreciated with Southwest is the ability to be flexible with my ticket; but I have always wondered if they get a lot of "no-shows" because of that flexibility. I am not a frequent flier but the few times I've flown with Southwest I was pretty impressed with their customer service. I'd rather have them charge for something like this - it seems only fair, than start charging for bags.

Sorry, folks. The bathroom has already crossed their little minds. From CNN - " Ryanair, which is based in Dublin, Ireland, and bills itself as "Europe's first and largest low fares airline," is mulling a plan that would require travelers to pay either 1 euro or 1 British pound (about $1.33 or $1.52) for using the bathroom on flights lasting one hour or less."

In the 60's airports, there were little boxes on the bathroom stalls that would require 10 cents be deposited before the door would open. There were laws passed to stop this practice.

All of you complaining about this really need to read the article or you are just plain morons. They want/need to charge these customers that are no show/no call so they can keep cost down & keep people employed it's not $50 charge for sneezing it is saying you cost us $ & we could of sold that seat to a person who REALLY would us it....smh...morons us not the right word...self-centered idiots is.

So do they charge you and then have a standby use your seat and charge him for the flight too? Or do they only charge if the seat is empty during the flight?

Calling people morons and idiots shows how Low a person you are.Southwest is known for over booking 90% plus of there flights so they are not losing any money on no shows for they already had people for those seats.Sounds like you work for Southwest.I been bumped from many of flights from them so it is a 2 way street.When they are late or delayed do I get a REFUND answer is NOOOO

From a money perspective this is a good idea.From a customer service perspective this is not a good business idea.I've lost money when a customer cancels my service because I can't book somebody else at the last minute for a cleaning service yet I don't charge my customers.They are still with my service to date.People shouldn't be monetarily penalized for it.It is hard if not impossible to retain loyal customers without excellent customer service.

I believe that they are justified in doing this, as they usually give perks out when they overbook! They are counting in those people being there, but overbook due to people not showing up! They actually will be able to offset cost of giving perks to those bumped! I hope that the perks get better!

I would much rather prefer to see this fee and then stop the airlines from overbooking than the current situation where the airlines overbook based on an expected number of no shows and people get bounced when they guess wrong. If you book a seat and then just do not show up the airline loses the revenue unless they have standby passengers or overbook. If someone does get bounced due to overbooking the airlines are required by law to compensate that person. Why shouldn't people who book seats and then not show up pay a penalty. Southwest is one of the more flexible airlines when it comes to changing your flight and I do not find this fee at all unreasonable. There are many airlines where if you simply do not show up without cancelling ahead of time you lose the entire value of your ticket, so this move by Southwest is not at all unreasonable.

And yet our lawmakers allow the airline lobbies to influence their votes regarding high-speed train service. We see that high-speed train is a viable alternative to airplanes in Europe and the Far East, no reason it can't be viable here as well. I'd be more willing to travel high-speed train than airplane if I had the opportunity.

lol high-speed is not a viable alternative to air travel, not in this country. new rails needs to be installed and we have a huge vast expanse of land to cover, it would cost way too much even for local installation due to our super high cost of doing anything in this country. remember it was immigrants and indentured servants who built most our rail system on the cheap, we cant do that again.

what do the airlines lose when there are no-shows? always people on standby to take the spot.

what do the airlines lose when there is a re-booking? the fare prices are already over-priced.

afaik they lose nothing is either scenario so why would they charge?

would someone explain why airlines need to charge more and more while we the consumers get less and less and get illegally searched by our government in the process?

We are rapidly reaching that breaking point where it is cheaper to utilize alternate forms of transportation.

I've already reached that point. I've stopped flying for the most part, unless I'm traveling cross country or overseas or am very short on time. I live in Michigan. My family is in north Florida. It takes approximately 18-20 hours to drive, which amounts to two days since I'm not willing to drive that many hours alone unless I stop somewhere overnight. It used to be that it was cheaper to fly, but since airfares have increased, the cost of gas and one night in a motel are about the same or less than the airfare. Plus, when I arrive at my destination, I have the freedom of leaving for the return trip whenever I feel like leaving without having to stick to a prearranged departure time, and I have the use of my car without having to rent or borrow a car. Considering that the time it takes to arrive at the airport early for inspection and the delays caused by stopovers, it takes the better part of a day to fly anyway, so driving has become the lesser of two evils if time is not a problem.

