Generally, you do get what you are willing to pay for.
Want the absolute cheapest airfare?
For that, you'll give up flexibility regarding potential cancellation or scheduling changes.
If you want to add that flexibility back in, the extra insurance costs will bump up the fare to levels approaching all the other Airlines, who would have been more flexable in their cancellation policy.
That little bit of flexability is built into their prices.
Frankly, I wouldn't book a flight or reserve a hotel room if they did not also offer a reasonable cancellation policy.
Usually it is a set fee, but sometimes it is a percentage rate.
BTW, I am an “almost elderly” USAF Veteran.
This entire media induced populist outrage is incredibly stupid, IMHO.
OK,fair enough.But can we assume that you don't have any life threatening illnesses? It's not as if this guy missed the flight because he overslept.