American Airlines booking engine for international flights

[JohnK]

I have been slack again and have not booked the returning flight to Thailand just before Christmas and availability is now poor. I have been looking at Amex Class Availability and trying to get a travel agent in Bangkok to book these flights but they are having problems getting confirmed seats on the dates I want even though I can see availability.

I have been able to find some suitable itineraries on the AA website BKK-SYD return via HKG and/or SIN for around 600 pounds return and I want to book these if the travel agent is not able to book my flights in the next few days.

Has anyone had experience booking international itineraries on the AA website that do not involve an AA flight? Is is possible that the AA website is showing availability that is really not available and I find that the itinerary I select cannot be booked? I have noticed that the AA website does mention that the itineraries for other airlines are on request basis only.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I am trying very hard to avoid including any LCCs in this itinerary.

 

[Mal]

Booked through the AA website a couple of years ago a simple BNE-SYD-HNL return ticket on Qantas. Saved a few hundred $ on the cheapest price I saw elsewhere.

Believe the discount was from the fuel fines benefit they used to give on Qantas Itins.

So it's definately possible. If the AA website is showing availability, then I suggest you can book it. I agree it's request only, but if they didn't see the availability, then they shouldn't show the flights. I think that clause is only there to protect themselves if it's a mistake fare, or the other airline pulls the availability before they can ticket the fare.

 

[JohnK]

Believe the discount was from the fuel fines benefit they used to give on Qantas Itins.

I don't think they are offering discounts on fuel surcharges anymore but AA website price is much better than what is being quoted on Zuji and Expedia and is roughly the same as price quoted by the BKK travel agent but she is having problems seeing the same availbility as the AA website.

So it's definately possible. If the AA website is showing availability, then I suggest you can book it. I agree it's request only, but if they didn't see the availability, then they shouldn't show the flights.

That sounds encouraging. I will try to book via the AA website if the travel agent is still having problems tomorrow.

 

[JohnK]

Booked the flights I wanted from the AA website today. It is now showing as ticketed and I have a record locator which I can use to view the itinerary on the AA website but the CX flight does not appear on the itinerary, only the 2 QF flights, even though I selected that option and it appeared throughout the booking process. Should I be worried? Is this a known issue?

How do I get the Amadeus booking reference to view on check my trip? Do I call the AA call centre in Australia or India? Does anyone have the number handy?

 

[Mal]

You could call Qantas and ask for their reference.

In Australia, I believe AA's number is 1 800 673 486 , but it's been about a year since I last called them.

Not seeing the CX flights would worry me a little, but others might have reasonable explanations.

 

[JohnK]

The situation appears to be actually more complex than I originally thought. The reason the CX flight does not appear is that it is waitlisted. The dilemma is how can AA show availability on their website, accept the booking and then display it as ticketed? But I am sure there is a simple explanation.

You could call Qantas and ask for their reference.

Thanks got the Amadeus reference from Qantas and also put in a request for exit row aisle as the original seats allocated, no FF#s in booking, were 49B and 66B. :shock:

In Australia, I believe AA's number is 1 800 673 486 , but it's been about a year since I last called them.

This is the right number but they have closed for business today.

Not seeing the CX flights would worry me a little, but others might have reasonable explanations.

As I mentioned earlier I am waitlisted on this flight in L class but I can see plenty of availability through Amex Class Availability

Cabin class: F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9

Can someone check Expert Flyer for CX750 BKK-HKG on 9 October and confirm the availability I am seeing above.

So much for trying to cut corners....

 

[Mal]

The situation appears to be actually more complex than I originally thought. The reason the CX flight does not appear is that it is waitlisted. The dilemma is how can AA show availability on their website, accept the booking and then display it as ticketed? But I am sure there is a simple explanation.

Make sure your FF number (and status) ends up in the AA Booking. Then perhaps call CX Reservations and advise your plight and ask if they can get the waitlist cleared. It might clear automatically if your status is known to CX.

Not sure if CX will actually do anything with a ticket owned by someone else, but worth a shot.

EF are showing: F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M4 L0 V8 S1 N0 Q0 O0
Seatcounter.com is showing:
A B C D F H I J K L M N O Q S V Y
3 9 9 9 3 9 9 9 9 0 4 0 0 0 1 8 9

 

[Evan]

John, What date,time,flight etc ? or have i just looked and missed that ? (can check EF)

I notice a lot of my CX flights recently waitlisting into L and yet they all have cleared, have a trip to hopefully book tomorrow where 4 segments are waitlisted... just showing lots of availability... odd. But it looks like maybe an Amadeus bug ? they can't all be waitlisted or how owuld they ticket... very strange.

E

 

[JohnK]

Thanks Evan the waitlisting has now cleared. As I posted earlier the flight is wide open in all classes and confirmed by CX call centre. I called the AA call centre in Sydney again this morning and I have been assured that the itinerary is ticketed and just awaiting e-ticket to be issued, hopefully within 24 hours.

And I have also managed to request changes to the original seat allocations. After a few phone calls this I now have 30H, I guess bulkhead, BKK-HKG on CX 747, and 46C for HKG-SYD and SYD-BKK on QF 747.

Intereresting that the booking is showing up on the Qantas website under my bookings and the CX flight is also showing on the itinerary.

 

[serfty]

Intereresting that the booking is showing up on the Qantas website under my bookings and the CX flight is also showing on the itinerary.

