[RobandAshley]

My boyfriend and I have extended stays before, but with Southwest which is $20 to extend a stay. We figured it would be the same situation with Continental.
So when we went to change the flight, that we realized was only a week instead of two, a Continental employee told us that he would have to pay $20 more for the other ticket and a $150 change fee. So that's $170 right now.
Then we tried to cancel the flight and his money back so he could buy a one way flight back with Southwest. But they told us that he could only get credit and it would expire in two years. But if using the credit you'd have to pay $150 + credit for the new ticket.
We canceled the flight thinking "whatever we'll just use the credit' and then we figured out that a one way ticket would cost $400.
So we had to call back, waiting on hold for about a half hour, and uncancel the flight.
Then they told us that someone had bought the discounted ticket and that he had to pay for another ticket + some other fee.
Continental is clearly money hungry and after calling about 8 times trying to sort things out all they did was leech more money out of him. We could not win with them. There was not one mention of these $150 fees on their website. and every person we talked to was extremely rude.
Thanks Continental, he will NEVER use you again.

[Corbel]

you entered that contract, thats the way some of the majors play. they were just following their rules of the contract. Continental is not southwest, different rules and different policies. when you booked with CO, you clicked that you read and agreed with their contract.

[RobandAshley]

That may be true, but that contract should be posted onto their website. And that doesn't change the fact that they are over priced for the horrible service and rude people now does it?

[Silent Bob]

The contract corbel speaks of is not something you can find on the website, but are the rules of your ticket, depending how you bought. Everyone on the plane has paid a certain amount for their seats, some really cheap and some really expensive. The fact is you went there "assuming" you would only pay a 20 dollar fee, only to find out that it's 170 (150 +20) To me that's reasonable because it's something I'm used. Once I paid a fee as high as 250 on a ticket that I bought through a local travel agent (I found out later the change fee is cheaper if I book through orbitz). but if you frequent southwest, which I hear charges no change fee, then that fee would be quite the shock. (The other airlines charge about the same with their change fees). Your first mistake, rather than say it's the airline's fault, was cancelling the ticket without first finding out what a one way would cost. And no one can sell the ticket you bought, it's your ticket that you cancelled and was given credit, which you could have used to buy another ticket. What most likely happened, was someone(s) bought out the remaining seats. Or maybe yours and your bf were the last two? and just as quickly as you cancelled, they were sold off. Or there were seats but at a higher fare. Either way this looks as though Continental did nothing wrong, at least not from my standpoint. Shoddy service aside, you guys were the ones who cancelled the ticket to dodge the change fee.

[PHXFlyer]

Dear RobandAshley:

Did you purchase your tickets on Continental.com or a 3rd party website?

[ChrisH]

RobandAshley,

Basically any major airline, other than Southwest is going to charge a fee of $150 to change flights. It isn't just Continental. Southwest is a "low cost carrier". They offer cheaper fares and fees. That, however, is about to change. Southwest recently announced that they will begin charging for second checked bag, and that there is more to come. Chances are, soon, Southwest will be charging more for change fees, bags, etc.

[azstar]

Don't assume you will pay nothing if you change your Southwest ticket. You will have to pay the difference between your discounted airfare and the full, nondiscounted airfare if you change flights. That can be hundreds of dollars.

[abutterfinger25]

Originally Posted by RobandAshley

That may be true, but that contract should be posted onto their website. And that doesn't change the fact that they are over priced for the horrible service and rude people now does it?

All US Carriers have their contract of carriage posted on their website. Here is Continentals

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US.../contract.aspx

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by RobandAshley

That may be true, but that contract should be posted onto their website. And that doesn't change the fact that they are over priced for the horrible service and rude people now does it?

Wow, I missed that gem! Hmmm, did you think it was overpriced when you initially bought the ticket?

Stick with Southwest. You fit their demographics to a tee!

[WorkingMom4Boys]

If by saying a consumer buys a service from CONTINENTAL and CONTINENTAL takes no responsibility for delivering a service, you mean 'Contract', then legally speaking you have your head in the sand. And not sure how many 'Majors' are this apathetic. Continental can wrap their policy up with whatever language they want to use, but at the end of the day it boils down to simply taking money for services they don't even deliver. Would love to see how that strategy would work in my business--oooh, I am not in the 'Majors'.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by WorkingMom4Boys

If by saying a consumer buys a service from CONTINENTAL and CONTINENTAL takes no responsibility for delivering a service, you mean 'Contract', then legally speaking you have your head in the sand. And not sure how many 'Majors' are this apathetic. Continental can wrap their policy up with whatever language they want to use, but at the end of the day it boils down to simply taking money for services they don't even deliver. Would love to see how that strategy would work in my business--oooh, I am not in the 'Majors'.

How did Continental not deliver service in your case? Your son's soccer match was re-scheduled. The flights you booked with continental still flew. The seats, up until the time you canceled them, were still held for you. It was you who didn't show up to use them! Take a reality check...and stick to flying Southwest.

[Bruce McFarland]

Early last year I made a reservation with Continental, then subsequently had to cancel. Continental sent me a voucher for $511.40 with no mention of any rebooking fee. Late last year I used this to make another reservation, and received a confirmation email with a $150 "change fee" (first time I'd heard of this) added to my $350 ticket!

So I canceled that reservation and complained to Continental, and they 'respectfully declined' to refund me the $150 -- or the cost of the ticket! At this point, I have flown zero miles and I'm out $661.40.

After further complaint, they added insult to injury by sending me five vouchers for $157.50 each - not to be used in combination. So I would need to fly 5 times (and spend more money) to recover the $661.40 they took from me.

I don't think I'll be flying Continental, and I recommend all travelers consider this egregious example of their deceptive business practices before you do.

[jimworcs]

Really, this is gouging and something needs to be done. The airlines are a law unto themselves, and they can do this because they operate local monopolies. The market is not working as a result. Until they are re-regulated, nothing will change. The only alternative is to go with the reasonably ethical low costs.. Southwest and perhaps JetBlue. Avoid Spirit like the plague. It will not change until they are re-regulated.