Sounds like Southwest has been around long enough that it now thinks it's a legacy airline and is beginning to behave as one. They just moved closer to the bottom of my list of preferred carriers. Maybe this will encourage someone else to start a new discount airline that will supplant Southwest in a few years!

@BinNH " Sounds like Southwest has been around long enough that it now thinks it's a legacy airline and is beginning to behave as one."

Southwest is no where near the fee's that other legacy carriers charge.

Southwest does not charge for the 1st 2 check bags

They do not charge for exit row seating, or for carry on luggage. This fee they are going to impose it not an issue, people make multiple reservations on different flight s throughout the day. You should cancel if you are not going to make your flight.

Southwest isn't the panacea they would want you to think they are (and most people ASSUME they are). Since the effect of their hedging their fuel costs have ended, their prices are the SAME as everyone else... they only manage to make money but not interlining baggage and managing to have short ground turn-arounds on their equipment. they are essentially a "flying bus service" - but then again SO IS EVERYONE ELSE.

My most recent search for prices showed that the ONLY advantage of southwest was the "2 checked free bags". this is, of course, offset by their cattle call seating arrangement - and the only way out of the cattle call is (TAH-DAH) PAY A FEE! it's a thousand miles and I can DRIVE for what they want (considering I would need a car at the destination anyway) and haul back a LOT more than 2 bags worth of STUFF

oh - and sparky - to GET those multiple reservations, you have TO PAY UP FRONT. you mean that you are THAT unsure of your departure time?

I do get that you reserve that space they shouldn't be selling it to anyone else and so you are keeping them from selling it, but the problem is that if you are late because their plane (or some other airline, for that matter) is delayed, bad weather, etc., or your child gets sick right before the connection, you aren't trying to cheat the and they do get money for that seat since there are often people who do want the flight. It isn't like a hotel when you don't get charged until you check out, so I don't get it. When I buy airline tickets I get charged then, so how can they say they are losing money? They can double sell by selling to someone at the last minute if the seat is empty.

If they didn't overbook or end up delayed or cancelled then I imagine many less people would book more than one flight. Since the airlines can't control everything that happens either it seems fair to me that you pay for the ticket and use it or not. If you don't they can resell it, but unless they have to pay the same amount if they are cancelled or delayed and I have to miss the flight I had to be one then how is that fair I have to pay?

I do see when I read further that they haven't been charging the fee as many airlines do...so my original concern would be about if it is their fault or a legit emergency where you can't cancel. I do understand though if they haven't charged the ticket. I see charges on my account before I fly usually...so if they aren't charging before you fly and you don't cancel I see charging a fee.

Hotels have been doing this for years so why is it unfair for an airline to do the same? They calculated you in for the fuel load and that cost them money, so if you don't show up for your flight they don't get to unload fuel and send it back to the fuel supplier for a refund. Not to mention they calculated food and drink as well for every passenger. They did say if you call in and cancel yourself on the flight they will forward what you pay towards a different flight or refund you minus the booking fee. Do some of you think you deserve something for nothing?

Other airlines do this. Southwest has just reached the bottom of their pockets.

MoMaid, because unlike at the movies, with airlines there are usually standbys who will pay to fly in the absent flyers place; and, the airline still has the initial ticket price as well, so the airline is actually AHEAD of the game most times when there are no shows.

...and Southwest is one of the better airlines.

It is only a matter of time before they start putting seats out on the wings, and charging people for goggles.

