AA - Group1 boarding

[kaz]

Hi
Looking at making a AA multi booking DFW-MCO then FLL-DFW rather than 2 seperate 1 way bookings as the multibooking is cheaper. (Need to be in DFW for an award flight to SYD the following night.)
Booking via the AA.com website (US not Aus website)

However when I do a dummy multi-booking, I don't get the choice to select the 'Choice Essentials' fare which I'm offered when I do 2 seperate 1 way bookings. I'm after the 'Choice Essentials' fare as it includes Group 1 boarding.

When I fly I will no longer be OW Ruby/QF Silver, hence no priority boarding will be available to me. So I'm wondering does AA have a reputation for off-loading passangers that aren't Group 1 boarding if they oversell seats ?

The multibooking is about $250.00US cheaper than booking 2 x seperate fares with 'Choice Essentials' feature.

I would like the experienced travellers with AA take on this...if I just book a multi-booking and have no early boarding priority, should I take the risk or book 2 seperate 1 way bookings under 'Choice Essentials' fare which includes 1 checked bag and Group 1 boarding ??

All advise appreciated
Thanks

 

[NM]

Its rare for AA to off-load or IDB (Involuntary Denied Boarding) passengers. They get hit with large costs for IDB, including the need to pay compensation in cash. They much prefer to find volunteers and will offer large sums of money (in the form of travel vouchers) to get people to volunteer to be off-loaded and travel on a different flight. Its only if they cannot find enough volunteers that they will then undertake IDB. And the best way to avoid IDB is to not be the last person to check-in. Check-in early to minimise the risk of IDB.

 

[kaz]

Its rare for AA to off-load or IDB (Involuntary Denied Boarding) passengers. They get hit with large costs for IDB, including the need to pay compensation in cash. They much prefer to find volunteers and will offer large sums of money (in the form of travel vouchers) to get people to volunteer to be off-loaded and travel on a different flight. Its only if they cannot find enough volunteers that they will then undertake IDB. And the best way to avoid IDB is to not be the last person to check-in. Check-in early to minimise the risk of IDB.

Many thanks NM, I feel better now I'm saving $250 dollars with minimal/rare chance of off load.
We will be getting off a cruise ship the morning of the flight to DFW at 1pm, so if we checkin online 24 hrs prior to departure (ship has wifi package) and don't print the boarding pass, can we get the BP at the AA counter on arrival at airport. ?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Many thanks NM, I feel better now I'm saving $250 dollars with minimal/rare chance of off load.
We will be getting off a cruise ship the morning of the flight to DFW at 1pm, so if we checkin online 24 hrs prior to departure (ship has wifi package) and don't print the boarding pass, can we get the BP at the AA counter on arrival at airport. ?

I think you will be able to print your AA boarding passes out on board the ship but if you can't reprint them at an airport kiosk AA will be able to do it for you.

If your cruise is going outside the USA you will need to clear customs on arrival in FLL so speak to the concierge onboard your cruise ship to ensure you are in the first group to disembark the ship.

 

[kaz]

I think you will be able to print your AA boarding passes out on board the ship but if you can't reprint them at an airport kiosk AA will be able to do it for you.

If your cruise is going outside the USA you will need to clear customs on arrival in FLL so speak to the concierge onboard your cruise ship to ensure you are in the first group to disembark the ship.

Good to know about printing boarding passes onboard the ship, we'll give that a try. We cruised last year on the same ship but we did not have a need to checkin and print boarding passes early.

 

[CaviAck]

Speaking of AA and group boarding, how are the groups allocated? ISTR as a F pax I have "priority" on my BP, and booking the cheapest ticket puts you in Group 4 and Choice Essentials gets Group 1.

How is one allocated Group 2 or 3?

 

[serfty]

No, The process that should be followed for Boarding is actually documented: (Boarding Process | Boarding Priority | AA.com)

[h=3]Boarding Progression On Flights Departing the U.S. and Canada[/h] [TABLE="class: prod-table"]
[TR]
[TH]Travel within the U.S. on Aircraft with Two-Class Service[/TH]
[TH]Travel within the U.S. on Aircraft with Three-Class Service & International Departures[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]First Class / Uniformed Military / AAdvantage Executive Platinum® / oneworld® Emerald[/TD]
[TD]First Class / Uniformed Military[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AAdvantage Platinum® / oneworld® Sapphire[/TD]
[TD]Business Class / AAdvantage Executive Platinum® / oneworld® Emerald[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]PriorityAAccess[SUP]SM[/SUP] / oneworld® Ruby /
Group 1[/TD]
[TD]AAdvantage Platinum® / oneworld® Sapphire[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Group 2[/TD]
[TD]PriorityAAccess[SUP]SM[/SUP] / oneworld® Ruby /
Group 1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Group 3[/TD]
[TD]Group 2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Group 4[/TD]
[TD]Group 3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Group 4[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Groups 2, 3 & 4 are randomly allocated.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

From my experience last Oct, i had Qantas Club Silver when i booked our AA flights but dropped down to Bronze as i stopped working to go on Maternity leave.

Because i booked and had my ff number when i travelled my boarding passes and status with AA all had OW Ruby.

Maybe if you book ASAP while still Silver you should still receive the perks of OW Ruby.