Learn from our mistakes.

On Monday, with seven days to go, our itinerary got a shake-up. I consider myself a seasoned traveller, but with all of the restrictions and policies that airlines instate, each trip is a unique experience.

In March, we purchased round-trip tickets from CVG - Venice with a plane change in Rome. Perfect, we thought! We had already decided to start our trip in Rome, so we could just get off the plane and leave the airport. Also planning to end the trip in Venice, our requirements were met. At the time of purchase, I noted that we should call Delta to alert them to the fact that we would be getting off in Rome, not Venice. After all, I had heard stories of tickets getting cancelled for such behavior.

When Shawn called the airline this past Monday, he was told that getting off the plane in Rome, rather than our true final destination, would be an "abuse of ticket". We could only do this if we paid an outrageous fee of $2200. The airline would have to issue a new ticket and we would need to pay the difference. What?! We didn't ask to change anything about our ticket. We just want to leave the airport in Rome and have two empty seats fly on to Venice. After explaining this, we were told that this does not allow the airline to "target the correct markets" when pricing tickets.

Seriously?! First of all, we're driving from Indianapolis to Cincinnati to catch the flight. So, we're already throwing off their market research. Second, if we already purchased the ticket, isn't that enough? Clearly, there's interest. I've taken trains all over Europe and if a passenger wants to get off before the supposed final destination, it is okay to do so. Often, that passenger can even jump back on and continue as originally planned. The airlines, however, prove time and again through lame policies and bad customer service that we are here to serve them... not the other way around.

So, we switched our itinerary. We scrambled Monday night, shifting hotels and transportation plans. We're still going to Italy and will have a great time regardless. It's just costing a bit more now... thanks, Delta.