[Vigilanteman]

Last November, my boss asked me to make some last minute arrangements at the destination after my Sunday afternoon flight was already ticketed.

Since there were a lot more openings on Sunday morning flights, I went to the airport expected to get a standby ticket per advertised policy. They still charged me $25 for the ticket change on a 40% capacity flight when I was giving up a ticket on a 98% capacity flight at about three times the fare. When I protested, the US Air agent told me that they really did not care about passenger traffic as they made more hauling freight. Maybe he just had an attitude, but if he was on the level, this could explain the reasoning behind the bag charges.

[xjcsa]

. They still charged me $25 for the ticket change on a 40% capacity flight when I was giving up a ticket on a 98% capacity flight at about three times the fare. When I protested, the US Air agent told me that they really did not care about passenger traffic as they made more hauling freight.

It's much simpler than that: they make more money by charging you $25 than by not charging you $25.

[BallparkBoys]

US Air agent told me that they really did not care about passenger traffic as they made more hauling freight. FREIGHT, not your luggage. They make most of their money on US Mail contracts and Freight from companies....Your luggage is NOT making them money....unless of course they charge you $25, then they are....

[Notary Sojac]

they really did not care about passenger traffic as they made more hauling freight

Makes sense to me, explains why the freight gets better cabin service than the passengers do.