YUPP, I'd like to link AA segments to my LAX-SYD booking

[wile_e]

Hi guys,

I've just booked my first YUPP for my upcoming trip to the US. Excited, but also aprehensive about it (as I've left a little over a 2 hour gap between my flights from ORD-IAH and IAH-LAX). Hopefully it should all work out... But, I digress.

My real question are these:

1) I've done a quick search and couldn't easily find this answer... Is there a way I can add the AA segments (ORD-IAH) to my QF segments (IAH-LAX-SYD)?

2) I understand YUPP's are booked into Y, with an "instant" upgrade to J/F on availability. How to I make sure that I definitely 'snag' one of these seats (for the SC's that will push me over to WP)? Could I do an online check in (T-24h) even if I have luggage and then check my luggage all the way through from ORD-SYD?

Thanks in advance,
W

 

[drewbles]

Hi guys,

I've just booked my first YUPP for my upcoming trip to the US. Excited, but also aprehensive about it (as I've left a little over a 2 hour gap between my flights from ORD-IAH and IAH-LAX). Hopefully it should all work out... But, I digress.

My real question are these:

1) I've done a quick search and couldn't easily find this answer... Is there a way I can add the AA segments (ORD-IAH) to my QF segments (IAH-LAX-SYD)?

2) I understand YUPP's are booked into Y, with an "instant" upgrade to J/F on availability. How to I make sure that I definitely 'snag' one of these seats (for the SC's that will push me over to WP)? Could I do an online check in (T-24h) even if I have luggage and then check my luggage all the way through from ORD-SYD?

Thanks in advance,
W

YUPP fares are confirmed into F at time of booking, so you're in F. The time you need to be concerned is if you mis-connect. AA's only real obligation is to get you to your next port, and if there is no A class available, you'll be put back into Y. That's in theory.

I've done many YUPP's and never once been bumped back. If you ask nicely, they'll usually let you wait for the next available. There may come a time you have to go back to Y though if you're going to be in danger of misconnecting again or it's the last flight of the day and you don't want to cough up overnight expenses yourself.

As for separate tickets, you're stuck there. They can link the bookings, but it's nothing more than an info note on the file (ie, it doesn't protect you in the event you do misconnect from one itinerary to the next). 2 hours should be enough, but it depends when you're travelling (if in winter, you want to allow more time generally).

I often travel on nested itineraries, and touch wood, i've been fine so far!

 

[serfty]

...

As for separate tickets, you're stuck there. They can link the bookings, but it's nothing more than an info note on the file (ie, it doesn't protect you in the event you do misconnect from one itinerary to the next). 2 hours should be enough, but it depends when you're travelling (if in winter, you want to allow more time generally).. ..

Actually, Qantas can add 'passive' segments to your booking - if done properly your ORD-IAH would show up on www.Qantas.com/yourbooking.

More here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....o-qf-questions-re-award-36109.html#post548635

 

[drewbles]

Actually, Qantas can add 'passive' segments to your booking - if done properly your ORD-IAH would show up on www.Qantas.com/yourbooking.

More here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....o-qf-questions-re-award-36109.html#post548635

It's just entered in the info field on the GDS though and still doesn't actually provide you any segment protection unfortunately (although of course they're far more likely to look after you with this in there than not so it's a good idea)

 

[serfty]

It's just entered in the info field on the GDS though and still doesn't actually provide you any segment protection unfortunately (although of course they're far more likely to look after you with this in there than not so it's a good idea)

Just to be clear - if done correctly it sits as an additional segment in your PNR, not as an 'info' field.

(I have had it done both correctly and incorrectly - some agents simply do not understand.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

YUPP fares are confirmed into F at time of booking, so you're in F. The time you need to be concerned is if you mis-connect. AA's only real obligation is to get you to your next port, and if there is no A class available, you'll be put back into Y. That's in theory.

I've done many YUPP's and never once been bumped back. If you ask nicely, they'll usually let you wait for the next available. There may come a time you have to go back to Y though if you're going to be in danger of misconnecting again or it's the last flight of the day and you don't want to cough up overnight expenses yourself.

As for separate tickets, you're stuck there. They can link the bookings, but it's nothing more than an info note on the file (ie, it doesn't protect you in the event you do misconnect from one itinerary to the next). 2 hours should be enough, but it depends when you're travelling (if in winter, you want to allow more time generally).

I often travel on nested itineraries, and touch wood, i've been fine so far!

the fare rules actually state that you are allowed to wait until the next available flight with F if you choose. AA will however protect you on the next available service if you misconnect, but that is a courtesy, and as you state, could be in Y. but you are under jo obligation to accept the Y seat.

