That’s the pricing model of the airlines. They always charge more for close-in tickets that business travelers, who are generally less sensitive to prices, tend to book.
Airlines usually charge a change fee…plus the upcharge for the ticket if the cost is higher on the rebooking.
They are waiving the change fee…not the upcharge for a higher priced ticket.
I picked up a bottle of store brand guaifenesin (chest congestion expectorant) because we were running low. One of my parents had a lung condition so we got used to having them in stock.
What I don’t have is a good thermometer. What kind is everyone else using? I prefer oral to ear, but I don’t know what brand(s) are reliable.
Correct, but I think Southwest is the exception in terms of coronavirus changes. I believe they’re not charging either change fee or fare difference.
I read a story that some people were taking advantage of it by buying the cheapest possible ticket to their destination, then changing to a more expensive but better time and date at no cost. The journalist talked to SWA and their response was that it was so few people doing it that they didn’t care. It’s been a few weeks since I read that article so their policy may have changed.
Ugh…Heads up for United travelers. They are changing the threshold for refunds for travel delays due to schedule changes (THEIRS) from 2 hours to 25! That’s right–if they cancel a flight and rebook you within 25! hours, you are not able to get a refund.
https://simpleflying.com/united-negative-refund-policy/
While I realized airlines are hemorrhaging money right now due to coronavirus, this does not sit well with me. And I’m guessing once the epidemic passes, United will just keep the policy. And I’m REALLY hoping other airlines do not follow suit. Please note that they are applying this retroactively, even if you made reservations a year ago. And, no…they will not be refunding for a lost night at a hotel, a rental car reservation missed, etc.
That United policy is horrible. Many people book a flight to arrive night before meeting, grad ceremony, wedding, holiday, etc. you cannot just arbitrarily change their flight for a day later and expect happy customers!!!
How many masks are in a box?
That would be illegal. Your terms when you bought it should apply. They can’t change the terms in the contract retroactively.
I was checking air fares daily. There’s a place I’d like to travel next week. The fare has been high and I hoped it may come down. No such luck, it is actually going up daily.
@Iglooo Here’s a link to where I read that it can be applied retroactively…(way at bottom)
I get that they say it but I doubt it will hold up. It is a contract between two entities. Signed to say you agree with their terms when you bought the ticket. You didn’t agree to the change. It is not valid. It seems like a dumbest thing they are trying to do. You cannot not honor the past contract without consent from the other party.
Igloo- have you ever read the terms on an airline ticket? It’s completely one-sided and they can do whatever they want.
Talked to my brother in Chicagoland yesterday - he’s 70 and has had CLL for years so is very very careful to avoid infections. Learned that he and his wife both will be having surgery, him next month and SIL in May.
Along with those concerns, he’s now wondering about his bimonthly cleaning service., i.e. should they go around and wipe down everything that the cleaning service touched? Should they suspend service? And he’s wondering if he should risk Broadway in Chicago next month; his doctor advised him to avoid group gatherings.
Adding them to son in Seattle to worry about.
Even the newly unfavorably changed policy is more generous than the minimum UA promises to do in its contract of carriage (which is transport the passenger within 7 days of the originally scheduled dates of departure and arrival):
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/contract-of-carriage.html#tcm:76-6643
Trip to Dr today to get antibiotics for a cat scratch, and also to have my cold evaluated. I had been the Seattle area feb 27th and 28th. and started last friday with a sore throat and headache, but never any fever. I am doing some coughing. My Dr’s office has the ability to test for COVID-19. After a chest Xray and exam , it was determined that at this point , I likely had a cold and that they could not use any of the tests they have on me. Note that if they did, they said results take a mininum of 3 days. While I was at the Dr’s office I wore my N95 mask(that i own) when I could, and everyone that was in contact with wore their masks. so working from home and avoiding people as much as I can. Note that my H feels fine
I hope you feel better soon, sdl0625.
I had a seminar scheduled at a Boston area university in early April. Last week I asked if they were still planning on going forward with it given the COVID-19 outbreak (news of those infected at the Biogen conference was filtering out). Today they agreed it would be best to push the talk into the future (along with other university activities). 
My only slight regret is there are schools en route that S20 has applied to, and if he is fortunate enough to get into any, I wanted to road trip up with him to visit them. At least this was my plan way back when I got the seminar invite. Now many of these places will likely be doing virtual classes and not hosting events in April.
Went to Target today, actually fairly early, around 9 a.m. I was overdue for my pneumonia shot and it seems a good time not to be.
Not crowded but a handful more people than I expected. However, I didn’t see any shortages in the pharmacy. I bought some saline nose spray and some Afrin; I keep both on hand for allergies and colds. I also noticed that packs of 24 Charmin toilet paper were not only there but on sale. It may go quickly later but no one seemed that interested at the time.
No one seemed concerned about the virus - no wipes for the cart, no hand sanitizers scattered about for guests and employees.
I was able to get a full refund on United Airlines for my daughter. She had booked a trip to visit us in California in February. She was due to fly here next week. But she is in early pregnancy. So I called United (on hold for an hour and a half), played the pregnancy card and got a full refund. They are being more flexible than the website indicates.
Her area has no cases and since the risks to the baby in early pregnancy are unknown, a flight for an ‘unnecessary’ visit was just not worth the risk.
Well, the National Guard is apparently deploying to nearby (to me) New Rochelle. Governor Cuomo is establishing a 1 mile containment zone from the epicenter of the New Rochelle cluster (the Young Israel synagogue) for two weeks. The NG will provide food and clean public spaces. Effective, optics, who knows.
Just returned from my weekly Costco shop. They had an employee spraying down all the carts at the entrance which I did appreciate. I swear I’ve never seen so much bottled water in my life! It’s stacked long and high and even deeper than usual into the aisle. They are limiting to 2/customer but I didn’t see folks getting more than one if any. Lots and lots of paper towels but no TP or disinfecting wipes. No alcohol or sanitizer. They are no longer limiting Clorox bleach but are limiting Lysol cleanser and paper products. I was able to get Airborne which I’m going to make my husband take as he flies often.
We’re not changing any plans and will still go to dinner and the theater this weekend. I’m going to an out of town wedding next month and had planned to drive. But now with flights so cheap I’m seriously considering flying. I feel like I’ll be fine if I take all the normal precautions.
We use a concierge medical group who has sent several emails with procedures and recommendations. They suggested having a thermometer, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter at home so you don’t have to go to the office to have vitals checked. They are also offering teleconferences as an alternative to coming in. And they’ve set aside a dedicated exam room for evaluation of anyone with flu symptoms.