Benefits for OW emerald on AB ?
Jan 22, 2013, 9:23 am
#106
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR Ionosphere Club, LAX Clipper Club, Still Traveling Global, yearly BIS miles
Programs: EAL Silver Wings, I-Club, Flying Colonels DL, WorldPass PLat from the olde Meatball and PE SMARTbank
Posts: 1,987
As EXP/Emerald Should I take mileage award on AA or AB?
Flying from mia to mxp, I can get award (economy) thru JFK (AA) or DUS (AB). Which do you recommend?
Last edited by frank_10b; Jan 22, 2013 at 11:12 am Reason: correction
Jan 22, 2013, 11:13 am
#108
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR Ionosphere Club, LAX Clipper Club, Still Traveling Global, yearly BIS miles
Programs: EAL Silver Wings, I-Club, Flying Colonels DL, WorldPass PLat from the olde Meatball and PE SMARTbank
Posts: 1,987
Feb 2, 2013, 10:01 am
#111
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AUS
Programs: AA-PLAT, Hilton-Gold, Marriott-PLT
Posts: 85
2 unsuccessful attempts so far
(1) US Line- No luck with getting XL seats- said there is 60 EUR charge
(2) Called German topbonus directly. The lady placed me on hold to check. She came back later and said nope- no free XL seats to OW Emeralds.
This is so painful..
(1) US Line- No luck with getting XL seats- said there is 60 EUR charge
(2) Called German topbonus directly. The lady placed me on hold to check. She came back later and said nope- no free XL seats to OW Emeralds.
This is so painful..
Had to change a reservation today for a flight in FEB and was able to get XL. But AB CSRs are definitely YMMV.
All four attempts within a span of 10 hours with different information provided.
Attempt 1 - Called US line. Agent indicated charge for seat. After I mention OW Saphhire, no charge. Saw no XL avail despite expertflyer saying two were avail.
Attempt 2 - Called US line 5 hours later. Agent saw two XL avail. Agent indicated charge for ALL type of seats even with OW Saphhire. I suggested he double check. Came back and said no charge for regular seat but charge for XL.
Attempt 3 - Called German line. Saw my OW Saphhire and confirmed no charge but didn't see any XL available. expertflyer still showing the same two seats were avail. Asked to be transfer to topbonus as I had to go thru this the last 3 times. I guess she was a little offended when she replied that she worked here for two years and know when a seat is avail and when it is not. Politely agreed with her that it is not avail and I'll call back at a later day.
Attempt 4 - Called German topbonus directly (0049 030 3434 3433 ext 0 for English follow by option 3). Agent saw my OW Sapphire and confirmed no charge. At first she also said XL not avail but then she looked a bit further, placed me on hold, and assigned XL.
I'm sorry to say that compared with AA (and they can be YMMV - last night agent told me AB not part of OW but she did correct herself), AB CSRs needs to have a company wide training on policy.
All four attempts within a span of 10 hours with different information provided.
Attempt 1 - Called US line. Agent indicated charge for seat. After I mention OW Saphhire, no charge. Saw no XL avail despite expertflyer saying two were avail.
Attempt 2 - Called US line 5 hours later. Agent saw two XL avail. Agent indicated charge for ALL type of seats even with OW Saphhire. I suggested he double check. Came back and said no charge for regular seat but charge for XL.
Attempt 3 - Called German line. Saw my OW Saphhire and confirmed no charge but didn't see any XL available. expertflyer still showing the same two seats were avail. Asked to be transfer to topbonus as I had to go thru this the last 3 times. I guess she was a little offended when she replied that she worked here for two years and know when a seat is avail and when it is not. Politely agreed with her that it is not avail and I'll call back at a later day.
Attempt 4 - Called German topbonus directly (0049 030 3434 3433 ext 0 for English follow by option 3). Agent saw my OW Sapphire and confirmed no charge. At first she also said XL not avail but then she looked a bit further, placed me on hold, and assigned XL.
I'm sorry to say that compared with AA (and they can be YMMV - last night agent told me AB not part of OW but she did correct herself), AB CSRs needs to have a company wide training on policy.
Feb 2, 2013, 11:50 am
#112
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Gold, plat, diamond and more
Posts: 3,360
Feb 9, 2013, 11:42 am
#113
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
If OW Emerald (AA EXP) traveling on an AA First class ticket to FRA and connecting on a AirBerlin - any extra benefits? I assume free baggage, XL seats, and lounge access.
I guess nothing special for F passenger over OW Emerald? Or maybe not as good?
Returning on AB from TXL but with overnight stop in FRA before AA First flight to DFW - do you get benefits and free luggage for TXL to FRA flight?
Does OW First passenger get XL Seats at time of booking?
I guess nothing special for F passenger over OW Emerald? Or maybe not as good?
Returning on AB from TXL but with overnight stop in FRA before AA First flight to DFW - do you get benefits and free luggage for TXL to FRA flight?
Does OW First passenger get XL Seats at time of booking?
Feb 11, 2013, 5:53 am
#114
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,690
My recent experience with AB was very good - I was not charged for the seat selection (even though I picked this option when purchasing the ticket on-line); on the plane I was greeted by the senior cabin crew member and all drinks (including champagne) were free for me (I was told it's an OW EMD benefit); not sure if food is free as well as I pre-paid for a special meal.
Feb 17, 2013, 4:10 pm
#115
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Benefits for OW emerald on AB ?
Was at DUS Sunday. C gates security didn't have fast track. They had it back in Dec.
No priority boarding was announced for elite to JFK. Boarding started with rows 1-4 (business) and 35+ as ONE group. You just have to know you can board early as an elite.
No priority boarding was announced for elite to JFK. Boarding started with rows 1-4 (business) and 35+ as ONE group. You just have to know you can board early as an elite.
Feb 17, 2013, 9:27 pm
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
Use the Amadeus Hotline. These people are properly educated and know what they are talking about. The call centres in Poland or wherever are generally useless.
Feb 19, 2013, 7:11 am
#118
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
For those that have had success, what time of day (in Germany) have you been calling? The US 800# routed to Berlin when I called in the evening (midnight German time) but the agent would not assign me XL as OW Sapphire. When I called the Amadeus hotline in the morning (early afternoon German time), I seemed to get a much better agent (also in Berlin) who assigned me the seat without batting an eye. I'm wondering if the CSRs on the dayshift are better trained than their overnight counterparts.
Feb 20, 2013, 2:31 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
For those that have had success, what time of day (in Germany) have you been calling? The US 800# routed to Berlin when I called in the evening (midnight German time) but the agent would not assign me XL as OW Sapphire. When I called the Amadeus hotline in the morning (early afternoon German time), I seemed to get a much better agent (also in Berlin) who assigned me the seat without batting an eye. I'm wondering if the CSRs on the dayshift are better trained than their overnight counterparts.