 

[wile_e]

Just to be clear - if done correctly it sits as an additional segment in your PNR, not as an 'info' field.

(I have had it done both correctly and incorrectly - some agents simply do not understand.)

Thanks alot serfty. Just one more question... How would one approach the call centre with this request? Call 131131 and then ask the agent to add the ORD-IAH segment into the "passive" segment of my booking? I'm guessing that if I get connected to an agent who doesn't know what I'm on about, I just call back (until I find someone who can action the request)?

Just thiking out loud: without having to provide an AA booking reference, how would they even know that I've got that particular booking?!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks alot serfty. Just one more question... How would one approach the call centre with this request? Call 131131 and then ask the agent to add the ORD-IAH segment into the "passive" segment of my booking? I'm guessing that if I get connected to an agent who doesn't know what I'm on about, I just call back (until I find someone who can action the request)?

Just thiking out loud: without having to provide an AA booking reference, how would they even know that I've got that particular booking?!

you can just ring them and say you have a connecting AA flight and can you add that into the booking (for baggage tag purposes if nothing else!!).

no need to worry about getting too technical from my previous experience

 

[drewbles]

the fare rules actually state that you are allowed to wait until the next available flight with F if you choose. AA will however protect you on the next available service if you misconnect, but that is a courtesy, and as you state, could be in Y. but you are under jo obligation to accept the Y seat.

Thank you for stating more clearly what I meant (I did actually mean that, but my mind was not working properly at the time )

ie, you're welcome to wait for a seat to become available, else you may have to accept a Y seat, which may be your only option if you're in the middle of a run and likely to miss subsequent connections (although asking nicely has had good success for me in having the other flights also re-booked).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you for stating more clearly what I meant (I did actually mean that, but my mind was not working properly at the time )

ie, you're welcome to wait for a seat to become available, else you may have to accept a Y seat, which may be your only option if you're in the middle of a run and likely to miss subsequent connections (although asking nicely has had good success for me in having the other flights also re-booked).

however - there is an interesting twist to these fares and waiting for a new flight... these are 'instant upgrade' fares which book into Y but instantly upgrade to First.

We had a situation where we chose to wait for the next flight, which had F seats available, but was sold out in coach. because it was sold out in coach, the fare couldn't book into any bucket to then 'instantly upgrade'. That is, you have to have 'a' seat in coach at the start.

In 99.99% of cases this is isn't a problem because they are almost always at least one full fare Y seat available, even right up to departure. But we got caught one day in STL!

 

[drewbles]

however - there is an interesting twist to these fares and waiting for a new flight... these are 'instant upgrade' fares which book into Y but instantly upgrade to First.

We had a situation where we chose to wait for the next flight, which had F seats available, but was sold out in coach. because it was sold out in coach, the fare couldn't book into any bucket to then 'instantly upgrade'. That is, you have to have 'a' seat in coach at the start.

In 99.99% of cases this is isn't a problem because they are almost always at least one full fare Y seat available, even right up to departure. But we got caught one day in STL!

YUPP fares book into A fare bucket (and KUPPs, which are cheaper but more restrictive) are in P. If there's no A or P on the flight respectively, you are not meant to be able to fly in F (unless you wait for a flight with availability). I've had some AAngels bend the rules for me in the past though ).

I've not heard of your scenario though. Very interesting (paging serfty to the white courtesy phone, serfty to the white courtesy phone ).

 

[serfty]

...
I've not heard of your scenario though. Very interesting (paging serfty to the white courtesy phone, serfty to the white courtesy phone ).

I have indeed come across mention of a similar scenario but that was in relation to sticker(/EXP) space available upgrades and changing flights.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

YUPP fares book into A fare bucket (and KUPPs, which are cheaper but more restrictive) are in P. If there's no A or P on the flight respectively, you are not meant to be able to fly in F (unless you wait for a flight with availability). I've had some AAngels bend the rules for me in the past though ).

I've not heard of your scenario though. Very interesting (paging serfty to the white courtesy phone, serfty to the white courtesy phone ).

I was using F as a generic to cover the A and P. But the underlying seat has to be there in coach first. In our case at STL the flight was showing '0' across the baord in all economy class, so we couldn't go. (this was a voluntary 'wait until the next flight in F' scenario, not an irregular ops where those sorts of rules can go out the window... for example your YUPP they may give you a seat that is a available for oversell)