Paid First in Danger of Misconnecting, Why does AA Protect me in Coach?
Dec 30, 2013, 6:44 am
#1
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Paid First in Danger of Misconnecting, Why does AA Protect me in Coach?
Yesterday I was flying MGA-MIA-ORD and then today ORD-RDU. I was in paid Business/First (I for MGA-MIA then A for the rest). MGA-MIA ended up delayed almost 90 minutes and I was in danger of misconnecting, thankfully MIA-ORD also delayed so I didn't. However, while flying up to Miami, I looked at my AA reservation and saw I was protected on an AA nonstop this morning to RDU but in coach. As the flight had plenty of First seats (even now, 90 minutes to departure, the flight they wanted to put me on is F6A5P6), why would they accommodate a F passenger this way?
Dec 30, 2013, 7:17 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
Yesterday I was flying MGA-MIA-ORD and then today ORD-RDU. I was in paid Business/First (I for MGA-MIA then A for the rest). MGA-MIA ended up delayed almost 90 minutes and I was in danger of misconnecting, thankfully MIA-ORD also delayed so I didn't. However, while flying up to Miami, I looked at my AA reservation and saw I was protected on an AA nonstop this morning to RDU but in coach. As the flight had plenty of First seats (even now, 90 minutes to departure, the flight they wanted to put me on is F6A5P6), why would they accommodate a F passenger this way?
If the fare did truly book into a higher class - perhaps they just held a coach seat just in case and would deal with getting you moved up in the event you actually misconnected.
Dec 30, 2013, 8:10 am
#3
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Depends on the fare. Not all paid First/Business are truly that and in cases of misconnect, the fare rules dictate where you'd be.
If the fare did truly book into a higher class - perhaps they just held a coach seat just in case and would deal with getting you moved up in the event you actually misconnected.
If the fare did truly book into a higher class - perhaps they just held a coach seat just in case and would deal with getting you moved up in the event you actually misconnected.
Dec 30, 2013, 9:11 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: AAdvantage, Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 839
I've seen something similar before, and I'm pretty sure that it has to do with the fact that you're not in a full fare first class ticket. Perhaps, there were only "F" fares available on the new flight, which is why you were rebooked into economy.
This is an absolutely ridiculous policy, by the way. It shouldn't matter at all if it's a discount first or business class fare versus a full fare. When someone books a discount economy fare, such as N, Q, O, or anything else and that person needs to be protected, will AA only rebook onto a flight that has the same fare class available? Of course not. People get rebooked into B or Y all the time. So why should it be any different for first or business class?
This is an absolutely ridiculous policy, by the way. It shouldn't matter at all if it's a discount first or business class fare versus a full fare. When someone books a discount economy fare, such as N, Q, O, or anything else and that person needs to be protected, will AA only rebook onto a flight that has the same fare class available? Of course not. People get rebooked into B or Y all the time. So why should it be any different for first or business class?
Dec 30, 2013, 11:07 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Oddly, the target flight has A inventory... I can only assume the software doesnt take care of travelers the same way the EP desk with a human can. Ive never had an issue booking protection in the proper cabin but typically do it over the phone or have my agent do it for me (via text/wifi if I am in the air)
Dec 30, 2013, 2:16 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Without looking at the reservation a number of things could have happened between auto-reaccomodation and this thread. People could have rebooked on to different options, people might have been separated and were rebooked together (another flight or voluntary downgrade). Since you looked this morning, it's possible they had protected people on the flight and they made the connection and cancelled the back-up option. Many legitimate reasons this could have happened.
Dec 30, 2013, 3:51 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,543
An I fare is a first class fare for domestic travel on 2 class aeroplanes. It does not have to be fare basis F to be a 1st class fare
When a misconnection occurs, rebooking a 1st class passenger into economy if there are seats in 1st is not acceptable imo
When a misconnection occurs, rebooking a 1st class passenger into economy if there are seats in 1st is not acceptable imo
