Can someone please explain the airlines

[TheBigI]

If you ask the 8 people sitting around you on a plane, most likely everyone paid a different price. This how an airline makes money, if the database shows that the flight is booking at a certain rate they raise the price. Therefore the closer the flight time the greater the cost or sometimes they will give out special deals if the flights aren't booking up. All this is done through MIS, which knows all the goal profits a flight should make. If the airline loses money on one flight they will also try to make it up on other flights.

[iguana1]

They are the worst predators. I have adopted two kids from overseas. Both times we returned with the child as a lap-fare (no extra seat). The first one, the airline stuck us with $700 in 'taxes' for the lapfare (Lufthansa). The second time, American charged us twice for the lap fare claiming they had no record of our reservation and still haven't refunded us the extra $300 four months later. The 'taxes' are published right on your ticket receipt and are nowhere near these amounts, more like $40. Just another way to squeeze money from you because they can.

The first time, we were told there were special fares for adopted parents so we called about it. They were 'special' all right, almost twice that for regular full-fare refundable tickets bought through the regular reservations number.

I wish the government would just let the current airline players die off instead of propping them up. It makes me sick to see what the CEOs of these companies get paid while we all suffer their incompetence.

[OffTheHook13]

They are a rip-off.

[Green Machine]

I travel all the time for work and I definitely know what you are talking about.

Unfortunately, the airlines are operating under pretty slim margins and so their pricing scheme is all supply and demand and they will squeeze whatever they can get out of you.

What we need is a true passenger's bill of rights for when they screw you over, which happens all the time. We can all understand the price of something BEFORE we buy the ticket. You can make the decision to buy or not buy. However, once the ticket is purchased, that ticket represents a contract. if you don't show up, they still keep your money. When they screw you by canceling a flight, make you miss a connection, stay over in a city, etc. THEY should pick up the tab for your inconvenience including any lost money on hotels, etc. They need to hold up their end of the contract and should be bound by law to do so, like in every other industry. Unfortunately airlines act like you are lucky to have the privilege of a seat on the plane and if they screw you over it is not their fault. BS!

The old "rule 240" is important to know, as every airline has a stated policy although they don't always honor it. definitely worth researching on the internet for anyone who travels.