Phone fee when you can't book online?
Jan 12, 2012, 10:55 pm
#91
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
This complaint comes up all the time.
Yes, it is silly that AA charges this fee for awards you can't book online. No, they won't waive it just because you tell them you can't book it online.
If you want to book an award involving partners other than AS and aren't an EXP, it's one of those things you have to live with.
Yes, it is silly that AA charges this fee for awards you can't book online. No, they won't waive it just because you tell them you can't book it online.
If you want to book an award involving partners other than AS and aren't an EXP, it's one of those things you have to live with.
Jan 29, 2012, 5:53 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Planet Earth(most days)
Programs: Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 1,544
A little peeved about the "over the phone" booking charge
I am sure this has been talked about before, but I am a little peeved about the $25 ticketing charge I was, well charged, for calling in and confirming an upgrade request for an international flight using miles.
Listen, I understand getting charged $25 for calling in and making a reservation (I fly DL, king of the charge). Having a reservation made over the phone is something that can easily be done online, however, its a hard argument to have with the majority of us on here who have status in one shape or form and should never get charged. From reservations to obtaining an upg, I have never been once charged for the ticketing fee on DL. I have equal status on both (DL GM/AA PLT).
Its a completely different animal when I have no choice but to call AA res to book in the award reservation and I get charged $25 when I *have* to call. I am fairly new to the AA game, so forgive my ignorance on this. But if AA forces us to have to call to confirm or waitlist for the upg, don't charge for this. Otherwise, make it available on the website and continue to charge away.
And if there is a way, can someone point me in the right direction on the website for future reference?
Thanks in advance
Listen, I understand getting charged $25 for calling in and making a reservation (I fly DL, king of the charge). Having a reservation made over the phone is something that can easily be done online, however, its a hard argument to have with the majority of us on here who have status in one shape or form and should never get charged. From reservations to obtaining an upg, I have never been once charged for the ticketing fee on DL. I have equal status on both (DL GM/AA PLT).
Its a completely different animal when I have no choice but to call AA res to book in the award reservation and I get charged $25 when I *have* to call. I am fairly new to the AA game, so forgive my ignorance on this. But if AA forces us to have to call to confirm or waitlist for the upg, don't charge for this. Otherwise, make it available on the website and continue to charge away.
And if there is a way, can someone point me in the right direction on the website for future reference?
Thanks in advance
Jan 29, 2012, 6:01 pm
#93
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: American AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 125
GLD/PLT are still subject to phone ticketing fees. I don't think, however, that the fee applies to upgrade awards because this isn't a new reservation, but rather a modification to an existing award.
I took a look at AA's FAQ for Reservations Fees (http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/FAQs/...tions.jsp#fees).
The only fee that might potentially apply here, in my opinion is: "A charge of $25 USD will also apply when our reservations representatives assist with voluntary itinerary changes when the reservation was not created by American Airlines Reservations or on AA.com."
Was your reservation made directly with AA? I recall a thread a while back about AA charging a fee for reservations ticketed by third parties, even when the passenger was asking for a mere seat assignment. Perhaps this applies?
I took a look at AA's FAQ for Reservations Fees (http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/FAQs/...tions.jsp#fees).
The only fee that might potentially apply here, in my opinion is: "A charge of $25 USD will also apply when our reservations representatives assist with voluntary itinerary changes when the reservation was not created by American Airlines Reservations or on AA.com."
Was your reservation made directly with AA? I recall a thread a while back about AA charging a fee for reservations ticketed by third parties, even when the passenger was asking for a mere seat assignment. Perhaps this applies?
Jan 29, 2012, 6:02 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: IAH
Posts: 536
AA is pretty good at this Catch-22 charge, where you have no other choice but to call in.
Unless they've changed, Reduced Mileage Awards for Citibank cards requires you to call in and be surcharged, even though they're advertised as a great benefit.
