AA flight change nuisance

[Quickstatus]

Re: AA flight changes

Just found out by looking at Tripit that the times have changed on three upcoming AA pnrs and as such we have 3 AA flight change nuisances.

I asked SO if he'd received any sked change emails from AA in his Gmail and he had and apparently clicked "I accept these changes" or something to that effect without consulting me or even telling me after the fact. :evil:

Can I still call up and tweak the itinerary even if 'we've' agreed to the changes?

One of the pnrs OGG/xDFW/xMIA/SKB now has an earlier departure from DFW, a later departure from MIA so now at least 6 hours in MIA & I would rather chill out in the Centurion Lounge in DFW after a red eye flight than the AC MIA (can't swing a cat) offerings.

Hopefully SO in not too much trouble.

no idea about changing again but you cold ring up and explain SO failings, and then report back to this forum and let us know of the outcome

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: AA flight changes

Hopefully SO in not too much trouble.

no idea about changing again but you cold ring up and explain SO failings, and then report back to this forum and let us know of the outcome

I've just had a quick look at the date of travel and not much in the way of availability in P class (what the original flight booked into) on any other flights. Are AA strict with it having to be the same class or am I dreaming thinking that they might be able to use A or gasp F seat inventory instead?

 

[DC3]

Re: AA flight changes

Just found out by looking at Tripit that the times have changed on three upcoming AA pnrs and as such we have 3 AA flight change nuisances .....

Depending on how far away your flights are, you may be wasting your time chasing this up too far in advance.

My flights are still two months off, and I'm getting some odd changes, including the next onward flight connection departing two minutes after the arriving flight is due in and another connection departing six hours before the prior flight arrival. So I'm leaving it until nearer the event.


Edit: And these are changes that are following earlier changes already made by AA

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: AA flight changes

I've just had a quick look at the date of travel and not much in the way of availability in P class (what the original flight booked into) on any other flights. Are AA strict with it having to be the same class or am I dreaming thinking that they might be able to use A or gasp F seat inventory instead?

OBB, Ive only ever involuntary itinerary change from P to P - that is the accepted rescheduled itinerary showed P. Not sure if P was also available on the new flight. Ive had A bucket but i dont remember ever having to been subject to an involuntary change for those tickets. Never had F.

It might be a case of P to P even though only A or above is available. Possibly if there are seats in that cabin they will put you in it irrespective of what fare buckets those vacant seats represent?????

 

[serfty]

Check the AA 240/80 page I linked to earlier in this thread.

Change of 90 minutes or less, same booking class is needed, 91 minutes or more it's any available seat in the premium cabin, booked in the lowest class for that cabin.

So if, say, a four hour change when originally booked into P class, you can be rebooked into a cabin with only F class availability.

 

[Quickstatus]

Check the AA 240/80 page I linked to earlier in this thread.

Under 30 minutes - nufin, 90 minutes or less, same booking class is needed, 91 minutes or more it's any available seat in the premium cabin, booked in the lowest class for that cabin.

So If , say, a four hour change when originally booked into P class you can be rebooked into a cabin with only F class availability.

i have had involuntary itinerary changes of less than 30 minutes with no ability therefore to change the flights causing my next flight to be outside what would otherwise be acceptable MCT if it were on one pnr. These are headaches. So now i always try to book flights which are at least MCT + 30 minutes if I have another sector on a different PNR to fly.

 

[NM]

Well, the saga continues

Even though my flights were ticket earlier this month, overnight I received an email to call AA and quote the booking reference for this BNE-MCO flight. On aa.com it was now showing "on request" as of yesterday's date. So I called and was on teh phone for over an hour (1am to 2am).

The agent could see the history and acknowledged the mis-connect that resulting from a schedule change. However, the people who make the decisions about fares etc were firm that my award was for a First/Business Anytime award and that is not valid for F on a 3-class flight - its only valid for F on 2-class domestic or business on 3-class or international flights.

