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Unless the person can prove that they had to be at a meeting at such a time, I don't see as though issuing a refund for that reason, as well as some of the others, could be done. Passengers make claims all of the time that they needed to be here, or there, and it is always something "important", like a funeral, wedding, or business meeting, which probably isn't the true story, coming from many passengers. They just think that line will get them something more. Also, it states in the contract of carriage of basically every airline that changes in schedule, etc., will occur. The way I see it, non-refundable, is non-refundable. If you purchase something from the store that is non-refundable, than it is non-refundable, period.
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We are talking here where the airline makes the change. If I buy a non refundable ticket with a departure at 9am, to get me to where I want to go, and the airline changes the departure to 5pm, you think I should have to "prove" that I had to be at a meeting?
If the airline makes a substantial change to the schedule for operational reasons then you should be entitled to a full refund regardless of what type of ticket you bought, and you should not have to prove anything. I agree with others that there should be a compensation scheme. Perhaps if the change is made say 90 days or more ahead of time, only the fare is refunded but actual compensation is paid on top for changes with lesser notice.
The attitude displayed in ChrisH's posting shows how arrogant the airlines and their employees have become and how they exploit their monopoly. The airlines urgently need to be re-regulated and no longer protected from normal commercial pressures. The attitude "non refundable is non refundable" in this situation is utterly shocking. If I buy a discounted radio from Target in a sale, and the sale conditions say the item is non refundable, and it turns out the radio doesn't work, I am still entitled to a refund. Target could not say, well what do you expect if you buy discount? Now to be clear, we are not talking about weather delays, mechanical problems, etc..ie, problems which are not within the power of the airline to control. We are talking here where the airline has changed the schedule for operational reasons.