JP-345944, they are only going to be charging for no-show/no calls, just like all hotel chains. Don't get your panties in an uproar about it!

overbooked, gee, new user? Maybe a rereg? anyway they wouldn't overbook if people weren't causing them to have unpaid seats otherwise!

ram-762581. I am sure they do make exceptions for delays on their other flights causing one to miss their connection. Most hotels will also make exceptions for this, or for other emergencies. Of course if you are stuck in a different airport and are idiotic enough not to call....

this fee is acceptable ONLY if they're fair about it. if i don't show up, i pay a fee. HOWEVER... if they cancel a flight on me, for any reason, not only do i want my money back, i want the same cancellation fee on top of my refund.

and in case anyone says, 'well, if they overbook, they're already giving you free flightsif you give up your seat', and that's true, but that's an incentive to switch flights; it's completely optional on your part.

Sorry, going a bit of subject, but JP, really?

"there is NO excuse for these escalating fees that airlines that mainly greedy, poorly functioning US carriers do in order to keep their unions happy at the expense of the customers"

You're going to drag politics into this and try to blame THIS at the hands of unions? I'm pretty damn sure the article said this was announced at an investor's meeting... as a way of generating revenue... you incredibly dimwitted idiot.

I recently had to change the dates of a trip booked with Delta. It cost $150 per ticket. This was 5 months in advance.

moshuluu- You still have a $500 flight credit that could be used for a future ticket if you didn't cancel your reservation. I think SWA is wanting to only give a partial credit if you didn't cancel your reservation.

moshuluu, until now, you could apply that full $500 to another flight. So its not like you just handed them $500. Airline profit margins are pretty thin. They were to only major airline to not charge change of flight fees, which means they were not getting revenue that other airlines do. And, at least as this article is written, this change only applies if you do not show. As written, it sounds that if you change your flight ahead of time, you still don't get any penalty. So compare to other airlines, Southwest is still giving you a much better deal in regards to changing flights.

Idiots should TRY reading the article before posting. I see nothing unfair about this fee. If the consumer wants a full credit for the unused ticket .. notifying the airline before the flight is not unreasonable. It allows the airline an opportunity to resell the seat - keeping costs down for travelers.

I agree. Finally a fee that makes sense and penalizes people for paying for a seat they don't use and making it unavailable for those on stand-by.

Traffic-fanatic

Idiots should TRY reading the article before posting. I see nothing unfair about this fee. If the consumer wants a full credit for the unused ticket .. notifying the airline before the flight is not unreasonable.

Ahhhh, name calling. The mark of a well reasoned and persuasive argument. Is this the same Southwest Airlines that calls for people to get off an airplane they have overbooked? Or the same Southwest Airlines that will charge someone $500 for a last-minute booking in the seat I didn't show up for, but purchased for $350 a month ago? Good luck with that.

Very upsetting; particularly to me, a world-class luxury traveler. I guess I won't be flying to Boise anymore.

Denver Bill

I can't name one airline (or any business / individual for that matter) that is perfect. In doing business, I don't expect perfection, but do expect reasonableness. I tried to keep my comments focused on the reasonableness of this fee prompting the article. My opinion is this fee is not unreasonable. Check around with the other major airlines and see the difference in last minute purchases vs. early purchases...

Look at how much credit will be issued if you don't use a ticket from other airlines.

Even though it has been said repeatedly, Southwest does not get free profit if you don't fly... you get to keep the credit for a future ticket. They're simply charging a penalty against that credit now. Honestly, if you miss your flight, they don't have to give you that full credit toward a future flight.

I'm far from a defender of Southwest. Their stripped-down economy service doesn't mesh well with my desire to have a pleasant travel experience. That said, there is a lot of misunderstanding around this fee. This is still a major benefit for travelers who miss their flight.

Don't fly them. Their in business to make profits, not be a welfare system

Some of these posters just aren't understanding - yes, if you buy a movie ticket and don't show up, you're out the money....and most airlines will do the same if you don't show up for a flight. Southwest actually allowed customers to apply their airfare for the missed flight to a future flight - pretty flexible of them. Now, they want to add a fee to people who are either too lazy or inconsiderate to pick up a phone or jump online to cancel a flight - and missing a connecting flight doesn't 'cause you to incur this fee. For someone to advocate boycotting Southwest over this fee shows someone that hasn't done their research. Southwest is one of the most customer-friendly airlines and just the fact that they allow you to check two pieces of luggage without charging you should be reason enough to fly them. And no, I don't work for Southwest - I actually used to work for AirTran and would NEVER recommend them!