This is normal. My remaining AA booked RTW segments:

MEL-(QF)xSYD-(QF)JFK-(AA)xORD-(AA)SEA-(AA)xDFW-(AA)xORD-(BA)LHR,LGW-(BA)DBV-(BA)LGW,LHR-(QF)SIN-(CX)HKG-(CX)BKK-(CX)HKG-(CX)NRT-(QF)SYD-(QF)CNS-(QF)MEL

show on Qantas.com com as:

MEL-(QF)xSYD-(QF)JFK,DFW-(AA)xORD-(BA)LHR,LGW-(BA)DBV-(BA)LGW,LHR-(QF)SIN,HKG-(CX)NRT-(QF)SYD-(QF)CNS-(QF)MEL

i.e. the connecting flights on CX and AA show on Amadeus but that's it.

 

[JohnK]

i.e. the connecting flights on CX and AA show on Amadeus but that's it.

So if a CX or AA flight connects to a QF flight then it appears under My bookings on the Qantas website if the booking originated outside of Amadeus and/or Qantas?

If I remember correctly all flights were showing on my bookings for last years Oneworld RTW award booked through QFF.

 

[serfty]

Yes, but you booked through AA.

I first experienced this with my ex CMB DONE4 booked through CX.

As posted, very similar experience with my AA booked LHONE4... also, as I booked through AA, looking the booking up there show ALL segments.

 

[mr_matt_t]

A well timed thread (for myself hopefully). I have just ticketed a BKK-PER-BKK via HKG both ways with AA (CX and QF metal). I have the same problem as JohnK - first segment showing as waitlisted. My fare class is V and seatcounter is showing V0 for CX712 07 Oct. Good price BTW and on par with SIN-PER return prices(if include getting to BKK from SIN return) now the taxes have gone up ex SIN.

How can AA ticket this without any mention of the flight not being available? (ie waitlisting the flight because no V class). The booking was done online from the AA website.

I contacted Qantas and they have added against my QF FF# but I am not able to upgrade via website. I can see both CX and QF flights including my QF seat requests. Message says to contact travel advisor. Looks like a call to AA in the morning.

JohnK - did you contact CX or AA for seat requests on the CX leg?

 

[Evan]

Current recent AA booking i have only shows some flights and even then its split into different bookings ? well different references i should say.
Spoke to my travel agent today as i also have some "ticketed" but waitlisted CX flights, not cleared yet but she hopes they will tomorrow. I have no idea whats going on !

E

 

[JohnK]

As posted, very similar experience with my AA booked LHONE4... also, as I booked through AA, looking the booking up there show ALL segments.

I cannot see the itinerary via the AA website anymore as QF have inserted my QFF number into the booking.

How can AA ticket this without any mention of the flight not being available? (ie waitlisting the flight because no V class). The booking was done online from the AA website.

That was my main concern. If there is availability in the booking class it will/should generally clear within 24 hours. Apparently the booking can show as ticketed but unless you get the e-ticket it is not a valid booking.

I contacted Qantas and they have added against my QF FF# but I am not able to upgrade via website. I can see both CX and QF flights including my QF seat requests. Message says to contact travel advisor. Looks like a call to AA in the morning.

I don't think you will be able to make the upgrade request online. It would have to be done via the QFF call centre.

JohnK - did you contact CX or AA for seat requests on the CX leg?

By the time I finalised the booking on the AA website the AA call centre in Sydney was closed so I called CX in Hong Kong. They could see that there was availability but could not do anything about it as it was an AA booking. When I called AA the next morning they assured me that the flight had cleared waitlist and I should receive an e-ticket within the next 24 hours.

Still have not received an e-ticket although the itinerary is showing as confirmed on the QF website. Probably means another call to the AA call centre if the e-ticket does not arrive soon.

 

[serfty]

I cannot see the itinerary via the AA website anymore as QF have inserted my QFF number into the booking. ...

I always get AA to insert the frequent flyer number into my AA bookings, so have never had this issue. (It may not be a good idea to have another entity update a booking this way, especially across different GDS's).

 

[mr_matt_t]

Interestingly I booked a very similar itinerary for my wife. Her BKK-PER flight is 2 weeks after mine (we have same return dates). All her flights cleared at booking stage and she now has an e-ticket from AA all in less than 12 hours.

Originally Posted by JohnK
I don't think you will be able to make the upgrade request online. It would have to be done via the QFF call centre.

Her QF bookings page also allowed to request an online upgrade - so have requested and fingers crossed.

My first flight is still waitlisted but other sectors show as confirmed.

 

[JohnK]

I always get AA to insert the frequent flyer number into my AA bookings, so have never had this issue. (It may not be a good idea to have another entity update a booking this way, especially across different GDS's).

Probably a good idea but I was more concerned with getting waitlisted flights to clear and getting a better seat allocation from QF. As the booking is now showing on the QF website and also CheckMyTrip I am not sure what further value the AA website would provide.

Her QF bookings page also allowed to request an online upgrade - so have requested and fingers crossed.

That is interesting. When I view the booking on the QF website I cannot even see a request upgrade button anywhere. The booking class is L and M so should be upgradeable classes.

I have had this issue in the past where I have booked flights using another website or travel agent and I could not see an upgrade button on the QF website.

My first flight is still waitlisted but other sectors show as confirmed.

Not sure how/when the waitlisted flight will clear considering there is no availability in the booking class. I was lucky the flight was wide open, so no issues for the waitlist to clear.

 

[serfty]

The upgrade buttons appear on Qantas.com for my QF segments of my AA booked LONE4.

Not that I use them ...

 

[JohnK]

The upgrade buttons appear on Qantas.com for my QF segments of my AA booked LONE4.

Did you book the LONE4 via the AA website? This could be one of those occasions where we do not see the same result even though the source of the booking is the same.

Not that I use them ...

Since when.