So I was given three choices:

• Business Class on 777 LAX-MIA connecting to First Class on 757 MIA-MCO
• First Class on US Airways LAX-PHX-MCO (both sectors A321)
• First Class on later AA flights LAX-DFW (738) and DFW-MCO (A320)

Obviously disappointed to not be in F on 777, and so cannot use Flagship Lounge of red-carpet security screening etc.

I chose the 777 in J as it at least has lie-flat seats. The US-Airways A321 shows as 38" pitch in F and reports of seats/food/service in US Airways F are somewhat poor. So even though its the earliest arrival, probably not as comfy or pleasant after 14 hours in Y on QF over the Pacific. AA combination via DFW would provide 2 meals, but 40" pitch on recliner seats and transit about when I will probably like to be sleeping.

So the airline's interpretation of Rule 240/80 is a little different to serfty's, where they claimed F on the 3-class service would be considered an upgrade and would only offer me the 3 options above, all of which were valid for the fare "purchased" and all arriving within a 1 hour window.

 

[docjames]

AA are being very inflexible and happy to interpret rules to their own benefit (some may say "of course"!).

In my case, even through they protect you arriving on Oneworld, by moving my flight by exactly 120mins, they basically didn't care it no longer met mct from inbound QF as basically in their eyes they only cared about the flight they sold, not anything else.

 

[NM]

AA are being very inflexible and happy to interpret rules to their own benefit (some may say "of course"!).

In my case, even through they protect you arriving on Oneworld, by moving my flight by exactly 120mins, they basically didn't care it no longer met mct from inbound QF as basically in their eyes they only cared about the flight they sold, not anything else.

IN my case, its all issued on one AA ticket, so they sold both the QF and AA flights.

 

[docjames]

IN my case, its all issued on one AA ticket, so they sold both the QF and AA flights.

That helps!

 

[serfty]

... and reports of seats/food/service in US Airways F are somewhat poor. ...

don't expect anything wonderful or even edible on AA domestic business class although it may be a little better on the 3 class.

Since September 1st the catering has deteriorated terribly with AA.

In the end the 777 would still have been my choice as it's better to stick with AA being one of their elites.

I have seen this AA interpretation of first on three class differention before - when is first class not first class? When it is three class.

 

[docjames]

Looked at flights in J to YVR. Sale on QF came on, so booked to LAX with onward on AA - had ~2hr30m connection in each direction.

AA flight changes come through less than a week after booking - now 45min connect in LAX outbound, 7hr 55m inbound. Neither great.

Offered Westjet or Rouge in Y (!) as option with better connection times. Or AA/US with ~12hr connection outbound (!).

TA currently negotiating other options - I suggested via DFW but AA at this stage only agreeing to Y to DFW then J to YVR. Not acceptable.




Major nuisance as what was booked was perfect but now hopeless.

I'm guessing there are lots of schedule changes on AA at the moment (presumably merger related) so thought i'd start a thread for those affected by AA schedule changes.

But i think my issue is the best connection is via DFW but it's F/A/P fare and i'm in I with no J cabin on the DFW aircraft.

The DFW-VYR leg is ok with I inventory.

They can accomodate me on US with ~7hr connection, or Rouge with ~4hr connection - i dont really want to fly Rouge (reputation) or have a 7hr connection hence I'd prefer LAX-DFW-YVR but I dont think they'll put me into F.

OK still no movement from AA.

Options outbound:
Upgrade to F LAX-DFW +$800 (+ change fees ~ $250 - although may be able to convince them to waive that)
Stick with 8pm direct in J
Overnight in LAX (my expense) and get next morning 755 flight.

Option inbound: basically none, 7hr transit in LAX.


Interestingly and of note, AA refuse to put me on US on the return (via PDX).

Again open to the brains trust for thoughts /comments.....