Traffic-fanatic

Denver Bill, ..... In doing business, I don't expect perfection, but do expect reasonableness. I tried to keep my comments focused on the reasonableness of this fee prompting the article. My opinion is this fee is not unreasonable

I agree, so long as they can't fill the seat. Charging twice for the same seat is unreasonable.

What happens when I can't make my flight because my connecting flight was delayed? How much bureauocracy to I have to go through to get my money back?

You need to read the article. Your ticket is still good. You can use it at a later date. They are just going to charge you because you did not have the courtesy to make your scheduled departure time. Everyone is griping about fees - I think fees are a great way for the airlines to finally become profit making endeavors instead of losing money as they have done for decades.

The only solution is to not fly on South West airlines.

Cleaning lady- The real solution is to try and comprehend what the article said!

Traffic-fanatic

Idiots should TRY reading the article before posting. I see nothing unfair about this fee.

Here we go with the BIG BAD sitting behind a computer screen, or maybe their IPhone, talking @!$%#. What is it with some of you bad-ass people......LOL

Correct me here, but if I purchased a $500. ticket to fly someplace, doesn't that mean I've already paid for the ticket, and the airline has my money in their pocket, but they want to fine me a penalty fee, for not showing up. I understand I could apply the ticket to a future flight, but my point is, wether I am there or not, they still have my (your) $500. in THEIR pocket.

Again, I'll say GREED, the great American way.

how about the federal government get the hell out of the airlines and stop regulating the crap outta them, regulations cost money and the airlines are more than happy to pass the cost to us. government has no authority to provide security to the airlines. how bout the unions stop using extortion to get their way, passing the cost to us.

while im not in total disagreement with said policy, the airiness always go about it in the wrong way. the cost of a ticket plus fee's and the lack of any perks that we had back in the days is good enough for me to not do business with any airline, coupled with the illegal search and seizures by our federal government. why would i pay someone to harass and fondle me while stealing my stuff?

moshuluu It appears you like to remain an idiot. Oh well!

And New Egypt Bob remains an internet warrior. Big tough guy, huh.

Its NOT just airlines... many car rental companies and hotels are implementing these fees too. Like a late fee if you bring your car back late or a one day minimum stay charge if you don't show up. I think the cost of obamacare is causing companies to want more fees.

jeff-812327 Sorry guy, if I see something wrong, I follow through on it. It doesn't take a big tough guy to see when someone doesn't want to wake up and smell the roses. If you think he's right, you obviously didn't read the text either.

GodBlessUSAForever,I comprehended the article just fine.I also comprehend that your posts are mainly rude when you have nothing constructive to add to an article.

I think we should do as Swaggernaut says and completely deregulate the airline industry. /s

I don't think I'm going to be flying ANYWHERE ever again.

No the fee is not unreasonable.

uh swag and tired - sorry that you are both in a time warp but the AIRLINES WERE DEREGULATED, what 30 (35?) YEARS ago.

or do you want to deregulate SAFETY and air traffic control, too?

Oh seriously, rob. This isn't about Mr. Obama..lol.

A little history: The airline industry was deregulated in 1978. The lousy service and never-ending fees you folks complain about are a direct result of that deregulation. Before deregulation, fares were much higher (inflation adjusted); they were set by the government to guarantee the airline a profit. After deregulation, the industry became much more competitive. Over the past 35 years, many airlines have failed because of that competition, or were acquired by other airlines. The surviving airlines have had to do whatever they could to cut costs and increase revenues since competition had drastically lowered the fares. The result has been lousy service and endless nickel-and-diming of passengers.

