Dec 13, 2012, 3:04 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
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AA is now offering three types of Economy fares via AA.com:
• Choice (fare basis code ends in 1) = Lowest Fare, earn AA miles
• Choice Essential (fare basis code ends in 2) = Change Fee (depends on detailed fare rules), 1 Checked Bag, Group 1 Boarding, Earn AA miles
• Choice Plus (fare basis code ends in 7) = above Choice Essential benefits plus 50% Bonus RDM, Same-Day Flight Change, Same-Day Standby, Premium Beverage, No Change Fee, Earns base miles plus 50% bonus miles
• Business/First as Choice Plus, plus 3 checked bags, No change fee (domestic only), priority baggage delivery at carousel, 50% class of service bonus miles
(Updated 1 Mar 2015)
See this page at aa.com for bundled services.
AmericanAirlines has posted some comments and clarifications in Post 144.
See these related links:
AA.com: Tailor Your Travel | Enhance Your Travel with Combined Features
FT: AA economy fare basis now ends with a number
(lower right wiki corner).AA is now offering three types of Economy fares via AA.com:
• Choice (fare basis code ends in 1) = Lowest Fare, earn AA miles
• Choice Essential (fare basis code ends in 2) = Change Fee (depends on detailed fare rules), 1 Checked Bag, Group 1 Boarding, Earn AA miles
• Choice Plus (fare basis code ends in 7) = above Choice Essential benefits plus 50% Bonus RDM, Same-Day Flight Change, Same-Day Standby, Premium Beverage, No Change Fee, Earns base miles plus 50% bonus miles
• Business/First as Choice Plus, plus 3 checked bags, No change fee (domestic only), priority baggage delivery at carousel, 50% class of service bonus miles
(Updated 1 Mar 2015)
See this page at aa.com for bundled services.
AmericanAirlines has posted some comments and clarifications in Post 144.
(1Mar 2015) The fee for the "choice plus" bundled extra now ranges from $80-80 each way, up from $80.
Choice plus extras are comprised of:
Choice plus extras are comprised of:
- 1 checked bag
- Group 1 Boarding
- No change fee (any difference in fares would still apply; valid for American Airlines operated flights)
- Same-day flight change
- Same-day standby
- Premium beverage on board
- Earn 50% more AAdvantage miles
AA.com: Tailor Your Travel | Enhance Your Travel with Combined Features
FT: AA economy fare basis now ends with a number
aa.com Economy / Coach Pricing Display & Choice Bundles (consolidated)
Dec 12, 2012, 12:12 pm
#121
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
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Posts: 8,278
Deleted
Last edited by sts603; Dec 12, 2012 at 12:14 pm Reason: I was wrong.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:12 pm
#122
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New York
Programs: AA Platinum Pro/4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 136
They *have* to bring back the sorting options. I always look for my flights by shortest travel time and eliminating sorting is beyond belief and counterproductive.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:14 pm
#123
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt DM, SPG GLD, Hertz 5*, AMEX PLT, GE
Posts: 340
To follow up on my previous post, it looks like the "premium beverage" will be given upon redemption of a coupon. Perhaps this will be printed along with boarding passes either at home or at a kiosk?
Also interesting to note, I believe that if an elite purchases Choice Plus they get three bags, however if you purchase a business/first fare you only get two bags included. Someone needs to synchronize these benefits. (not really an issue for me, but the inconsistency irks me)
See the FAQ here: https://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/choices...&title=choices
Also interesting to note, I believe that if an elite purchases Choice Plus they get three bags, however if you purchase a business/first fare you only get two bags included. Someone needs to synchronize these benefits. (not really an issue for me, but the inconsistency irks me)
See the FAQ here: https://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/choices...&title=choices
Last edited by FlyingTrojan; Dec 12, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Dec 12, 2012, 12:22 pm
#124
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Monte Sereno, California
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, 2 mm, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,398
Agree.... on my browser it is not loading properly, it so hard to read... WHAT A MESS. 
Although I started this thread, I just noticed that one of the problems is the web browser used. I have tried 4 different versions of Firefox - and it will not load properly with any of them. Internet Explorer does work on some versions, but not all. Have not tried Chrome yet.
I find it hard to believe that a company like AA would release such a buggy web interface. I would presume that will drive away customers and sales this month.
I find it hard to believe that a company like AA would release such a buggy web interface. I would presume that will drive away customers and sales this month.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:25 pm
#125
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PHX
Programs: AA PRO
Posts: 352
This is why AA is in bankruptcy.
(I can't believe it took 9 pages of posts before someone said this - and I am thrilled that it was me! lol)
Seriously though, I really liked the different sorting options for price, departure time, shortest travel, etc. I also really liked the ability to see the one way fares. Not infrequently I will book one way on AA and one way on UA, based on schedule, since the price is often equivalent.
Please bring back one way views and the sorting options!
(I can't believe it took 9 pages of posts before someone said this - and I am thrilled that it was me! lol)
Seriously though, I really liked the different sorting options for price, departure time, shortest travel, etc. I also really liked the ability to see the one way fares. Not infrequently I will book one way on AA and one way on UA, based on schedule, since the price is often equivalent.
Please bring back one way views and the sorting options!
