[wolfgang schlauch]

My original roundtrip ticket from El Paso to Frankfurt, booked on 2/5/09,
cost a total of $ 907.90. Hoever, by the end of February American Airlines had lowered the ticket price to $ 546.20, taxes included. That is a price difference of $ 343.70. AA agreed to change the ticket, but charged a
$ 250 penalty fee. Thus the actual saving was only $ 93.00.

I find the penalty fee of $ 250 unfair, exploitative, and exorbitant.
Those who now book the flight for $ 546.20 pay $ 343.70 less than
the original fare at the beginning of February. By charging a penalty fee of $ 250, those of us who booked earlier, subsidize the cheaper fare! I am
penalized for booking early which is clearly unfair!!
As a valued costumer who often flies with American Airlines, I would like
for AA to explain this discriminatory policy.
Sincerely,

wolfgang schlauch

[Etihad Representative]

I have seen this complaint quite a few times on here, and although i work for an airline i will not defend them all the way, just a little

Ok, if you go to a clothes store and purchase a new shirt, next week the shirt has gone down in their sale due to low sales of said shirt, would you then go and ask for the extra money back? no you wouldnt, the same applies for airlines, if they choose to sell the seats at a price, and then realise that acutally, that flight is not selling too well, how do they fill it? reduce the price!

If anyone can tell me that the clothes store would call all customers and offer them their money back, then i will happily stand corrected, so in the same regard, why should the airlines?

American did not have to offer you anything back, (Unless there is a price promise or the likes in place) there is no law stating that they are unable to lower their fares, after the original fare has been published.

However, and this is where I do not agree with the airlines. This process makes all airlines look bad, and makes for very disgruntled passengers ... But it is not going to change, it does seem to be happening more and more of late, this of course is due to the "current economic climate", and less travellers etc, and the airlines effectively trying to keep afloat (Or in the air as it is ) ...

Give me a workable way around this, and I shall once again stand corrected, however I cannot think of a way around this without losing a significant number of other airlines (Not a bad thing i hear some of you cry!)