Maybe AA should hire some people in the computer department to figure out how to do all this online, or fire some people in marketing for annoying their passengers so much with this surcharge gimmick!!
Unless they've changed, Reduced Mileage Awards for Citibank cards requires you to call in and be surcharged, even though they're advertised as a great benefit.
Maybe AA should hire some people in the computer department to figure out how to do all this online, or fire some people in marketing for annoying their passengers so much with this surcharge gimmick!!
Jan 29, 2012, 6:11 pm
#95
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Planet Earth(most days)
Programs: Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 1,544
Unfortunately I think thats where they get you in that particular reference:
A charge of $25 USD will also apply when our reservations representatives assist with voluntary itinerary changes when the reservation was not created by American Airlines Reservations or on AA.com
Bold is mine. But my reservation was paid directly thru AA.com. Don't get me wrong, its a pain in the butt to pay this, but I guess on the bright side, I couldn't have upgraded on this kind of ticket thru DL as their rules suck for international travel.
A charge of $25 USD will also apply when our reservations representatives assist with voluntary itinerary changes when the reservation was not created by American Airlines Reservations or on AA.com
Bold is mine. But my reservation was paid directly thru AA.com. Don't get me wrong, its a pain in the butt to pay this, but I guess on the bright side, I couldn't have upgraded on this kind of ticket thru DL as their rules suck for international travel.
Jan 29, 2012, 6:34 pm
#96
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
Hasn't it been rumored that BA awards will be bookable online within the next couple months and some other OW carriers later this year?
Jan 29, 2012, 6:52 pm
#97
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: American AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 125
That would be great. I'm sure that now Maya is CIO, she'll be trying to integrate some things to address lessons learned during her time as president of AAdvantage.
Jan 30, 2012, 1:29 pm
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
Maybe I'm alone in my opinion
but I am perfectly happy to pary the $25 phone fee when a reservation gets too complicated for my to have confidence in my ability to do the booking by myself.
I think of it as mistake prevention.
I think of it as mistake prevention.
Apr 29, 2012, 3:12 am
#99
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mostly EU & (SE)Asia
Programs: Various shiny cards at hotel chains and airlines
Posts: 1,039
I have a question - as I am making the award ticket over phone for intra-Asia travel on CX and I have non-US/CA credit card then where in Europe I should ticket it to have the lowest possible phone ticketing fee? In US it is 25USD, but in Finland for example 50 EUR!!
Or has anyone tried European CC with giving fake US address (i.e. street is the same and town, but wrong zip and state)?
Or has anyone tried European CC with giving fake US address (i.e. street is the same and town, but wrong zip and state)?
Apr 29, 2012, 6:08 am
#100
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
You'd be asking for trouble if you gave a fake address (and deservedly so).
Apr 29, 2012, 6:14 am
#101
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Mostly EU & (SE)Asia
Programs: Various shiny cards at hotel chains and airlines
Posts: 1,039
... or they should make their award online system similar to UA's so that everyone can book all the carriers there, that would also reduce the call-centre loads.
Apr 29, 2012, 10:59 am
#102
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795
If it were *that* complicated perhaps, but being charged to book with a rep for a one way from Europe, simply because it's not available online is absurd.
Apr 29, 2012, 11:05 am
#103
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
Apr 30, 2012, 1:07 pm
#104
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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
I got hit with this fee a couple of weeks ago when booking an award ticket involving a CX segment. It sucks but it's the cost of doing business these days 
Apr 30, 2012, 2:07 pm
#105
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold, PC Platinum
Posts: 232
I have a question - as I am making the award ticket over phone for intra-Asia travel on CX and I have non-US/CA credit card then where in Europe I should ticket it to have the lowest possible phone ticketing fee? In US it is 25USD, but in Finland for example 50 EUR!!
Or has anyone tried European CC with giving fake US address (i.e. street is the same and town, but wrong zip and state)?
Or has anyone tried European CC with giving fake US address (i.e. street is the same and town, but wrong zip and state)?