Airlines up fees for changing nonrefundable tickets

CHICAGO (AP) -- Want to change that airline reservation? Get ready to pay more -- $90 or $100 in some cases.

Continental Airlines on Friday raised the fee for changing a nonrefundable, advance-fare ticket from $75 to $100.

American quietly followed suit Wednesday, increasing the rebooking or cancellation fees for many nonrefundable tickets by $15 to $90.

Industry watchers said other major airlines are likely to do the same.

"They're nickel-and-diming us everywhere we go," said Tom Parsons, an airline watcher and chief executive of Bestfares.com.

The "change fees" most often apply when a traveler buys a ticket in advance and then wants to change a date of travel or cancel the trip and apply the money paid for the ticket to future flights.

The fees primarily affect leisure travelers since business fliers tend to book more expensive, refundable tickets, often at the last minute.

Other major airlines declined to say if increased change fees are in the works.

On the Net:

Air Transport Association: http://www.air-transport.org