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What's the easiest (and cheapest) way to book a flight in a specific fare class that's not showing by default on the airline's website?
For various reasons, I occasionally want to book a flight in a different (higher) fare class to what is being shown on the airline's website. For example, I recently booked a flight with Aegean Airlines which was available on the website for €98 in T class. A quick search on ITA Matrix found that the same flight could also be booked in S class for €19 more, but would earn 3x the United miles & PQM. For the small extra cost, I decided it was worth booking in S class. So, how to do this?
I called Aegean who would have been able to sell me an S class fare but wanted to charge a €20 phone booking fee. I asked if it was possible to book this online and was told it was not (as there were still T class fares available on the flight). In hindsight, I should have just paid the fee...
I then tried copying my ITA Matrix results into Book with Matrix, and it suggested I could book with Flight Network in S for €117. Silly me assumed this would actually book into S class as the price was about what I had expected. So I booked, and the confirmation said "T" class! I called Flight Network and was told "sorry, we don't show you the fare class on our website and you've booked a T-class fare. This is not refundable so I can't do anything for you". So, now I've paid the extra €19 but still have a T class ticket.
What should I have done?
For various reasons, I occasionally want to book a flight in a different (higher) fare class to what is being shown on the airline's website. For example, I recently booked a flight with Aegean Airlines which was available on the website for €98 in T class. A quick search on ITA Matrix found that the same flight could also be booked in S class for €19 more, but would earn 3x the United miles & PQM. For the small extra cost, I decided it was worth booking in S class. So, how to do this?
I called Aegean who would have been able to sell me an S class fare but wanted to charge a €20 phone booking fee. I asked if it was possible to book this online and was told it was not (as there were still T class fares available on the flight). In hindsight, I should have just paid the fee...
I then tried copying my ITA Matrix results into Book with Matrix, and it suggested I could book with Flight Network in S for €117. Silly me assumed this would actually book into S class as the price was about what I had expected. So I booked, and the confirmation said "T" class! I called Flight Network and was told "sorry, we don't show you the fare class on our website and you've booked a T-class fare. This is not refundable so I can't do anything for you". So, now I've paid the extra €19 but still have a T class ticket.
What should I have done?
