AA Booking code "O"
Oct 28, 2014, 12:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lt Plt
Posts: 241
AA Booking code "O"
Hello, a lot of my travel is LAX-ORD and usually fly AA. But lately I've been having a hard time booking because if I want to book more than 1 week in advance almost all the fares are "O". Anyone knows if there has been any changes lately with the fares or any advice on how to book a different fare?
Unfortunately I have to book directly through my company's booking system, can't be directly from AS website. Thanks
Unfortunately I have to book directly through my company's booking system, can't be directly from AS website. Thanks
Oct 28, 2014, 1:58 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
The only way I've found to book directly into a higher fare class is to either call AA or wait for the fare class to move up as departure nears. You can also book "O" and then pay up to a higher fare afterwards, but that's probably the hardest case to justify in terms of expense reporting. Luckily I can book my own work travel with just my corp card, but it doesn't sound like there's a workable solution for your situation other than waiting for the lowest available fare class to go up online.
Oct 28, 2014, 2:14 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
The only way I've found to book directly into a higher fare class is to either call AA or wait for the fare class to move up as departure nears. You can also book "O" and then pay up to a higher fare afterwards, but that's probably the hardest case to justify in terms of expense reporting. Luckily I can book my own work travel with just my corp card, but it doesn't sound like there's a workable solution for your situation other than waiting for the lowest available fare class to go up online.
Oct 28, 2014, 3:34 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lt Plt
Posts: 241
No other expensing issues, but from what I've seen sometimes fares go up for $100-150 if you book couple of weeks prior compare to booking a month or so before.
Oct 28, 2014, 3:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LA/NY/CHI
Programs: AA EXP, AS 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,876
Q is only one fare class higher than O, so the difference may not be significant. However, there may be a greater difference closer in
Oct 28, 2014, 3:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
I agree that the O->Q difference usually isn't huge... I think I've seen a $40 difference on a ATL-DFW-TUL round-trip as the highest I've personally paid to move up from O -> Q. That said, I've seen instances where O was available, Q was not, and the next highest AVAILABLE fare class was in the ~$100 higher range. These may be the same instances where waiting yielded a large jump once O sold out.
Given the need to book through your company's portal, paying-up after the fact (possibly out of pocket) or waiting it out seem to be your only options... only one of the two is likely to be looked upon favorably by whoever is approving your expense reports.
Given the need to book through your company's portal, paying-up after the fact (possibly out of pocket) or waiting it out seem to be your only options... only one of the two is likely to be looked upon favorably by whoever is approving your expense reports.
Oct 28, 2014, 6:26 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
I agree that the O->Q difference usually isn't huge... I think I've seen a $40 difference on a ATL-DFW-TUL round-trip as the highest I've personally paid to move up from O -> Q. That said, I've seen instances where O was available, Q was not, and the next highest AVAILABLE fare class was in the ~$100 higher range. These may be the same instances where waiting yielded a large jump once O sold out.
Given the need to book through your company's portal, paying-up after the fact (possibly out of pocket) or waiting it out seem to be your only options... only one of the two is likely to be looked upon favorably by whoever is approving your expense reports.
Given the need to book through your company's portal, paying-up after the fact (possibly out of pocket) or waiting it out seem to be your only options... only one of the two is likely to be looked upon favorably by whoever is approving your expense reports.
Oct 28, 2014, 7:59 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Best way if one can use AA site is put O fare on 24 hour hold, call to have reservations bump it up to the next highest fare so you can go back online to complete the purchase.
Oct 28, 2014, 8:05 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,206
Is there a way to figure out the next higher fare price without using a paid service like Expert Flyer or calling AA? AA/AS has lost some money from me for the "O" class restriction, but if I had been looking at only $10 difference I probably would have booked it.
Oct 28, 2014, 8:42 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
You would have to call reservations unless you have GDS access (paid options like EF).
Oct 29, 2014, 8:34 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
The price difference can be pretty big too. I found a $150 one way O fare BOS-PDX 12/10/14. There were several other O fares before going up to an earning fare. The earning one a G fare which was $50 more. Q was much higher
Oct 29, 2014, 8:37 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: TUS, SEA, OTP, OMR
Posts: 868
O is a subset of Q so if O is available Q is too. Now that doesn't necessarily mean a Q fare is available for sale.
Best way if one can use AA site is put O fare on 24 hour hold, call to have reservations bump it up to the next highest fare so you can go back online to complete the purchase.
Best way if one can use AA site is put O fare on 24 hour hold, call to have reservations bump it up to the next highest fare so you can go back online to complete the purchase.