Changing from D to A on an AONE4

[Hawkeye]

Hopefully a quick question for the xONEx experts.

I booked and ticketed an AONE4 during the most recent 10% OW discount offer. One half of the itinerary is to be used to get to Europe in June, with the latter half for the USA in December. A couple of F awards have been gobbled up for return to Australia, and to resume the AONE.

Given, at the time of ticketing, December 2010 flights were not yet available, I simply parked the ticket using dummy dates, with a view to changing once available i.e. about now.

Now CX739 HKG-SIN for the dummy dates didn't have A availaility as over the last 2 years or so, it has been sold as a 2-class flight. So, D it was. However, for the date in December, it will probably be sold as a 3 class flight.

The question: does the voluntary shift from D to A require a reissue? A reissue would entail recalculation of the fare, and an extra $1500 or so. Not worth it given it's a relatively short flight, and from past experience, the flight may change back to a 2-class as it draws closer.

Rule 16 (a) 1) (a) would seem to be the relevant point:

Changes to date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes are permitted provided ticketed points remain the same. If the first flight coupon is being changed, and the fare level has increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.​

Is this a change in inventory, and therefore ok?

 

[NM]

Reissue will be required to change from D to A. However, the base fare should nt be recalculated, only taxes should be recalculated.

 

[djfuzz]

Reissue will be required to change from D to A. However, the base fare should nt be recalculated, only taxes should be recalculated.

Does the fact that the ticket was issued during a promotion that is no longer running (hence the base fare now is 10 per cent dearer) make a difference?

When I tried to change our first DONE4 flight just after the last promo, AA RTW said it would need a reissue which would require recalculation of taxes and payment of the fare difference between the previously discounted fare and the prevailing rate - but would have only required tax recalculation had it been done during the promo.

 

[NM]

Does the fact that the ticket was issued during a promotion that is no longer running (hence the base fare now is 10 per cent dearer) make a difference?

Should not affect the original fare price.

When I tried to change our first DONE4 flight just after the last promo, AA RTW said it would need a reissue which would require recalculation of taxes and payment of the fare difference between the previously discounted fare and the prevailing rate - but would have only required tax recalculation had it been done during the promo.

Changing the first international flight (and any preceding domestic flights) before departure causes the ticket to be cancelled and re-created. Once the first international flight has been taken, re-issue should not result in a new base fare calculation, only a recalculation of the taxes. All fare rules that were defined for the ticket when it was first purchased will remain in effect for the validity of the ticket.

 

[davidj-bell]

Hopefully a quick question for the xONEx experts.

I booked and ticketed an AONE4 during the most recent 10% OW discount offer. One half of the itinerary is to be used to get to Europe in June, with the latter half for the USA in December. A couple of F awards have been gobbled up for return to Australia, and to resume the AONE.

Given, at the time of ticketing, December 2010 flights were not yet available, I simply parked the ticket using dummy dates, with a view to changing once available i.e. about now.

Now CX739 HKG-SIN for the dummy dates didn't have A availaility as over the last 2 years or so, it has been sold as a 2-class flight. So, D it was. However, for the date in December, it will probably be sold as a 3 class flight.

The question: does the voluntary shift from D to A require a reissue? A reissue would entail recalculation of the fare, and an extra $1500 or so. Not worth it given it's a relatively short flight, and from past experience, the flight may change back to a 2-class as it draws closer.

Rule 16 (a) 1) (a) would seem to be the relevant point:

Is this a change in inventory, and therefore ok?

My understanding is that if you have an AONEX, then if A is available you can get booked into that, otherwise if A is not available then you get downgraded, to D or L. If you change your flights (not routes) to another flight with A availability, although your last seat was a D or L, then you should be able to get the A. I don't think this is a reissue, as you've bought an A ticket in the first place.

I had a similar experience with a DONEx, AA cancelled our flight, and put us onto another one that had no J cabin, so we spoke to QF to get it sorted (in our situation, the cancelled flight was domestic out of JKF, but all the J flights were out of EWR, so we got QF to change it to this. As we were flying into JFK from LHR, we also got our inbound changed to EWR, with no issues/fees. Our biggest concern was that we had an infant with a paper ticket, which needed changing, but shortly afterwards QF/AA had set their systems up to put infants on e-tickets, so I got her paper ticket converted.)

Another similar experience I had I needed to change my flights on a DONEx, but there was no D availability (although there was a J cabin), so I got put into Y. Things changed again, so I rang up about 2 hours later, to put myself back onto my original flight, and I requested that I be put into J. The operator questioned me, as I was in Y, but I pointed out that my ticket was a DONEx, not a LONEx, so was rebooked into J.

 

[NM]

My understanding is that if you have an AONEX, then if A is available you can get booked into that, otherwise if A is not available then you get downgraded, to D or L. If you change your flights (not routes) to another flight with A availability, although your last seat was a D or L, then you should be able to get the A. I don't think this is a reissue, as you've bought an A ticket in the first place.

Yes, it is a re-issue since you are changing the booking class. Only date/time changes (same class and routing) can be done with re-validation and not re-issue.

