US Airways

*Special message to my mom if she's reading this one: You may want to skip it. I'm angry and I swear a lot. I don't have time to destress through Yoga like you. Hence, I swear.*

Okay- Long story short.
I had plans in Grand Rapids, MI. and they fell through.

I was going to get to Grand Rapids by airplane. Specifically, I would fly from Washington, DC Reagan to Chicago O'Hare to Grand Rapids. I would leave Grand Rapids through Chicago as well. Anyway, I bought my ticket a while ago... When my plans fell through, I said:

"Fuck it, I'll go to Chicago. I can just NOT use the Chicago-Grand Rapids legs of my flight, and fly into and leave out of Chi-town. "

Easy enough, right? Wrong. When I called US Airways to inform them of my change in plans, I was remarkably told that for my NEW plan to work out, I would have to pay a $150.00 fee!

"UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE!" was what I wanted to scream. Instead, I went on a search for answers:

Me:
"Wait... what? That's ridiculous. Why would I have to pay money... I'm not changing anything. I'm just providing a notice that I'm not going to fly the second leg of the flight."

US Airways:
"Well if you don't fly the second leg, we'll cancel the return."

That about did it with my patience so I just hung up on US Airways to think about my options.

They were:
1) Pay $150 to go to Chicago
2) Eat the cost of the whole trip and smile about my good luck.
...
But then a roomie came in with another great idea... Bail on the Chicago-Grand Rapids leg of the trip, and then just book a cheaper 1-way return. AND, lo and behold, I found 1-ways for $130.00 on Kayak...

Ultimately though, I can't help feeling like I am being totally and completely fucked by karma and by US Airways right now. As far as I'm concerned, enduring this airline-fiasco-fucked up mess thing is going to be such a karma-rewarding experience for me, that I will have SO MUCH positive karma built up for the future! I will then hopefully be able to do something like orchestrate a Ponzi scheme to make millions to offset my original loss on the flight. But even after that, I'll probably be at a karma-neutral level which will be fine with me.

Anyway, this is what I wrote those idiots:

Hi,

I recently had a change in plans that has resulted in my not needing to go to Grand Rapids for my trip. However, I am still interested in flying into and out of Chicago.

I called to speak to a representative about this and was told that I would be charged AN ADDITIONAL $150.00 to ignore the Grand Rapids part of my trip. Please tell me that isn't true. That's absolutely ridiculous. My entire flight is paid for, and I don't see what difference it makes if one leg is eliminated. You (the airline)could easily put it back up for sale, and then resell it. And if nobody buys, the sale has already been made!

Additionally, WHY would I ever agree to pay a $150 "cancellation" fee?! I'm not cancelling the flight, I'm just not flying on it. Secondly, I can get a cheaper ONE-WAY TICKET BACK TO WASHINGTON! They are $130 on Kayak. But the thought of even having to do that to get around some unbelievably stupid fee in the first place is mind-blowing.

Please tell me that there is some way my Chicago to Grand Rapids (and GRR to ORD) legs can be eliminated WITHOUT a fee. It is criminal to charge somebody for MAKING NO CHANGE TO THEIR ITINERARY.

You have a chance to save a customer or make somebody irate with your airline for life!

Please advise.