Award Ticket Fiasco
Mar 22, 2017, 10:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BNA/LAX/BWI/SZX/SIN
Posts: 649
Award Ticket Fiasco
I have an upcoming travel XXX-HKG-LAX-XXX on CX-AS originally booked in U/A class. This will happen in 5 days.
Called to enquire about changing to XXX-HKG-JFK (Stopover)-XXX but when told that stopover couldn't be built in, decided to stick with original flight.
But agent accidentally deleted my HKG-LAX flight and it's now in X class - and at an earlier departure. Tickets are still as originally ticketed but they can't sell my original flights into the reservation. What should I do now?
*Alaska is apparently trying to get the flight reinstated with its CX liaison (how does this even work?), but it has been 2-3 days and no luck yet - anyone with similar experience how they can get this done asap? :s
Called to enquire about changing to XXX-HKG-JFK (Stopover)-XXX but when told that stopover couldn't be built in, decided to stick with original flight.
But agent accidentally deleted my HKG-LAX flight and it's now in X class - and at an earlier departure. Tickets are still as originally ticketed but they can't sell my original flights into the reservation. What should I do now?
*Alaska is apparently trying to get the flight reinstated with its CX liaison (how does this even work?), but it has been 2-3 days and no luck yet - anyone with similar experience how they can get this done asap? :s
Mar 22, 2017, 10:16 pm
#3
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
Did you check if your desired cabin is still offered for revenue sale? If it's not, changing the itinerary may be the only option.
Mar 22, 2017, 10:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: ba silver
Posts: 729
Keep trying with them. If you have any proof that you are booked in business class the airline is legally required to seat you in that cabin if ANY seats are available. If they won't you might have to purchase a business class ticket and go after the Alaska for downgrading you without your consent.
Mar 22, 2017, 11:23 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
Keep trying with them. If you have any proof that you are booked in business class the airline is legally required to seat you in that cabin if ANY seats are available. If they won't you might have to purchase a business class ticket and go after the Alaska for downgrading you without your consent.
Buying an J one way ticket is going to be many thousands of dollars. I don't think I'd be buying a multi-thousand plane ticket and hoping I'd win in court. I'd be kind of out a few large for a while...
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 22, 2017 at 11:28 pm
Mar 23, 2017, 12:01 am
#7
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
Mar 23, 2017, 1:09 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BNA/LAX/BWI/SZX/SIN
Posts: 649
Thanks everyone for the advice.
This was before I read the wiki here. There was nothing on the award chart website disallowing HKG-East Coast (Stopover) routing.
This was before I read the wiki here. There was nothing on the award chart website disallowing HKG-East Coast (Stopover) routing.
Mar 23, 2017, 1:38 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,644
If they are working with a liaison at CX, there is a decent chance this will turn out OK. In the meantime I would keep your eyes peeled for last minute options on other partner carriers, just to be safe...and call to take one of those if you see a palatable option.
Mar 23, 2017, 1:40 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BNA/LAX/BWI/SZX/SIN
Posts: 649
So if a partner is available, will they be able to change without charging additional miles/taxes? I assume mixed partners would not be allowed here either.
Mar 23, 2017, 2:01 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
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they will not allow you to keep your CX flights from XXX-HKG, then pick up a new partner there.
a new ticket would price at the prevailing redemption rate of the other partner...not at CX' prevailing rate.
Mar 23, 2017, 10:48 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Lessons take away
Dont tinker your flight so close to departure.
Dont try to be cute and think you should get "the most" out of it on an award flight, especially this is not a program one has in depth knowledge.
CX usually is pretty good in working with partners in situation like this.
May need to move to a different departure time, but with 4 daily flights on this route, J seat should not be too hard to find.
Dont tinker your flight so close to departure.
Dont try to be cute and think you should get "the most" out of it on an award flight, especially this is not a program one has in depth knowledge.
CX usually is pretty good in working with partners in situation like this.
May need to move to a different departure time, but with 4 daily flights on this route, J seat should not be too hard to find.
Mar 26, 2017, 5:55 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BNA/LAX/BWI/SZX/SIN
Posts: 649
Customers are entitled to evaluate their options and request for quotations - and clearly in this case, this agent screwed up.