Dec 12, 2012, 12:32 pm
#126
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
I apologize in advance if this was already covered - but does this change mean the no-change fee fare is cheaper? IIRC the few times I had to book one for work purposes, the no-change fee fares were usually >$150 difference. From the couple of dummy bookings I have tried, it's only $68 more
Dec 12, 2012, 12:36 pm
#127
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt DM, SPG GLD, Hertz 5*, AMEX PLT, GE
Posts: 340
I apologize in advance if this was already covered - but does this change mean the no-change fee fare is cheaper? IIRC the few times I had to book one for work purposes, the no-change fee fares were usually >$150 difference. From the couple of dummy bookings I have tried, it's only $68 more
Fare bucket does matter in terms of refundability and flexibility.
Last edited by FlyingTrojan; Dec 12, 2012 at 12:37 pm Reason: clarify
Dec 12, 2012, 12:39 pm
#128
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I like that aa.com now clearly shows how much additional F/J will be. As an EXP I doubt that I would pay for an actual F/J seat, but if the price is right and its a flight that upgrading would be important (like a redeye or late night flight) I might go for it.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:40 pm
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Although I started this thread, I just noticed that one of the problems is the web browser used. I have tried 4 different versions of Firefox - and it will not load properly with any of them. Internet Explorer does work on some versions, but not all. Have not tried Chrome yet.
I find it hard to believe that a company like AA would release such a buggy web interface. I would presume that will drive away customers and sales this month.
I find it hard to believe that a company like AA would release such a buggy web interface. I would presume that will drive away customers and sales this month.
Cheers.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:41 pm
#130
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Yes, that is essentially correct. Fare bucket now matters less for change fees. Instead it is governed more by the "bundle" you purchased. The $68 more reflect a bundle in which you don't need to pay a change fee, but you still need to pay the fare difference.
Fare bucket does matter in terms of refundability and flexibility.
Fare bucket does matter in terms of refundability and flexibility.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:41 pm
#131
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
With these new services what waive the change fee, what happens if someone buys Choice Essential and needs to just change the outbound or the inbound. Does the entire itinerary reprice? Changing a ticket closer to departure is expensive, but repricing the whole thing sometimes makes it not worth it to change.
If so, it might be better to buy the ticket as two one ways.
For $68 more, I can see this as a good deal for non elites flying AA. Checking a bag round trip would be an extra $50. For an additional $18, they have no change fee. I do wish AA discounted this for elites.
If so, it might be better to buy the ticket as two one ways.
For $68 more, I can see this as a good deal for non elites flying AA. Checking a bag round trip would be an extra $50. For an additional $18, they have no change fee. I do wish AA discounted this for elites.
Last edited by Xero; Dec 12, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Dec 12, 2012, 12:45 pm
#132
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,574
Just messed around with the new interface a little bit.
I'm (generally) a fan. I've been saying for years that I believe there's a market for some sort of middle ground on fare rules and change fees. With the huge gap in price between total refundability and the "normal" fares 95% of people buy, somebody was bound to exploit that with a changeable-but-not-refundable level somewhere close to, but slightly above, the base fare. I always felt it was crazy that Southwest could own this space with no real competition from the legacies.
Hopefully the sorts and display options that people want will eventually come around. For now, I'll just applaud what for the U.S. legacies is actual innovation.
I'm (generally) a fan. I've been saying for years that I believe there's a market for some sort of middle ground on fare rules and change fees. With the huge gap in price between total refundability and the "normal" fares 95% of people buy, somebody was bound to exploit that with a changeable-but-not-refundable level somewhere close to, but slightly above, the base fare. I always felt it was crazy that Southwest could own this space with no real competition from the legacies.
Hopefully the sorts and display options that people want will eventually come around. For now, I'll just applaud what for the U.S. legacies is actual innovation.
Dec 12, 2012, 12:48 pm
#133
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
With these new services what waive the change fee, what happens if someone buys Choice Essential and needs to just change the outbound or the inbound. Does the entire itinerary reprice? Changing a ticket closer to departure is expensive, but repricing the whole thing sometimes makes it not worth it to change.
If so, it might be better to buy the ticket as two one ways.
If so, it might be better to buy the ticket as two one ways.
If the original ticket was $300 + $68 = $368 (Choice Essential added). And you want to change to a $330 ticket which is $330 + $68 = $398 (Choice Essential added), you'd only pay $30, right? So Choice Essential essentially stays with you. But if you wanted to NOT have Choice Essential on the repriced ticket, could you get $38 back in credit? ($368 paid - $330 new price)?
Dec 12, 2012, 12:54 pm
#134
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
I really can't see anything wrong with the new approach. It is now showing the lowest fare based on standard categories of lowest, lowest with no change fee, fares that give 50% bonus miles plus same day change and standby
Then in another tab details of refundable fares
This seems a pretty logical set of choices to me
Plus it is giving the total r/t cost in its initial display which is something I do not recall aa.com doing in US historically.
I like it
Then in another tab details of refundable fares
This seems a pretty logical set of choices to me
Plus it is giving the total r/t cost in its initial display which is something I do not recall aa.com doing in US historically.
I like it
Dec 12, 2012, 12:57 pm
#135
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
I love the choice options. If I am needing to book a flight where I know I might need to change it later I would happily buy the choice packages, the only thing about the change I don't like is the ability to sort flights by time, price, # of segments, etc and I hope those come back soon.
So basically a great idea of bundled fares, but a lousy (at the moment) user interface.
So basically a great idea of bundled fares, but a lousy (at the moment) user interface.