Son misses father’s burial after Continental Airlines charges $675 to change flights

A local family is grieving the death of their father. But what they say has made it even worse is what an airline was forcing one of their brothers to do to be here for the burial.

See the airline’s response below

This is the frustration over those change fees — the money the airline charges if you change the date of your flight.

The only thing this family was looking for was a little compassion.

Julie Knapp invited us into her home today. She showed us all the plaques that her father got after years of service to Monroe County. Walter Zajonczloski died last week at age 85.

His son Fred Zajonczloski had already flown back from his home in San Antonio, Texas (the family knew their father was dying) and was scheduled to return last Saturday, December 17th.

But when Fred learned that his father wasn’t going to be buried until this Wednesday he tried to change his flight for the next day. He was told by Continental Airlines it was going to cost him $675 dollars to change the flight. That’s for two tickets (Fred and his fiance) plus the fees.

Fred and his family couldn’t afford that so he flew back home on the original ticket and he’s going to miss his father’s burial.

“I understand that people have jobs and people have things to do, but have a heart. Have a heart,” Julie said. “I mean there’s somebody there that could have said yes, it’s okay to switch this flight.”

So Fred and his fiance had to fly home on the original tickets and they won’t be here for the burial.

“Its frustrating and it’s very disappointing when I put my brother on that airplane and I said goodbye to him and knew he wasn’t going to be here,” Julie said.

There’s more.

Julie says her father’s last wish was to be buried next to his son Dale — who died when he was just three.

“And that’s why it’s so important that Freddie was here,” Julie said as she looked at an old photo of her brothers and sister, including Dale. “To have that closure to be able to see dad go back with his son.”

The only thing Julie knows is that Wednesday will be here but her brother won’t.

He couldn’t afford to be here.

“He should be here with his family to put his dad in the ground and say goodbye,” Julie said. “Because you can’t turn back time and it’s something you’ll never get back.”

Continental Airlines’ response

Late Monday, we were called by a spokesperson from Continental Airlines. He said the airline is looking into the story. Continental’s highest charge fee is $200 and that it for international flights. So the airline believes this may be a simple misunderstanding.

In an email, spokesman Rahsaan Johnson wrote, “(Continental) customer care will contact the customers directly. We certainly offer them our deepest condolences.”