Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little option

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Febs

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Hi all,

Kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

I received an itinerary from our travel centre a few weeks ago for an upcoming DONE4 starting next Tuesday. Everything was fine (although I had to travel into and out of Australia via BNE), and even though the connection through LAX looked a little tight (90min), our travel centre usually advise us if this is going to cause problems, and they didn't (in hindsight, I probably should have brought it up.) Flights are SYD-BNE-LAX-DFW-MTY, all on Tuesday.

They went to ticket it and apparently, the connection times rules have recently changed (???) and now they can't guarantee it with anything less than a 3hr connection. I can get A class availability on a later LAX-DFW, but there's no Edit: D *or* L class availability on any later DFW-MTY flights, until the next morning. I have to be in MTY (Monterrey, Mexico) that night.

There's plenty of Y and J availability on a well-timed DFW-MTY...but at a cost of $1,300AUD one way (Y or J...for a sub-2hr flight!!) Every day either side of Tuesday is around $500. :( (Most likely due to the Monday being a public holiday).

We looked at every available el-shonko carrier that runs DFW-MTY and LAX-MTY...either no availability, flights at useless times, or $1,000+. Also looked at other options - LAX to somewhere, to somewhere, to MTY. Nothing plausible.

ARGH! Does anyone have any ideas?

All I can think of, is that if I was on the direct flights, the $1,300 cost would still apply, and as I've saved $600 by going the DONE4 route, the total cost shouldn't be too much more overall. Would have to go back to the travel centre for an accurate quote though.

Leaving Sydney earlier isn't an option either - I'm getting back from HBA 10pm the night before.

:(

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
Last edited:
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

Get the TA to ring AA and beg them to release A/L inventory for the flight you want.
 
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

Get the TA to ring AA and beg them to release A/L inventory for the flight you want.

Or leave AU 1 day earlier and keep your original A booking.
 
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Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

aubs - thanks, I'll mention it. As far as I'm concerned, the travel centre need to share some of this blame. I didn't ask to wait this long to ticket.

I'm waitlisted in A too...fingers crossed.

Or leave AU 1 day earlier and keep your original A booking.

See:

Leaving Sydney earlier isn't an option either - I'm getting back from HBA 10pm the night before.
 
Maybe you can defer Monday's HBA activites ...

I agree about the ticketing; one get very nervous when L/D/A class starts to decrease on segments in a booked but unticketed xONEx ...
 
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

Maybe you can defer Monday's HBA activites ...

I agree about the ticketing; one get very nervous when L/D/A class starts to decrease on segments in a booked but unticketed xONEx ...

No choice with HBA I'm afraid.

I've learnt my lesson anyway - question any potentially problematic connection times, and make sure it gets ticketed early!!
 
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

For DFW-MTY, shouldn't you be looking for D availability and not A class? DFW-MTY is operated by a mix of Embraer 145 and MD80 aircraft. The E145s are single class, while MD80 operates the later flights and is 2-class sold as business and coash.
 
Looking at E/F, there are zeroes everywhere with a few of J/Y/B but that's about it.

Y1 B0 H0 K0 V0 L0 S0 W0 M0 N0 Q0 G0 O0
Y0 B0 H0 K0 V0 L0 S0 W0 M0 N0 Q0 G0 O0
I0 J0 D0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 V0 L0 S0 W0 M0 N0 Q0 G0 O0
I0 J0 D0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 V0 L0 S0 W0 M0 N0 Q0 G0 O0
I0 J7 D0 Y3 B1 H0 K0 V0 L0 S0 W0 M0 N0 Q0 G0 O0
 
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

For DFW-MTY, shouldn't you be looking for D availability and not A class? DFW-MTY is operated by a mix of Embraer 145 and MD80 aircraft. The E145s are single class, while MD80 operates the later flights and is 2-class sold as business and coash.

Sorry, yes it's D class we were looking for on the DFW-MTY sector.

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

I would have eased your pain by asking to catch up for a coffee or something whilst your down here but alas its one of the busiest weeks of the year!
 
Re: Please help! DONE4 turning into a much more expensive DONE4...left with little op

Bit of an update..

I'm confirmed in A on a later LAX-DFW, and confirmed in J on the later DFW-MTY. I asked them to call AA and beg/plead (yes I used those words ;)) them to release one seat into D inventory. Haven't heard the results, so I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

So I'll get there on time...it's just a matter of whether or not I have to pay extra for it!

I would have eased your pain by asking to catch up for a coffee or something whilst your down here but alas its one of the busiest weeks of the year!

No worries, maybe next time. :) HBA is a holiday so likely to be quite busy anyway.

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
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