AA First class downgraded to Economy

[dede]

Last week I flew from SEA-DFW-EWR on AA. I had purchased an Instant Upgrade fare booked into P class. SEA-DFW was OK, flew in First and landed at DFW on time at 0505. While landing I noticed a high amount of lightning. This was last Thursday when hundreds of flights were delayed due to the huge amount of electrical activity at DFW. My flight AA1590 was cancelled and I was told that I could be rebooked on the next flight but they could only seat me in economy. I decided to take it, I've since heard that some people couldn't get rebooked for at least 48 hours. Checking my QFF statement I notice that I only received 40 SC. If I had flown in first I would have received 120 SC. I booked and paid for a first class flight. Am I entitled to the 120 SC even though they put me in economy?

 

[Dave Noble]

You are entitled to the Status Credits for the cabin you flew in. With the instant upgrade fare, if you end up in the original cabin you are back to economy miles and Status Credits

If you had had a 1st class ticket, then you could have got a refund back down to economy, however with the xUP fares, there is no refund for travel in economy

Dave

 

[serfty]

There is nothing to stop you putting a claim in to QFF for "Original Routing Credit". You were booked in the first class cabin but travelled in coach due to weather and cancelled flights.

Whether you are successful or not remains to be seen.

I have been successful with similar claims.

 

[dede]

Thanks Serfty, it's worth a try. I thought I'd read somewhere here that it was based on the class booked and paid for, not necessarily the cabin flown.

 

[v8Statesman]

Thanks Serfty, it's worth a try. I thought I'd read somewhere here that it was based on the class booked and paid for, not necessarily the cabin flown.

Strictly that is correct. So you should only ever get Y credits. It was a YUPP after all not a F26 or other F fare.

 

[Mal]

Someone recently had a chat to me about a similar situation.

I advised them to put a claim into Qantas with a full explanation and requesting "Original Routing Credit" (I think I have serfty to credit for teaching me that!)

The were successful in claiming their original SC's and points. It did take them 2 tries to get it sorted (the first person wanted copies of everything that they couldn't provide) and the second staffer assisted them very quickly with the issues.

So give it a try,

 

[dede]

Thanks Mal,
I just found a reply from Serfty in a thread in March saying a similar thing. I'll let you all know how I get on. It's all part of my plan to get to WP by the end of the year!

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks Serfty, it's worth a try. I thought I'd read somewhere here that it was based on the class booked and paid for, not necessarily the cabin flown.

They will want Boarding pass details. They will contact AA and AA will verify that the booking was in Y class

You are only entitled to Economy credit since you only paid an economy fare with an upgrade.

If you had a full 1st ticket, then I would have reasonable expectation of getting based on the original booking. With an economy fare and the voluntary downgrade to get on the flight, then I wouldnt expect to get the credit

Dave

 

[Febs]

They will want Boarding pass details. They will contact AA and AA will verify that the booking was in Y class

You are only entitled to Economy credit since you only paid an economy fare with an upgrade.

If you had a full 1st ticket, then I would have reasonable expectation of getting based on the original booking. With an economy fare and the voluntary downgrade to get on the flight, then I wouldnt expect to get the credit

Dave

But presumably he was originally booked into A or P class, as these are the classes AA use for YUPs, right?

Per Qantas' website, A and P earn SC's at full First class rates.

dede - Give it a go. The worst they can do is say no.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Dave Noble]

But presumably he was originally booked into A or P class, as these are the classes AA use for YUPs, right?

Per Qantas' website, A and P earn SC's at full First class rates.

dede - Give it a go. The worst they can do is say no.

Cheers,
- Febs.

The passenger was rebooked into Y though and the fare basis for the instant upgrade fares are in Y.... and K.... which are both economy bases.

Dave

 

[serfty]

... was rebooked into Y ...

That's the issue - rebooked in a distressed situation.

The original booking class was P, therefore ORC claims can be successful in these situations.

 

[Dave Noble]

That's the issue - rebooked in a distressed situation.

The original booking class was P, therefore ORC claims can be successful in these situations.

He can try, but I wouldn't hold out to much hope. The terms of the xUP fares is that if first is unavailable they will be rebooked into economy.

Given that the fare basis is an economy fare basis ( Y/K ) then I would expect it to be knocked back. If it was a genuine 1st class ticket ( not upgrade ) I would expect it to be credited

See what happens

Dave

 

[Mal]

That's the issue - rebooked in a distressed situation.

Yep, and that's the situation my contact had - he missed a flight due to a late incoming conx and could only be rebooked in Economy, If the OP did ask to be moved flights or similar, and could only be rebooked in Economy, then I wouldn't be recommending asking for ORC. But the OP did have to get moved for Weather reasons.