 

[davidj-bell]

Yes, it is a re-issue since you are changing the booking class. Only date/time changes (same class and routing) can be done with re-validation and not re-issue.

But the OP isn't changing the booking class per se, the OP had a AONEx ticket in the first place, but if A isn't available, you get put into the next lower cabin. Therefore, if you change flights (and these are within the rules) and availability in the cabin your purchased is available, then that should be offered.

 

[Hawkeye]

NM's interpretation is what I thought was necessary. The first sector is not until June this year i.e. not taken yet. Does this influence the need for the base fare to be recalculated, and not just taxes?

Also, as I understand it, re-issuing doesn't require cancellation and re-booking, right? I have snaffled a JFK-LAX A seat on a 3-class flight (new experience) in June, and availability in the A fare bucket is now very tight. Does forcing a re-issue (based on changes later in the itinerary) potentially lead to loss of the inventory that's not to be changed?

I'm still coming to grips with the implications of re-validation, re-issuing, and cancellation.

 

[NM]

But the OP isn't changing the booking class per se, the OP had a AONEx ticket in the first place, but if A isn't available, you get put into the next lower cabin. Therefore, if you change flights (and these are within the rules) and availability in the cabin your purchased is available, then that should be offered.

Yes, they ARE changing the booking class for that sector. Original booking is in D and wants to change to a booking in A. That is changing the booking class for that sector. The fare purchased (AONE4) is different to the booking class (which could be A, D, L or Y depending on the sector and availability). A change to the booking class on any sector will require the ticket to be reissued. The only exception to this may be if upgrading a sector using FF points, where QF will make this change in their system without re-issuing the ticket, but AA will do it with a re-issue.

 

[davidj-bell]

Yes, they ARE changing the booking class for that sector. Original booking is in D and wants to change to a booking in A. That is changing the booking class for that sector. The fare purchased (AONE4) is different to the booking class (which could be A, D, L or Y depending on the sector and availability). A change to the booking class on any sector will require the ticket to be reissued. The only exception to this may be if upgrading a sector using FF points, where QF will make this change in their system without re-issuing the ticket, but AA will do it with a re-issue.

So what would be the cost increase? Given that you're already paid for a AONEx, so is the cost just any change fine along with any extra taxes?

 

[NM]

So what would be the cost increase? Given that you're already paid for a AONEx, so is the cost just any change fine along with any extra taxes?

The base fare price paid for the AONEx does not change. Taxes and surcharges are recalculated and any extra will be collected. There may be a re-issue fee charged also. Some airlines will charge a service fee to re-issue, some do not. Sometimes it comes down to the individual agent doing the re-issue as to whether or not they impose a service fee.

The important thing is that the base fare and the associated rules are locked in when the ticket is originally purchased and remain in place for the validity period of the ticket (12 months for OneWorld Explorer).

 

[serfty]

...
The important thing is that the base fare and the associated rules are locked in when the ticket is originally purchased and remain in place for the validity period of the ticket (12 months for OneWorld Explorer).

Of course, this is only true if changing <date/time>/<oneworld carrier>/<inventory>.

If you need to change ticketed points, the ticket would be reissued and fare recalculated at today's rates. Also, there would be a USD125 surcharge.

Note that once travel has commenced, changes other than to date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory are still permitted with only the USD125 surcharge - i.e. there is no fare recalculation "at today's rate". (As long as the number of continents stays the same).

Note that any agency doing any of these changes may charge a service fee.

 

[moa999]

So to clarify for your situation.

Change today.
Reissue. Fare difference (with no discount) plus US$125 plus service fee.

Wait till after first segment.
Reissue. Recalc of taxes only plus US$125 plus service fee.

Note depending on who you if you change dates only the may just rebook you into A availability and not charge the reissue fee.

On my last DONE4 with four AA First segments and four QF/CX Business segments, I was accidentally booked into A on all segments by a very nice AA agent. Unfortunately I needed to change dates again and the next agent noticed and fixed the mistake.

 

[NM]

Of course, this is only true if changing <date/time>/<oneworld carrier>/<inventory>.

If you need to change ticketed points, the ticket would be reissued and fare recalculated at today's rates. Also, there would be a USD125 surcharge.

Note that once travel has commenced, changes other than to date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory are still permitted with only the USD125 surcharge - i.e. there is no fare recalculation "at today's rate". (As long as the number of continents stays the same).

Note that any agency doing any of these changes may charge a service fee.

My comments were assuming travel has commenced per your "note".

 

[Hawkeye]

Ok, so in the end, I'm happy.

Got the dates altered, and posed the question of fare re-calculation if I changed from D to A. I expected response in accordance with moa999's summary, with a view to leaving in D at this point, then getting changed after first half of itinerary flown. Clearly, that involved a small risk of A getting gobbled up.

Anyhoo, response was that could be done with only reissue fee, tax recalculation (basically zip), and service charge. Go right ahead, I said.

Of course, if it does change back to a 2-class plane, then I've wasted the reissue fee.

As an aside, I could select seats for CX JFK-HKG & HKG-SIN online via Qantas website. Can't remember being able to do that before.

 

[serfty]

If you only changed the booking class, no USD125 re-issue fee was payable.

They may have charged their own services fee.