In this day of fees, fees and more fees, one of the biggest fees is the change or cancellation fee imposed by most airlines. These range for airlines other than Southwest, from $100 to $150 for domestic flights to $250 and more for international flights.
Southwest is focusing on these fees in their latest series of ads that are playing on national TV during major sporting events. They are sure to shine a spotlight on an ugly side of the airline industry fee structure.
Airlines other than Southwest, claim these fees are legitimate. However, when push comes to shove, their explanations of the fee levels come down to charging what they think the market will bear. They are almost always mostly profit.
Here are four of Southwest’s ads that are sure to bring a smile to your faces, unless you are a legacy-carrier revenue manager.
Pasengers object to being fleeced by change fees
Women object to change fees
Jury deliberations
Southwest loves customers other airlines love cash
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
