advice please, changed flt by a/line

[Mwenenzi]

.
Just to jog the memory, here are our flights (as altered by AA):
21 Sept Depart SFO 7.45am Arrive DFW 1.45pm AA1306
21 Sept Depart DFW 2.25pm Arrive SAT 3.30pm AA1801

Are the flights in one booking (PNR) or seperate bookings (PNR's)?
If they are one PNR its the airlines problem if you miss the connection due to flight delays. If seperate PNR's its your problem

 

[Driver]

Are the flights in one booking (PNR) or seperate bookings (PNR's)?
If they are one PNR its the airlines problem if you miss the connection due to flight delays. If seperate PNR's its your problem

When I made the award booking through Qantas it was booked on one set of points all the way from SFO to SAT. I have one reference number with 5 flights on it. Is there somewhere on the itinerary where I could find out if it as you say? I don't know the meaning of the abbreviation PNR. It would be good to know if it is my problem. I'd just watch the seats and if they get low on the DFW/SAT flight, buy two seats. However, if it is their problem I'd go with the flow and stop worrying totally and let it go, which would be nice.

The Qantas agent I spoke with today was very curt and said the time between flights was fine. When I nicely explained that it wasn't for us, she did say I could change for a ff point charge - I've always been happy to do that, but her instant reply was, "There are no award seats on any other flight that day." Sometimes I get really lovely, helpful people and sometimes not. Perhaps there is a note on my booking that I ring every second day and they are getting sick of me!

 

[serfty]

Even if you don't get a later flight booked DFW-SAT there are other options. e.g. There is a 6am flight SFO-DFW, you may wish to see if you can get onto that one.

1st is to get to SFO early and "Stand-By" for this earlier flight; you join a "Stand-By" list and if there's enough spare seats to accommodate those in front of you in the list as well as you both, off you go.

2nd is to try for a Confirmed Stand By from 6pm the night before, but this costs USD50 per person (if available). I'm not too sure how this works ...

 

[Driver]

Even if you don't get a later flight booked DFW-SAT there are other options. e.g. There is a 6am flight SFO-DFW, you may wish to see if you can get onto that one.

1st is to get to SFO early and "Stand-By" for this earlier flight; you join a "Stand-By" list and if there's enough spare seats to accommodate those in front of you in the list as well as you both, off you go.

2nd is to try for a Confirmed Stand By from 6pm the night before, but this costs USD50 per person (if available). I'm not too sure how this works ...

I have tried for the 6am flight SFO-DFW, again no seats.

I had thought of being at the airport around 5am to see if we could get on the 6am. I'd be happy to pay the $50 each and would like to know how that works - does Confirmed Stand By mean you are definitely going to fly?

Thanks guys.

 

[Mwenenzi]

. I have one reference number with 5 flights on it. Is there somewhere on the itinerary where I could find out if it as you say? I don't know the meaning of the abbreviation PNR.

The reference number with all flights is the PNR (Passenger name record), Sounds like all the reservations are in one booking. Type it into www.checkmytrip.com

 

[Driver]

1st is to get to SFO early and "Stand-By" for this earlier flight; you join a "Stand-By" list and if there's enough spare seats to accommodate those in front of you in the list as well as you both, off you go.

2nd is to try for a Confirmed Stand By from 6pm the night before, but this costs USD50 per person (if available). I'm not too sure how this works ...

Here's what the AA site says: Fare rules must allow standby (except for opaque, bulk and AAdvantage tickets which do not permit standby travel).
I'd say we qualify for AAdvantage in that it is a reward ticket by one of their award scheme partners.

Mwenenzi has sorted my out and has found that it IS the airlines responsibility to get us there so I am no officially letting it go!! Feel much better about that!

Thanks for your concern and help. Much appreciated.

 

[Driver]

Yahoo!! I have been patiently calling Qantas every second day for weeks with no thought that I would ever get lucky but there you are, if you don't try . . .

Today the lovely lady I got said yes, we could change the flight and we are now booked on the 6am out of SFO arriving in DFW at 11am. Plenty of time for lunch and a stroll around before boarding the the plane to SAT at 2.25.

That's the end of stress and I am now about to close my bag knowing we have every last detail tied up.

It's been a long time since we have traveled anywhere and by gee, there's a lot more to traveling that just hopping on a plane! Thanks to all for advice on our trip!

 

[serfty]

Good to find you have it somewhat easier at DFW now - you only need to deal with a 6am departure at SFO (which means you'll need to be at that airport by 05:30! :shock

... Here's what the AA site says: Fare rules must allow standby (except for opaque, bulk and AAdvantage tickets which do not permit standby travel).
I'd say we qualify for AAdvantage in that it is a reward ticket by one of their award scheme partners. ...

I guess it's moot now, but just to revisit this; I've had a close look at that web page. I believe it actually indicates that CFC is permitted for the $50 fee on Award travel.

• Same-Day Confirmed Flight Change

Qualifications:

• Fare rules must allow standby (except for opaque, bulk and AAdvantage tickets which do not permit standby travel)
• The new flight must be scheduled to depart within 12 hours from the time the request is made (but no less that 1 hour for AA Reservations processing)
• If the flight departs in less than 1 hour, the request must be made at the airport self-service machines or ticket counter (including Admirals Clubs and Premium Services)
• No changes allowed to origin/destination
• Changes to connecting airports allowed
• Multi-segment itineraries, such as connecting service, can be changed to nonstop service as long as the fare rule permits. Likewise, a nonstop flight can be changed to a connection
• $50 fee is non-refundable

Applicable to:

• AA, American Eagle®, AmericanConnection® flights
• Routings within/between the 50 US, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Caribbean
• All AAdvantage® and revenue tickets including upgrade, AAirpass, opaque and bulk tickets and Travel Agency Earned/Free and AD50 tickets

There are reports on the AA FT forum of people using the $ CFC on award tickets.

 

[Driver]

Serfty - that would have been a good option for us - I would happily have paid the $50 - probably would have been $50 each - so $100. i still would have felt it was leaving it a little late though. I'm glad it's all settled before leaving Australia and there is nothing left hanging over my head. As can be seen by all MY post, Mr Driver just comes along for the fun of it! He travels with work and work does the work of booking the travel. It must be very very nice! I'd like to try that sometime It did cost me 5000 points but that's fine by me. I think we'll plan to be at SFO a bit earlier than 5.30! Don't know the airport at all and we don't mind early mornings - we just hate late nights! Think we'll get a cab to pick us up at 4.30 and figure if we're early that's just fine!