Detail on using the AA RTW Desk

[serfty]

I am in the process of booking a LONE4 for myself and mrs serfty for June.

I am not looking to maximize segments (that would be no problem for myself, but harder for the SO). Simply need to be a couple of places and include an Asian journey for this November (or perhaps Easter next year).

Trying to book via AA to 1) reduce the +++ and 2) Make it simple to upgrade the AA segments to First Class.

The Routing:

June:

MEL-xSYD-JFK,
JFK-xORD-SEA,
SEA-xDFW-ORD-LHR,
LGW-DBV,
DBV-xLGW/xLHR-SIN

(A separate SIN-MEL-SIN will get us home)

April 2009 (will book dummy dates and change in May):

SIN-HKG-BKK,
BKK-HKG,
HKG-NRT,
NRT-SYD

(Separate SYD-MEL-SYD red e-deal)

SYD-CNS
CNS-MEL

To enable the ability to upgrade, my plan is to book as much as possible on QF flight numbers for flights operated by QF and AA flight numbers when operated by AA.

Researching here and on FT has been useful, but there's nothing like experience.

 

[serfty]

This morning I made my first calls to the AA RTW desk (+1 800 247 3247).

The first call lasted 3 minutes and was a bust as the agent seemed disinterested and did not seem happy to assist.

After she insisted she had to book the AA flight # across the pacific ("it was a new rule they had") I decided to (pleasantly) finish the conversation and try again.

I waited 5 minutes and got a different agent who seemed most helpful.

We went through the process until it came about that as the JFK-ORD and ORD-SEA flights had the same number, she would not be able to book it that way - it would be treated as a second transcontinental I could leave from LGA instead. I suggested re-routing MEL-SYD-JFK, to do this which she said would work.

After that, we went through to the end quite smoothly and finished the booking off - everything seemed fine. She said she could hold the booking for up to 6 weeks and would now send it off to "Dublin" for "Pricing".

I then fired up AA.com and looked the booking up using record locater. I found the following:

1. We have been booked on the AA codeshare for QF107 SYD-LAX with LAX-JFK on the same QF107 codeshare as a separate segment
2. I was now booked on a direct non-stop flight JFK-SEa, rather than the 2 segments I wanted.
3. My BA flight ORD-LHR was now on an AA flight departing around the same time

Now, #1 & #2 make this an illegal booking with 2 N/A transcons.

#1 will prevent me from requesting an upgrade.

#3 will make it that much harder to get exit row seats for a flight we won't be able to upgrade on.

The sum of these combined indicate the agent was doing her own "thing".

I'm going to call back to:

1. Get put onto the QF93/QF107 connection,
2. Go LGA-ORD-SEA to fix the ghost transcon issue
3. Get onto the BA transatlantic flight.

 

[serfty]

Questions

Now for two Questions for those more experienced with these things:

• What is the best time of day for me to ring the AA RTW desk? - 8:30am in MEL is getting late in the DFW(?) afternoon, maybe there's a better time to call.
• If I find resistance about the first intercontinental flight being AA's, what can I do about it?

 

[simongr]

I always call the AA desk first thing in the morning - 5:30AM onwards and have never had problems. I have just rattled off flight numbers (been corrected on some) and that was it.

 

[dragonman]

Re: Questions

Now for two Questions for those more experienced with these things:

• What is the best time of day for me to ring the AA RTW desk? - 8:30am in MEL is getting late in the DFW(?) afternoon, maybe there's a better time to call.
• If I find resistance about the first intercontinental flight being AA's, what can I do about it?

I am a night owl, so I call about 2am. I have also sent you a PM.

 

[MelUser]

"Trying to book via AA to 1) reduce the +++ and 2) Make it simple to upgrade the AA segments to First Class."

How do you upgrade on AA from Y to F/A? We tried last year from DFW to LAX by paying money - whatever it took and they said no - that first seats are given to AA top tier frequent flyers and not for sale at check in.

thanks

 

[serfty]

How do you upgrade on AA from Y to F/A? ...

Firstly, AA must ticket it.
Secondly for Domestic US flights, A class must be available.
Thirdly, one needs 15,000 AAdvantage miles per passenger per journey.

 

[Keith009]

The best time to call is morning in Dallas, ie midnight to 2am in MEL. The best AAgents are around at that time. Having said that there seems to be a slight decline in service at the ATW desk as there are lots of new and inexperienced AAgents around now following a spate of retirements.

A few months ago one of the AAgents (the super star herself for those who know who I'm talking about) did inform me of a rumoured new internal policy that for AA to ticket any RTW itineraries at least one overwater segments have to be AA coded. Prior to this it was only 'preferable but not mandatory.' I'm not sure whether the policy has come into force, or whether you've just got some overzealous AAgents.

Ironically they actually lose money selling you the AA codeshare on the QF transpacific segments as the cost of paying QF for the seat actually outstrips the revenue they'd get from a moderately optimised itinerary.

YGPM.

 

[Mwenenzi]

What is L caper about ? :shock: Not what we expect from you

And only 16 segments (e-ticket?) Must be able to throw in a SYD-PER-ADL-MEL on the way back to get more miles .

I always thought a change to a flight & carrier on the same route is without reissue fee. Why not book a flight and then change it. eg AA across the Atlantic and the change to BA.

