AA.com [Oz Portal] - Beware of booking class

[vantage03]

Hi everyone,
It seems like this is covered in more complex terms in other threads, but I thought this may be a useful reminder for those who prefer layman's terms.
Had already held tickets in First for the segments, hadn't ticketed them yet. Then re-searched for a friend and the flights came up at less than half the cost.

Booked two segments on AA.com:
LAX-ASE
LAS-LAX

Both came under the "First Standard" tier.

On the confirmation of booking, it said, in fairly fine print (to summarise):

LAX-ASE First Standard/Main Cabin
LAS-LAX First Standard/First Cabin

This made me go to Manage My Booking, and sure enough the LAX-ASE leg was booked in Economy (L-Class), while the LAS-LAX flight was booked in First (A-Class).

Called up their service desk and told them it was false advertising, they (to be fair) appologised profusely and offered to refund the flight in full.
They said that there were no more First discount seats available, and that my LAS-LAX leg was an Instant-Upgrade fare.

Honestly, I don't really care about the A3889 LAX-ASE in Economy, I've done it in F before and the seats were identical to Economy and there's not even beverage service... and I'm talking water here!! I am happy to have saved the $1,000 bucks and I expected something like this would happen when the fare price had dropped so dramatically. BUT, be warned: "First Standard/Main Cabin" = bad.

 

[serfty]

It is always a good thing to remind people to check these classes.

To be fair, the individual segment's booking classes are available on AA.com before you make any payment.

See here for more on how to ascertain the indivisual segments booking class prior to payment:

Multi-Segment

One way and Return

 

[Limewood]

We fell into that, wife changed AA Y flight time only to same city, AA never said anything about classification change, arrived back in OZ, tried to claim points on QFF no go, tried 3 emails to them had no reply, typical treatment. Thinking now to use VA more.

 

[vantage03]

To be fair, the individual segment's booking classes are available on AA.com before you make any payment.

Hi Serfty. I booked on the AA.com Australian site and had a different user interface to those in your guide (to actually choose the flights that is, as it was a multi-city itinerary), and I searched the pages but could not find a booking class anywhere. I could have missed it, but I did look! The only warning I could find was the reference to "LAX-ASE First Standard/Main Cabin" in the confirmation page.

Anyway, as you said, always a good reminder to check classes...

 

[serfty]

Hi Serfty. I booked on the AA.com Australian site ...

That is the case - the Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com site uses Amadeus and won't easily cough up the individual segment(s) booking class.

FWIW, 49 time out of 50, AA.com gives better results for me than Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com so I rarely use the latter.

Your thread title says AA.com so, given the manifest differences, I assumed that is what you meant. [I have edited the thread title]

 

[jastel]

I got told I had to use the AA.au site because the USA one wouldnt verify my Aust credit card when I called the help line after trying to book flights.
Wasnt trying first class but.

 

[serfty]

I got told I had to use the AA.au site because the USA one wouldn't verify my Aust credit card when I called the help line after trying to book flights. ....

Not the case at all - although they do try to direct you there.

My last dozen bookings have been made using AA.com (US site).

See these threads for advice:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ines-advantage/best-way-book-aa-ex-29112.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....esearch-book-aa-instant-42433.html#post666479

 

[garybatz]

Thanks for this information, I'll be booking a multi-segment trip for next May & want to make sure I earn the points & SCs.

Can you tell me, if I check the US site for the booking classes but then book through the Oz site will be classes be the same? I ask because I just compared prices & the Oz site is $50 less for the same booking, however I would pay the extra if it meant getting into the qualifying classes.

 

[serfty]

...
Can you tell me, if I check the US site for the booking classes but then book through the Oz site will be classes be the same? I ask because I just compared prices & the Oz site is $50 less for the same booking, however I would pay the extra if it meant getting into the qualifying classes.

Unfortunately, there is no gaurantee - when booking though the Oz site you do have the opportunity to check the fare code.

 

[garybatz]

Unfortunately, there is no gaurantee - when booking though the Oz site you do have the opportunity to check the fare code.

Sorry serfty, how do I check the code on the Oz site? I don't get that same screen as on the US site, & only get pop up links with some info on flight class (e.g. tells me it's a 'Standard' fare) but don't see a listing of the specific class letter.

 

[serfty]

On the price screen, click on "Fare basis" and scroll to the right of the pop up.

For a First class fare you should see something like "PA0UPPM1". This would ordinarily book into P class (the first letter), however, if no P on a segment it may book into Y or N or something else - and there's no certain way to check.

 

[garybatz]

On the price screen, click on "Fare basis" and scroll to the right of the pop up.

For a First class fare you should see something like "PA0UPPM1". This would ordinarily book into P class (the first letter), however, if no P on a segment it may book into Y or N or something else - and there's no certain way to check.

Thanks serfty, much appreciated.