Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[cjd600]

If on an F award, I can't see why anyone would not want to go on AA transcon flagship F JFK-LAX pending availability. Is QF J that much better?

Availability was much better....ie available vs non-existent (espec for 4 pax)
Transcon AA is 3 class anyway, so wld be J not F
2 class wldnt bother with AA F over QF J

 

[Princess Fiona]

If on an F award, I can't see why anyone would not want to go on AA transcon flagship F JFK-LAX pending availability. Is QF J that much better?

It’s now impossible to book AA transcon Awards in Premium cabins. The only availability is connecting flights and even that is slim pickings.

 

[cjd600]

It’s now impossible to book AA transcon Awards in Premium cabins. The only availability is connecting flights and even that is slim pickings.

If you count MIA-LAX as transcon, I recently managed 4J in the seasonal AA 777-300 for next October...which are better J seats that the A321T used ex JFK - LAX/SFO.

 

[sietes]

Was in the process of booking my first every 280k via phone due to the recurring error 'We could not find fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)' even though all flights exist and i am well with in the rules.

Got cut off when going to pay after over 3 hours on the phone and all flights lined up, i was cut off. Now trying to resurrect on chat they have told me that i need to call for assistance. This is the most frustrating process.

 

[cjd600]

Was in the process of booking my first every 280k via phone due to the recurring error 'We could not find fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)' even though all flights exist and i am well with in the rules.

Got cut off when going to pay after over 3 hours on the phone and all flights lined up, i was cut off. Now trying to resurrect on chat they have told me that i need to call for assistance. This is the most frustrating process.

Sure is.
Chat should still be able to do it all though

 

[sietes]

Sure is.
Chat should still be able to do it all though

I guess it depends on who you get.

They also said that they couldn't add flights to existing unticketed bookings, that they had to cancel the booking and start again. Back to square 1 for me.

 

[cjd600]

I guess it depends on who you get.

They also said that they couldn't add flights to existing unticketed bookings, that they had to cancel the booking and start again. Back to square 1 for me.

That’s all rubbish too. Sounds like you got the work experience kid or the cleaner.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Was in the process of booking my first every 280k via phone due to the recurring error 'We could not find fare for the requested itinerary (5685 UI)' even though all flights exist and i am well with in the rules.

Got cut off when going to pay after over 3 hours on the phone and all flights lined up, i was cut off. Now trying to resurrect on chat they have told me that i need to call for assistance. This is the most frustrating process.

Next time you ring, tell the agent what happened and make sure they have your phone number; ask them to call you back should it happen again. The more experienced agents will be happy to oblige IME.

Yes the process is frustrating; far more difficult than it should be. The multi-city tool cannot cope with complex itineraries. But once you succeed it is a good feeling.

BTW: while you are waiting on the end of the phone, try booking online over and over again. Also try a different web browser. Recently, when helping a friend book, I tried over and over again (while waiting for the phone to be answered) on Microsoft edge and Chrome. Suddenly when least expected, Chrome returned a price and we were able to complete the booking without assistance from an agent.

I think part of the problem is that sometimes your browser times out while the multi-city tool is calculating the taxes.

Good luck. You will forget all the frustration when drinking that first glass of bubbles while waiting for take-off.

 

[madrooster]

BTW: while you are waiting on the end of the phone, try booking online over and over again. Also try a different web browser. Recently, when helping a friend book, I tried over and over again (while waiting for the phone to be answered) on Microsoft edge and Chrome. Suddenly when least expected, Chrome returned a price and we were able to complete the booking without assistance from an agent.

This is very unwise advice as doing this can and does result in the booking engine locking up the seats that you may ultimately need to complete your itinerary over the phone.

 

[Jacques Vert]

This is very unwise advice as doing this can and does result in the booking engine locking up the seats that you may ultimately need to complete your itinerary over the phone.

Fair point; but as soon as the agent answers the phone you can log out and the seats go back into the pool, so the agent can see them.

Not sure how long that takes but IME it's within a few minutes so doesn't cause a major problem.

Certainly less of a problem than booking over the phone with an inexperienced agent.