We went through the process until it came about that as the JFK-ORD and ORD-SEA flights had the same number, she would not be able to book it that way - it would be treated as a second transcontinental I could leave from LGA instead

If JFK-ORD & ORD-SEA are not the same day it should be OK.

 

[serfty]

What is L caper about ? :shock: Not what we expect from you ...

Actually, it's the other way around; of my 103 flights last year only 20 were for paid travel in the pointy end and 17 of those were YUP segments. There were 4 more upgraded from WHY (2 award, 2 Operational)

And only 16 segments (e-ticket?) Must be able to throw in a SYD-PER-ADL-MEL on the way back to get more miles . ...

Note the following:

... I am not looking to maximize segments (that would be no problem for myself, but harder for the SO). ...

I'm happy to zip around here and there but not SWMBO.

I've added a SYD-CNS-MEL at the end, to be taken a few months after the Asian travels.

I always thought a change to a flight & carrier on the same route is without reissue fee. Why not book a flight and then change it. eg AA across the Atlantic and the change to BA....

Fixed last night; see next post. ...

FWIW before departure of xONEx's from Origin TC2/TC3, Unlimited changes are permitted without charge. (Even if ticketed.)

If JFK-ORD & ORD-SEA are not the same day it should be OK.

They are the same day; I just wanted a break at the ORD FL.

 

[serfty]

Thanks for the PM's guys; the same Agent's name was mentioned.

I called last night at 3:15am (MEL time) :shock: and had my routing altered:

1. Now going SYD-JFK on QF107, not AA7365. (Once the agent was happy to change to the QF number, I was not going to push for MEL-LAX-JFK.)
2. Now travelling LGA-ORD-SEA as desired.
3. BA flight ORD-LHR not a problem; exit row seating preselected using BA.com MMB.

Interestingly, with the AA7365 flight number no seating was preallocated. Once it was QF107, premium seating was automajically selected for me. I'll call today to see if I can request exit row seats WP style.

E/F shows the BA flights between as having J for rows 1-3 with rows 4-8 blocked. I can't preselect anything further forward than row 9. For now I have Exit row 11 seating preselected.

More info to follow as it all unfolds ...

 

[serfty]

OK, now have 46B/C SYD-JFK and LHR-SIN.

Will check on FT, why I can't preselect forward of row 9.

 

[Dave Noble]

OK, now have 46B/C SYD-JFK and LHR-SIN.

Will check on FT, why I can't preselect forward of row 9.

The 1st few rows of economy are kept blocked as a buffer zone until about 72 hours from departure due to the fact that the curtain can move and those greyed out rows could end up being rezoned into business class

At about 3 days before departure these seats will become available for assignment once the final curtain position is determined and then the coveted front row A-C seats can be grabbed

Dave

 

[serfty]

Cool, Dave.

Sort of what I expected, but hard to locate this info on the BA FT forum, sort of like a known fact over there that's not worth discussing. (either that or my searches were inadequate).

I'll be watching at T-3 days for each flight.

 

[serfty]

Update:

Logged on this morning to check the held reservation and was greeted by the following:

/!\ We are unable to price your itinerary due to a schedule change. Please call AA Reservations for assistance.

So I called and found a recording giving the hours the RTW desk operates. These are (DFW Time):

Monday - Friday..: 07:00 to 20:00 Central Time
Saturday - Sunday: 09:00 to 17:30   "       "

In SYD/MEL terms that's (currently):

Tuesday - Saturday: 00:00 to 13:00 AEDST
Sunday - Monday   : 02:00 to 10:30   "

This will change when Daylight saving ends in Oz and starts in the USA.

 

[Dave Noble]

Since it is booked over the phone, there is never any chance of there being a price shown

You can ring the AA UK number on +44 207 365 0777 after 6pm to check out the schedule changes

Dave

 

[serfty]

Since it is booked over the phone, there is never any chance of there being a price shown

You can ring the AA UK number on +44 207 365 0777 after 6pm to check out the schedule changes

Dave

Thanks, I can still see the itinerary; one of our booked flight segments has been renumbered and changed to travel 55 minutes earlier.

A bit of a pain really, it's the last flight of the day to SEA from ORD making the connection from the LGA inbound far too tight (¾ hour), even if it does meet MCT.

I'll need to research a more appropriate (earlier) inbound.

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks, I can still see the itinerary; one of our booked flight segments has been renumbered and changed to travel 55 minutes earlier.

A bit of a pain really, it's the last flight of the day to SEA from ORD making the connection from the LGA inbound far too tight (¾ hour), even if it does meet MCT.

I'll need to research a more appropriate (earlier) inbound.

Do call them since if it hasn't been priced yet, it may not get priced until you confirm that it is ok

Dave

 

[serfty]

I did call last night and was able to change the inbound flight to an earlier one.

I called the USA RTW desk this morning to check on pricing and was told it need to be repriced. At this point I did mention I intended to buy it in Australia once the booking was completed, priced and ready for purchase.

The guy sounded surprised, but noted it and he "queued it for pricing".

I'll call again tomorrow.

 

[Keith009]

The guy sounded surprised, but noted it and he "queued it for pricing".

They usually ask me whether I intend to purchase the ticket in the country from which I commence the itinerary, ie Japan, before queuing the itinerary for pricing.