As for the question about why the airline should charge you a fee for not showing up when the seat goes to a standby passenger anyway: Yes, the seat will most likely be occupied by someone, but the standby passenger paid a much lower fare than the confirmed ticket-holder, so the airline still loses money on that seat. It might even end up being occupied by an airline employee who pays very little or nothing for it.

hbebe

A little history: The airline industry was deregulated in 1978. After deregulation, the industry became much more competitive. Over the past 35 years, many airlines have failed because of that competition, or were acquired by other airlines. The surviving airlines have had to do whatever they could to cut costs and increase revenues since competition had drastically lowered the fares.

A little history, taken from Southwest Airlines' 2011 annual report to the stockholders: 2011 was their 39th consecutive year of annual profit. SWA generated $1.4 billion in net cash from operation, of which $968 million was cash expenditures and $330 million was profit. Without this additional fee, they remained the only investment-grade U.S. airline. They also absorbed AirTran and closed service to 15 cities.

You've got a point there. Southwest has been consistently profitable, unlike the larger hub-and-spoke airlines. And as far as I know, none of the other airlines charges a no-show fee...at least not yet.

uh Fork, did you not read the "/s" for sarcasm at the end of my first sentence?

I KNOW that it does NOT need to be deregulated.

Sheesh, next time take some time to actually read the post and see where it is going before jumping out there and looking like "duh".

I was being SNARKY, next time it will write that at the end of the post. U'Mkay?

problem is that IF the flyer manages to go early, they add on a FEE to do that, too.

Great. Try another airline. What other airlines do is, if you change ahead of time, you get a fee of around $150. If you don't change ahead of time, you loose it all. This change to Southwest is still cheaper better than other airlines.

And if they hold a seat for you, they may not necessarily be able to fill it with another passenger. Not every flight has enough standby passengers to fill to 100%. But somebody else might have bought the seat if it wasn't reserved for you. So, it is simply not guaranteed that they will fill a seat they are holding for you.

In short, a fee for no show is perfectly justified.

Don't travel much, do you Steve? See what you get on the other airlines....

I agree with Traffic-fanatic. You don't have a clue. Moshuluu in a previous post also must not have a clue. Southwest is only getting a little more in line with the other airlines.

You're not right, Steve. You still get the full value that you paid for that ticket as a credit toward a future flight, minus the fee. You're not forfeiting the ticket AND paying more... you KEEP the credit for the ticket minus the fee. It's detailed very well in the article you didn't read.

airline (any transportation) tickets are overpriced anyhow so adding a no-show fee while they still collect the fare through standby's is just plain greed.

i remember flying in the early 80's and it was pretty sweat and cheap, had great leg room plus food and drinks. last time i flew a few years ago it was expensive, cramped, no food only a snack with a mini drink.

when services goes down but prices go up, why should anyone pay for this? plus i dont like getting robbed of my possessions by the federal government nor illegally searched.

The last airline that I flew on was back in the 80's.It was PSA airlines.Went to San Francisco from Ontario CA airport.On the return flight we couldn't land as LAX was fogged in,their pilots were low on fuel and got to land first.We circled Ontario airport for 2 solid hours on a Friday night.That was the last time I ever flew.I would love for the high speed train in California to get built.

Agree. Southwest has been very lenient with people who buy tickets, don't show up and then apply the full value of the ticket toward another flight. Just try that on another airline. You lose the ticket or at best pay a $150 change fee.

what planent di dy ou fall from

so he forgot the /s... sheesh - like it wasn't OBVIOUS

Please make sure you understand this policy.

Southwest has been giving a FULL FARE CREDIT VOUCHER for any unused ticket a traveler has. If you didn't use the ticket, regardless of the reason - you got the full price of the ticket for future travels.

Southwest has now started charging a fee if you don't notify the airline the ticket will not be used, prior to the flight. If you notify the airline, nothing changes - there still is a full credit issued. If the airline isn't notified, you still get the full credit - MINUS a fee for failing to notify.

This is not unreasonable nor do I consider it greedy.

