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I booked a flight recently and then found a way to reduce my trip by one stop. However, the airline wanted $150 in change fees. That annoyed me since the trip is a month away and it would cost a few milli-cents of computer power for the airline computers to make the change. So, I did some Googling and discovered that change fees are a huge profit center:
"...in 2011 (the last full year for which statistics are available), US airlines collected nearly $3.4 billion in baggage fees while reservation change and cancellation fees in 2011 totaled over $2.38 billion."
From: http://thepointsguy.com/2013/05/higher-airline-change-fees-are-here-to-stay-united-us-airways-and-delta-all-raise-prices/[^]
I'm amazed. (I kept the old three-stop flight and told my daughter that it was just part of the adventure.)
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I thought change fees didn't apply to first class and full-fare business class tickets (which are insanely expensive)? I could be wrong - I've never flown first or full-fare business.
/ravi
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Ravi Bhavnani wrote: I've never flown first or full-fare business.
Domestic first class and business class it pretty pointless considering the price. International first class is awesome. Still not worth the money but awesome just the same. A wide comfortable seat with ample legroom and truly good food makes a trip to/from Europe almost painless.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington
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Agreed, domestic business and first are a joke.
All my flights are (long) international ones and I pretty much always fly BA World Traveller Plus (premium economy) which gives you more legroom and slightly wider seats in an otherwise cattle class cabin. I've had the good fortune to be upgraded to Club World (business) on several occasions, but am too poor to pay for a real business class ticket myself.
I get my kicks watching first class long haul videos posted by passengers on various airlines on YouTube. 
/ravi
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Ravi Bhavnani wrote: too poor to pay for a real business class ticket myself.
I'm too cheap to pay for it too but I've gotten a few free upgrades and my company has ponied up a couple times.
BA and Lufthansa both offer excellent 1st class service.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington
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Brilliant! 
I have to say the airlines do make it easy to hate them, so I don't have a lot of sympathy for them in this case 
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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*raises hand*
Why the hell would anyone want airline food for free or any other price?
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Ah. You don;t travel Business or First class then. The food in the lounges is not Airline Food - it's always been pretty damn good when I've eaten it, and generally with free drinks as well...
Mind you, Business and First Class food is much, much better than Cattle class on every airline I've flown on as well. Not good enough to make the price worthwhile, but good.
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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/me nods. Fair enough. No. I certainly haven't.
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It has it's advantages, if you can get someone else to pay for it (or a free upgrade!)
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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Kent Sharkey wrote: change fees
Which don't usually exist on a full fare ticket.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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Shows you how often I've paid for a full fare ticket (never). Thanks
Not that I'm planning on trying this way of playing it.
--------------
TTFN - Kent
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I wouldn't call it the fallibility of science, but the hubris of thinking that understanding a tiny part one thing means you understand the whole thing. It also skirts the issue of funding; namely that to get it, you need to do research in and publish about the latest fad, regardless of what it is.
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i like how writing about the uncertainties in science doesn't require any data. no surveys, no polls, no studies. just whining and mindreading and conspiracy theories.
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Whereas writing about AGW requires data from a computer model and no more...
Lack of warming for 17 years is data enough for anyone to think about uncertainty.
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beats mindreading and whining and inane conspiracy theories.
of course, since there's a market for this denial crap, there's no surprise that it thrives.
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Yeah, I agree, its the facts that are important. This is science after all.
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Your monomania is showing again.
Also the fact that thinking it's all about models shows how little you've looked into it.
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TTFN - Kent
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Well, it is all about models, there are no real world facts that back the models up.
But thats not a problem. Back then, it was a good theory, we all bought it, but time moved on, facts changed, and we need to adjust the science. ITs as simple process, its the process of science itself.
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Erudite_Eric wrote: Well, it is all about models, there are no real world facts that back the models up.
Nonsense
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One pole warming isnt much you know, especially since it was as warm in the 40s.
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Erudite_Eric wrote: One pole warming isnt much you know, especially since it was as warm in the 40s.
I suggest that you look up the term "cherry picking"
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Yes, let me cherry pick 3500 bc then.
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