OK saga continues: refund not an option as the fight has moved "only" 2hr (the problem for me being it mis-connects with my inbound QF but AA dont see that as their problem due to the mixed stock booking)

BUT

in light of the new extended service to yvr

QANTAS TO FLY TO VANCOUVER FOR SUMMER AND SKI HOLIDAYS


TA is now negotiating with QF to get on direct flight outbound and we can work out what to do with the AA credit voucher I guess.

Looks like for me it'll be F via DFW (with a copay to upgrade the LAX-DFW leg).

Stuck with the lousy transit on the return (all other connections leave at earlier times / no benefit to the transits) - time for a (long) In'n'Out run at LAX i guess.

Over easter an update: AA have reinstated their original LAX-YVR-LAX routings and timings. So including the 1700hr flight YVR-LAX. So my return flight is now at my original booked time, with 2h30m connection in LAX (as opposed to the 7hr45m it had become). Perfect.

Outbound I've kept the LAX-DFW-YVR routing as it was too hard to negotiate again for a direct AA flight and refund on the new ticket! But the connection in LAX would have been perfect. ARRGGHHH. At least I get the extra SCs.

And pay QF $600 + fare difference to change will be the only snag with that plan.

I note i've just received an email advertising sale fares on QF direct to YVR. Pity they wouldn't change me foc to the direct flight......

 

[TomVexille]

We've just had a CR9 changed to a CRJ-200 with no F (booked in F). Annoyingly none of the alternate flights really suit very well. Either way we're going to have to give up one thing or another. Not sure what to do...

 

[docjames]

Wait two months and it'll change back?

 

[TomVexille]

Wait two months and it'll change back?

Hopefully. Flight is in 3 months.

 

[docjames]

Over easter an update: AA have reinstated their original LAX-YVR-LAX routings and timings. So including the 1700hr flight YVR-LAX. So my return flight is now at my original booked time, with 2h30m connection in LAX (as opposed to the 7hr45m it had become). Perfect.

Outbound I've kept the LAX-DFW-YVR routing as it was too hard to negotiate again for a direct AA flight and refund on the new ticket! But the connection in LAX would have been perfect. ARRGGHHH. At least I get the extra SCs.




I note i've just received an email advertising sale fares on QF direct to YVR. Pity they wouldn't change me foc to the direct flight......

So TA had a go at AA to get me on the direct flight (again) LAX-YVR.

Apparently they'll re-route but wont refund the upgraded fare via DFW. So either pay same go direct (which was previously booked and forced to change by flight cancellation), or keep via DFW routing.


I've left as is but basically i'm just even more annoyed with AA now. They consider I "voluntarily" switched to the via DFW routing therefore now am stuck with it.

Some A1 customer relations from AA :evil::evil::evil:.....


(Edit to add the :evil

 

[kevinyhli]

I was ticketed to go HKG-LAX-YVR on a USDM redemption too and the re-time meant that my original 2 hour connection became 0 minutes. Rang USDM who was kind enough to offer me a choice to switch to either the evening flight (12 hour layover) or the same flight next morning (24 hour transit) - took the option for 24 hour transit only for AA to re-time to flight back to even later than the original departure time where now I have 26 hours transit!

Can't complaint as I get to stopover in LA for a day but it is quite annoying for them to keep re-timing all my domestic flights with them.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: AA flight changes

I just got notice of an AA bkg flight change for a 5 mins later departure. If I don't contact them and ignore the 'contact us' message, would it be a problem?

 

[TomVexille]

Re: AA flight changes

I just got notice of an AA bkg flight change for a 5 mins later departure. If I don't contact them and ignore the 'contact us' message, would it be a problem?

I doubt it. However you may need to accept the change before you can do anything further with the booking.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: AA flight changes

Thanks. I relented and called today. 20 mins wait and 1 min discussion - waste of everyone's time. I mentioned that I'd like to to be able 'accept' on line.

I doubt it. However you may need to accept the change before you can do anything further with the booking.