[Matt_FLL]

You absolutely have some very valid and interesting points.

It’s no secret that airlines hardly make any money at all. What a horrific industry from a business perspective. As you pointed out, airlines sell cheap (non-profitable) seats and subsidize them by charging more to those who are able and willing to pay (primarily business travelers).

So the idea is that the college student can still afford the $150 ticket to visit his parents, and he’s sitting right next to the business woman who paid $500.

The issue that you are raising is very valid. How do they put fences around each customer? That is, how do you identify the college student versus the business traveler? The airline would primarily give two answers: (1) Advanced Purchase, and (2) Restrictions.

The college student is able to book far in advance and put up with restrictions (primarily a hefty fee for itinerary changes). So they create a low-fare “product” for him. The busy business woman is willing to pay more to book her flights at the last minute and have a completely refundable and changeable “product”. Yet they sit right next to each other and may even change seats. It’s wild.

The issue is the third person like you. You are the victim here. You cannot get to the airport because of flooding. It’s completely out of your control. And now you’re being labeled as the person who can throw down $600+ for a flexible ticket. Totally not fair. The answer in your case was that the airline should have given a fee waiver/travel advisory. They are downright wrong for not doing that.