US Airways Cancelation Policy
 

In December 2009 I had to cancel a flight from Denver to Paris, received a $1200 and knew I would be charged a change fee of $250. When I attempted to use this credit this summer I was told I could only use it for one flight. Since I was traveling in the US I could only use $950 of the total credit, plus the $250 change fee was charged extra. US Airways got $500 of my money for a flight change. Apparently a credit with them is not really a credit. This is an shamelss amount of money for them to keep for a small computer transaction.

I will not travel with them again.

CLogerquist

Not all airlines treat an unused ticket as a "bank account" where you can draw down funds and apply them to new purchases until the account reaches zero. US Airways is one of these. It is unfortunate, however you purchased a non-refundable ticket to begin with. Had you not used it as a credit within a year you would have lost the whole thing. Could you have held off and used the ticket for a trip that cost close to what you originally paid? That would have been the best use of the unused ticket. Perhaps for this trip you could have booked first class and used more of the value of the original ticket as well.

US Airways Cancelation policy
 

Dear PHXFlyer,

All of these options were considered carefully. First class was three times the regular fare. The problem lies with the lack of clear information at the time of the purchase of the ticket, because I asked about the possibility if having to cancel it specifically. Other than the change fee I was told nothing.

CLogerquist

Did you purchase the ticket online? Perhaps you should take more time and actually read the rules and restrictions that are presented to you when you purchase a ticket. For example you posted this complaint about US Airways in the Alaska Airlines area. If you aren't "web savvy" you should be booking over the phone. If you just don't pay attention or can't be bothered then it's your own fault. When you click on the "I agree..." in order to purchase an airline ticket you are agreeing to all the fare rules and ticket restrictions regardless if you read them or not.

US Airways Cancelation policy
 

It was booked via a travel agent. I was specific in my questions.

You can get off your soap box now defending the airlines. I looked for helpful suggestions. Yours aren't, because your assumptions are biazed.

I'm still trying to understand why this complaint is in the Alaska Airlines section.

However, if you booked through a travel agent, your complaint is with them, not US Air.

Exactly! When you leave out important details such as this we have no choice but to guess and hopefully, as happened here, you'll return more details. Your travel agent should have disclosed what the consequences of canceling or changing the non-refundable ticket would be. Additionally your agent should have offered you some form of travel insurance so if the cancellation was due to a covered circumstance (illness, death in family, loss of employment, etc.) you could have received most or all of your money back.

If the travel agent is local, then contact the head of the agency and see if you can negotiate a satisfactory solution. If you are still not satisfied find out if they are a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (http://www.asta.org) and if so file a complaint with them. If not, then your best bet is through your local BBB.

So, I'll just step down from my soapbox now. You're welcome! :D

And just why was this placed in the Alaska Airlines section?