Effective Oct. 1, passengers on the najors with the exception of UA can still change itineraries on nonrefundable tickets before a flight departs, with a $100 change fee and restrictions. However, they must book a specific new flight, instead of carrying a credit for up to a year. No-shows -- those who don't arrange to rebook a nonrefundable ticket before departure -- will lose the full value of their tickets
Delta American and Continental will begin charging a $100 fee in January for passengers on most restricted tickets to stand by for a different flight on the same day of ticketed travel. US Air no longer allows such changes at all. Northwest will continue to let passengers stand by for another flight on the same day without charge, but for a fee of $100, it will confirm travel on another flight the same day, subject to seat availability in the traveler's class of fare.
Summary of new rules
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While none of these rules mean murh to leisure travelers, it does increase the attractiveness of Southwest and JetBlue.
Air Trans has had "use it or Lose it" rules for some time.
You said UA was the exception -- they have the same use-it-or-lose-it policy as USAir, right?
UA announced the same rules as its competitors.
Now US is on a limb. They were the first to announce and their no stand by policy will probably be withdrawn.
Frequent flyers were also dismayed by their policy of not giving status miles on cheap fares. No one else has adopted this rule.
Well everything is the same again. US just fell into line with all the other majors.
The only difference now is that Northwest allows stand bys without the $100 payment.
So now Southeset has a significant advantage. Many of Southwest's fares are fully refundable, and they don't cost an arm and a leg. Those that are not refundable can be used for credit on another flight without a penalty.
The rules are described on their website. And remember, you get double frequent flyer credit if you use their website.
CO allows standbys within a 2 hour arrival window if you're late getting to the airport. Do the new rules apply only to domestic US and Canada flights on all the carriers that have adopted them (I know that's the case with Delta)?