Award bookable by phone but not online
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,324
It would never get that far. They'd settle with you long beforehand, if only because I doubt they're going to dump thousands on a case that would cost the $30 now, with a risk of publicly losing.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
I learned my lesson. I pay $30 and very gingerly suggest the routing that I want with a reduce charges that go with a 'free' award ticket. At the beginning of the call I give the agent 3 stops I want and then wait for them to tell me either the segments with Y or AC etc carriers most of the time. Can I go via a certain city, "the previously researched connection" I ask, and normally they check it and say it possible. I try to avoid redundant arguments that would prolong the call or necessitate another call. I consider $30 as an additional fee to fees they charge already. And typically I would not be able to book my itineraries online with no provision for 3 stops even with multi cities option. For me 3 stops is what makes this program somewhat beneficial.
#18
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Calgary
Programs: Aeroplan (Silver), Air Miles, IHG Rewards (Platinum)
Posts: 668
#19
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Calgary
Programs: Aeroplan (Silver), Air Miles, IHG Rewards (Platinum)
Posts: 668
My other favourite Aeroplan myth:
"I’ll have to be on hold for 2 hours if I call in to book a flight."
Well now it is 3 hours
www.aeroplan.com/myths
"I’ll have to be on hold for 2 hours if I call in to book a flight."
Well now it is 3 hours
www.aeroplan.com/myths
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
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Posts: 44,324
They do not mention "itineraries", for the very good reason that certain ITINERARIES require calling in.
#21
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
Sure. But that was not my point. I don't think small claims courts decisions constitute legal precedents in the first place so the case made by a previous poster is probably incorrect.
#23
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
Small Claims Court decisions are not precedent setting. There is no lower Court upon which they would be binding. They have value from the perspective that someone else has looked at the same matter before. In effect, they are there for guidance.
While not the same as precedents, repeated rulings will help higher courts in the matter.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
Cow is of course correct that you can book just about any flight online, but forget it for more extensive multi-city. I research the flights on KVS (other tools are available) and then 'guide' them down the path to get what I want.
This worked well recently for a trip down under for a NAN-AKL flight that didn't show up in KVS when searching via AP but did show up via ANA. Didn't even have to HUCA.
Provided you know what you want and aren't being a dick, the human interaction is often less frustrating. But it seems to depend on the agent too.