BUDGET AIRLINES A RIP OFF -CAUTION

I had to make changes to a trip overseas and the changes to my Singapore Airlines flight from Cairo to Brisbane cost 50AUD for 2.

I also had to make a change to my AirAsia flights.Result the cheap flights are not available when you want to make a change only the top price flights-they were when you check the site- and the total cost resulted in us paying 600AUD for a 1 hour flight from KL to Siem Reap return for 2.

The Singapore Airlines flight for 2 from Cairo to Brisbane was only 2000AUD with changes.

No more Budget AIrlines for us.

I am not sure why you were suprised. Budget airlines keep their prices low for many reasons and one of them is making sure they don't pick up admin costs for flight changes...you do. You probably could not get another cheap flight because their costing is based on supply and demand...I have had the opposite and booked far cheaper flights as they were empty (in this case I threw away my originals and booked from scratch).

I travel every week..normally with SQ in luxury, but I still often use budget airlines. I don't like them but they make sense...AA is transparant and all these "rip offs" are made very clear. Your comparison of costs v short and long haul are true, but then it is the same with SQ and most airlines...look at the cost of the shuttle Sing-KL v the cost of a flight to Aus.

I have found the same using Orbitz, Expedia, etc. When you go to make a change before you go, suddenly they have only 1st class available. It's a pain. But if you have already flown one leg, then you can make changes directly with the airlines---perhaps pay up to $200, or nothing---and that's been quite easy to do.

Funny how people immediately decide something is a 'rip-off' when things don't go their way.

I would have thought that anyone with half a brain could figure out that changing flights is going to cost you money. Often budget flights aren't changeable AT ALL. A case of use em or lose em.

Here's how it works concheman. If you want to be able to change flights with little trouble or cost, buy full fare tickets.

I'm with Cognomen on this. The OP doesn't say when he is travelling but the rule for budget airlines is: the closer to the flying date the more expensive the ticket. That's how they make their money.
I am flying from the south of France to the UK in December. I booked the tickets early this month: one centime each way (plus taxes). It doesn't take much brain to realise the airline can't exist on a plane load of one centime passengers. Book the same flight close to the date and it will be much more expensive.
So you lost your cheap fare. Now you are having to book at a higher fare because it is closer to the date. That's not a rip off.

My point was this.When I looked at the site there were cheap flights still available.But when I immediatley went to change they suddenly disappeared and only the expensive ones were listed. Unlike other airlines they dont show them till after you pass the point of no return.

Expected a change levy 4 sure but not to see the (1st class) prices only...............

Been around OP'ers

Sometimes it can be cheaper to buy a new cheap flight than to attempt to change an existing cheap flight that it already booked.

And yes sometimes flights are advertised that are not available as a come on.

No one is arguing that budget airlines don't always sell cheap seats concheman. Or that if you want to change a flight they are smart enough to make you pay through the nose. I think you are missing our point.

Your expectations are out of line. That's the point. It isn't a rip-off, it's simply the business model they use to operate. If Baz Faz is flying for 1 centime, someone has to make up the difference for the flight to make sense economically. YOU are the one making it up this time. But YOU were also the one who was originally getting a cheap seat in the expectation that someone else would make it up. YOU had no complaint when you bought the cheap seat did you? You weren't calling them and saying listen, 'you guys can't possibly be making any profit by selling me this seat this cheaply. I think you should charge me more and not need to charge some other person a higher price to make up for my lower price. Everyone should pay the same and I insist on paying my fair share.'

You chose to play their game because of the cheap cost initially, you cannot complain when they insist you play by their rules later on.

#6...the flights advertised are/where available...we just missed them! Someone on that flight did pay 99sens, but most paid 149RM. AA are clever not stupid.

Gosh, Cognomen, you make me almost feel guilty. Should I salve my conscience and send Concheman a contribution?

Don't get carried away Baz Faz. If you want to send contributions, send them to me and I won't complain regardless of what price I pay for a flight.

Cognomen, I was going to send him a couple of centimes. Let me know if you need them.

Hold on to them until I visit your area. You can show me how to buy a flight with them.

If you don't understand the rules the airlines spell-out to you before you purchase your ticket which has restrictions then buy yourself a full-priced more flexible ticket. The fault lies with you, not the "budget airlines."