In the hotel industry, if I rent a room, get a cheap rate and then check out early, they can't rerent the room unless they refund the days. But really, they are happy they don't have to turn the room... Either way, they can resell or not, their choice. The airlines sold the second/subsequent seats at a rate they accepted. It is not the passengers fault they have no way to be notified that the subsequent legs could be refunded and resold at higher rates. (I would be surprised if they didn't sell a standby--essentially selling that seat twice).... So, they are really just upset they can't make you pay more than they agreed at first? And all this is predicated on some sort of "thought crime" where you plan to not get into a metal tube at some future point because it is cheaper not to? Ahhh?