Again IME, if you can book online, you avoid the 2 stopover surface sector rule that some agents are keen to enforce.

 

[Captain Halliday]

if you can book online, you avoid the 2 stopover surface sector rule that some agents are keen to enforce.

By “rule” do you mean the unwritten intervention that some agents are reported to have made which is not substantiated by the published terms of the award?

 

[Jacques Vert]

By “rule” do you mean the unwritten intervention that some agents are reported to have made which is not substantiated by the published terms of the award?

Yes, that's the rule I'm referring to.

However, when you say unwritten, it may not be published but not necessarily "unwritten".

I have been told by one of " those agents" that their internal booking instructions state that a surface segment counts as 2 stopovers.

Definitely contrary to their own published rules but what can you do?

 

[Captain Halliday]

However, when you say unwritten, it may not be published but not necessarily "unwritten".

True. “Unpublished” is a better word.

Definitely contrary to their own published rules but what can you do?

HUCA!

 

[Jacques Vert]

True. “Unpublished” is a better word.


HUCA!

Agree.

However, I've had the experience where an agent and his supervisor have noted my file to say I can't book a valid award due to "too many stopovers".

I'm now concentrating on SQ.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Agree.

However, I've had the experience where an agent and his supervisor have noted my file to say I can't book a valid award due to "too many stopovers".

I'm now concentrating on SQ.

I recall you posting about it at the time.

We’re they ever able to identify the *published* term under which they denied your otherwise valid booking?

Did you escalate it with QF or contact the ACA?

 

[Jacques Vert]

I recall you posting about it at the time.

We’re they ever able to identify the *published* term under which they denied your otherwise valid booking?

Did you escalate it with QF or contact the ACA?

I did ask for a copy of said "booking instructions", but they refused, of course.

I decided NOT to pursue it as the result may have been that this "rule" would be enforced to all Oneworld awards.

Better to let sleeping dogs lie.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I did ask for a copy of said "booking instructions", but they refused, of course.

I decided NOT to pursue it as the result may have been that this "rule" would be enforced o all Oneworld awards.

Better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Thanks for taking one for the team. I know it’s painful.

 

[madrooster]

Fair point; but as soon as the agent answers the phone you can log out and the seats go back into the pool, so the agent can see them.

That's also not true. Once the booking engine locks up the seats, it won't get released until the next midnight at point of origin.

 

[Jacques Vert]

That's also not true. Once the booking engine locks up the seats, it won't get released until the next midnight at point of origin.

That's interesting. So at what point in the online process does the search engine lock up the seats? Not disagreeing with you; just trying to get a better understanding of the process.

I've certainly had the experience of seats disappearing after searching a particular route (but not being able to link up with other flights on the itinerary), only to see them reappear a little later when looking for alternative options. Presumably because my search has "locked up" the seats?

But I've also had the experience of the seats reappearing almost immediately.

And I've also had the experience of talking to an agent who has said something along the lines of "I can't see those seats, are you still holding them online?" When I've got out of my search the agent has been able to see the seats and grab them.

Again, I'm not disagreeing with your comment above; just trying to learn more.

 

[madrooster]

That's interesting. So at what point in the online process does the search engine lock up the seats? Not disagreeing with you; just trying to get a better understanding of the process.

I've certainly had the experience of seats disappearing after searching a particular route (but not being able to link up with other flights on the itinerary), only to see them reappear a little later when looking for alternative options. Presumably because my search has "locked up" the seats?

But I've also had the experience of the seats reappearing almost immediately.

And I've also had the experience of talking to an agent who has said something along the lines of "I can't see those seats, are you still holding them online?" When I've got out of my search the agent has been able to see the seats and grab them.

Again, I'm not disagreeing with your comment above; just trying to learn more.

It depends where in the booking process you are. If you're up to the payment screen it's definitely locked the seats up by that point. Basically any point after entering passenger details (eg. name) = the engine may have locked up the seats.

The newer engine is a bit smarter about releasing inventory if you navigate away from the booking process but it's not foolproof, so again, it's that risk you take.