On the whole Gromit, I agree that special pleading by specific groups is a problem. Is a soldier on the front in Afghanistan braver than a firefighter who went into the twin towers? Are nurses working in far flung war torn countries braver than a policeman on the streets of Detroit?
However, the poster has a basic point. A simple mistake was made by the poster and the remedy required that she pay the difference as if the mistake hadn't been made. She had no objection to this. Both parties are whole. The poster has corrected their error, paid the costs they would have had to pay had they not made the mistake and the airline is whole having sold a ticket for its full cost to the poster.
It is exploitative to then demand "compensation" of $150 for the error. As almost all airlines have jumped on the bandwagon and impose this fee and many operate local monopolies the customers have little choice.
The airlines could argue that customers could gain an advantage if they correct the error for free, as they are effectively securing a non-refundable, non-changeable ticket (which is what Priceline offers for its lower prices) which becomes changeable. However, they are protected because the customer will have to pay the going rate for that ticket at the time of the change. If the ticket had been $400 more expensive to fly the following day the customer would still have had to pay the extra... it is the fee only that the poster complains about.
The fee is exploitative for all customers. A simple keystroke error can cost a customer thousands of dollars and this is unfair and should be regulated away. Whether the person making the error is a hero or not, it is WRONG to exploit customer errors in this way.
I am also a war verteren although served in the British Royal Navy. I also find the distinguishing of the bravery of certain groups a bit uncomfortable. But it has to be said, the US military is an entirely voluntary force, which has been in continuous combat since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Any soldier who has volunteered since that date has fully understood the risks they face, in seeking to serve their country. That, even from the perspective of a foreign national, deserves recognition as a brave and honourable thing to do and it would do no harm in cases such as this to waive the charge.
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