Those businesses do charge,for example hotels,even if you don't show up.Guess what?They still can and often do rent that room out and now they have doubled their money.I have a relative in the hotel business.

except that airline seats are the ULTIMATE "perishable commodity" - once that DOOR CLOSES, and seat without a BUTT IN IT becomes a ZERO $$ proposition. That can be said about rooms, too, but the WINDOW is larger - it's "end of the night" where the room non-rental loses everything.. Airline seat value loss is a scheduled commodity. I would think that they would be willing to let someone go EARLY (same day standby) without a FEE (but they DO NOT - or at least they DIDN'T last time I checked))

Sperry84, ever consider reading the article?? It's not an early boarding fee, it's an early check in fee. It's for those passengers who try to check in and make the airlines hold their bags for long periods of time before the actual flight. Most airlines already have policies regarding how far in advance you can check your baggage in advance of your flight. Why is everyone downing Southwest for implementing policies that most of the airlines already have in place?

No it is both an early check and an early boarding fee. This is from the Southwest site:

We'll automatically check you in and reserve your boarding position before regular check-in begins so you'll have a better seat selection.

Automatic Check-In

Better Boarding Position

Earlier Access to Overhead Bins

Yes, add EarlyBird Check-In for just $10.00 per passenger, one-way.

They issue you a letter and it is supposed to give you a better boarding position. I did this once when my Husband and I were travelling to Florida ........ never again it is a waste of money.

but once again, I don't think that the fee that the article is about.

check in AVAILABLE THRU THE NET 24 hours before FLIGHT. "Early check in" does it automatically for you so you get a line position based on your priority based on ticket cost. Generally, airlines will NOT accept bags more than 2 hours before the flight (unless it's a DELAY thru flight (connection) where they maintain checked status of the bags.)

Nice idea to call but getting through without a 1/2 hr. wait, just makes it very hard.

Generally don't have an easy to reach number with the airline when running late.

More interested in making sure I have all my luggage..

gusotto: when's the last time you called SW and had to wait 1/2 hr to get through? And I'm assuming you meant you don't have easy access to the airline's number to call them when you're running late. I would suggest you become a bit more organized.

Calling ahead is common courtesy

there are 2 conditions that cause a pat down (well, 3 if you consider the TSA love for feeling butts and boobs) METAL that you forgot to REMOVE - and - being "selected at either random or because you paid cash and have no bags (the no bags one does sound stupid, to me at least since without BAGS what do they expect you to have - a MOUSE in your pocket?) I'm also no fan of TSA BTW, worthless as teats on a boar hog - their ONLY function is to keep explosives off the aircraft. passengers CAN and WILL take care of the rest themselves.

In my case I'm generally going to Southeast ASIA (southwest doesn't go there so it's a MOOT point) but TRY getting there BY LAND...

Dumbest post of the day, gil.

gilbertct....you just showed how incorrect you are.....I am a liberal...but agree with what SWA wants to do & Obama didn't give away the free phones...that was implemented by Reagan (Republican) when he was in office...so go get educated before you give any more misinformation.

Clueless and rude post. You are wrong on all counts.

This is running the business more efficiently. Full planes keep fares down, especially with the price of fuel. If I cannot use my ticket and let them know in advance, then it can be sold to someone else and I can get a refund or a change in ticketing. Many airlines have been charging a fee for changes for years. It is my understanding that Southwest will not charge if notified in advance. Letting someone know you will not be someplace is good manners too.

tony: idiots all over the place, inefficient ones at that!

tony, these "idiots" as you call them are trying to run their business better by implementing this...so that makes them smart.

you won't get a refund donna - southwest RARELY refunds TIX

That's pretty much what happens already. Most airlines will ask people to volunteer to take a different flight. They will then book you on a later flight, AND give you a voucher to use on a future flight as well. In fact, the one time I was "bumped" (voluntarily) the airline paid for a hotel room as well, since the next flight wasn't until the next day. So they ALREADY pay you a "fee" if you're bumped.

Also, if you are involuntarily bumped, congress passed a law a few years ago, that requires the airline to issue you a check on the spot for a minimum of $300.00.

last flight I was on, Delta offered a $600 voucher. of course, it WAS to TOKYO...