Takes some getting used to. Particularly seeing return options showing up with a $0 fare. By defaulting to the lowest coach fare it does remove some flexibility in booking higher fares, though Business and First fares also default to their lowest fare category (until these sell out).
Yes, but the new fare bundle one step up (which waives change fees) is only $68 more roundtrip, vs a $150 change fee.
What is especially appealing is that apparently you can cancel before departure for flight credit, for the full value of your ticket (including the extra $68 you paid for the bundle).
Yes, I noticed the $68, but wasn't sure if that was for all tickets, or just the trip I was planning out. If the upfare to Choice Plus is always less than $150, it's an interesting insurance option.
Now why would anyone purchase fully refundable fares over this then?
Oh... cash return instead of just credit. Interesting...
Now why would anyone purchase fully refundable fares over this then?
No change fee doesn't mean no cost to change! You still have to pay the fare difference which can be a lot of the only fare available when you want to change is Y.
No change fee doesn't mean no cost to change! You still have to pay the fare difference which can be a lot of the only fare available when you want to change is Y.
That's the same as with refundable fares. You have to pay the fare difference.
I think the difference is how you get the credit back, as cash or AA credit.
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt DM, SPG GLD, Hertz 5*, AMEX PLT, GE
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While I at first feared what this change would bring, I think I can get used to it.
I find some of the additions very interesting. Particularly for "Choice Plus" and the free premium beverage. How are they going to keep track of this? Will it be on the boarding pass?
Also, I find it interesting about the bonus RDM, is that above and beyond the normal elite bonus? So as an EXP if we chose a "Choice Plus" we would get 150% bonus miles?
Programs: My primary programs are AA EXP, Hilton Gold, National Executive. Also SPG Gold, Hertz Gold, AS & BA.
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As there were two active threads on this topic, I've merged them together. Note that this may cause some posts to be interleaved, so there may be issues if you're reading through the older posts, but having this discussion all in one place will be helpful going forward. As always, if there are any questions please do let me or my colleagues know and we can take a look.
Programs: AA EXP (2.967 MM, But 3MM+ Total), HHonors DIAMOND, PC PLT
Posts: 338
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCQuaker
Are you sure it's not showing you correctly? It's almost the same way ITA pulls up fares.
Even better now. AA is actually bundling RT fares for NRT on the one-way outbound. When returning, some options show, "included", $7.00, and others are like the $259 I quoted which is the difference by combing two different fare buckets. I'm placing dates last week of December.
Weary of the "included" because its a lower bucket, which means they could be swiping cash because system won't show a negative rate.
Sure would like to see a -$150.00 fare on the return booked in Q.
Location: DFW; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA GLD 1.5MM; IHG Plat, Marriott Silver; OMNIPat
Posts: 10,059
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyMeToTheLooneyBin
Now why would anyone purchase fully refundable fares over this then?
Oh... cash return instead of just credit. Interesting...
That's why I asked this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by swag
If you pay for the "no change fee" on AA, does that work like WN, where you basically get a credit, good for a year? You can change destinations, and even use the credit on multiple trips, or combine credits towards a single trip?
Or does it just waive the fee if changing dates and times on the same origin/destination?
If you just get a reuasble credit, a la Southwest, then for regular AA fliers, it's basically as good as a refund. But if it's just good for date/time changes, then refundable becomes the only real option if you think you may not make the journey at all.
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Programs: oneworld emerald (AA EXP 8MM), SPG life plat, HY plat, Esselunga Fědaty Card
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingTrojan
I find some of the additions very interesting. Particularly for "Choice Plus" and the free premium beverage. How are they going to keep track of this? Will it be on the boarding pass?
Essential: For an additional fee of $68 roundtrip, these fares will include 1 checked bag [in addition to what you might already be entitled to], Group 1 priority boarding and no change fees.
[...]Plus: These fares cost [...] $88 above Choice/Regular Fares and have the same three perks as Choice Essential plus a 50% AAdvantage mileage bonus (not Elite Qualifying Miles), waived same-day confirmed flight changes, same day standby and a premium beverage (including alcohol).
So the underlying fare is the same, they're just pre-selling a bundle of stuff on top of it.
For the moment these bundles are available from AA only (no travel agents, including corporate, and unclear if AA.com only or also from AA reservations) at the moment of purchase, not even as an add-on to an existing reservation.
If you just get a reuasble credit, a la Southwest, then for regular AA fliers, it's basically as good as a refund. But if it's just good for date/time changes, then refundable becomes the only real option if you think you may not make the journey at all.
It specifically states that you have to pay the fare difference, so I don't think you can change dates/times with no additional cost unless it's the same price, which leads me to believe it is a la Southwest.
For regular AA flyers, I would take it to mean it's just like a refund, but for the ones who really want cash, they probably would consider the fully refundable.
But since you have to pay the fee upfront, you need to be someone who changes flights every other flight to make it worth it, because paying $68 twice almost makes up for the $150 (standard change fee cost) that you would have to pay if you wanted to make a change; you know, standard "self-insurance" argument.
