Allowed to be booked on two flight simultaneously?
Oct 22, 2014, 6:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 42
Allowed to be booked on two flight simultaneously?
Hi,
I have an AA international flight from LHR to ORD w/ a layover in CLT. In the end I actually need to get to LAX and due to the layover delay things would be much faster to fly back directly from CLT. This is a paid flight, so I can't just drop that last leg like you can with an award flight. So my first thought is just to walk w/ my bags after going through customs and not get on the last flight.
However, the best option from CLT to LAX is actually an award flight on AA. So, if I book that, I will actually technically be booked on two flights simultaneously (the last leg from CLT to ORD and the flight from CLT to LAX). Does anyone anticipate this running into problems? It will be abundantly clear to AA that I am dropping the last leg. Am I safer finding a flight back to LAX with a different carrier?
There is of course the risk that they change the flights and the leg to CLT disappears, but I think I can live with that risk...
Thanks in advanced for any advice!
I have an AA international flight from LHR to ORD w/ a layover in CLT. In the end I actually need to get to LAX and due to the layover delay things would be much faster to fly back directly from CLT. This is a paid flight, so I can't just drop that last leg like you can with an award flight. So my first thought is just to walk w/ my bags after going through customs and not get on the last flight.
However, the best option from CLT to LAX is actually an award flight on AA. So, if I book that, I will actually technically be booked on two flights simultaneously (the last leg from CLT to ORD and the flight from CLT to LAX). Does anyone anticipate this running into problems? It will be abundantly clear to AA that I am dropping the last leg. Am I safer finding a flight back to LAX with a different carrier?
There is of course the risk that they change the flights and the leg to CLT disappears, but I think I can live with that risk...
Thanks in advanced for any advice!
Oct 22, 2014, 6:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
It'll cancel out the new (award) ticket automatically when the system does its sweep every few hours.
If that is your only option, I'd suggest booking with BA Avios and not attaching your AA FF#. Any way to change your name (add/remove middle initial, etc.) would also help. That worked for me when I did something similar on a already-booked BOS-LAX and a LAS-LAX flight that overlapped.
If that is your only option, I'd suggest booking with BA Avios and not attaching your AA FF#. Any way to change your name (add/remove middle initial, etc.) would also help. That worked for me when I did something similar on a already-booked BOS-LAX and a LAS-LAX flight that overlapped.
Oct 22, 2014, 6:55 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 42
Fair enough! That's what I was wondering. Thanks callmedtop. I'll probably just keep an eye out for another carrier instead.
Oct 22, 2014, 7:27 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Hi,
I have an AA international flight from LHR to ORD w/ a layover in CLT. In the end I actually need to get to LAX and due to the layover delay things would be much faster to fly back directly from CLT. This is a paid flight, so I can't just drop that last leg like you can with an award flight. So my first thought is just to walk w/ my bags after going through customs and not get on the last flight.
However, the best option from CLT to LAX is actually an award flight on AA. So, if I book that, I will actually technically be booked on two flights simultaneously (the last leg from CLT to ORD and the flight from CLT to LAX). Does anyone anticipate this running into problems? It will be abundantly clear to AA that I am dropping the last leg. Am I safer finding a flight back to LAX with a different carrier?
There is of course the risk that they change the flights and the leg to CLT disappears, but I think I can live with that risk...
Thanks in advanced for any advice!
I have an AA international flight from LHR to ORD w/ a layover in CLT. In the end I actually need to get to LAX and due to the layover delay things would be much faster to fly back directly from CLT. This is a paid flight, so I can't just drop that last leg like you can with an award flight. So my first thought is just to walk w/ my bags after going through customs and not get on the last flight.
However, the best option from CLT to LAX is actually an award flight on AA. So, if I book that, I will actually technically be booked on two flights simultaneously (the last leg from CLT to ORD and the flight from CLT to LAX). Does anyone anticipate this running into problems? It will be abundantly clear to AA that I am dropping the last leg. Am I safer finding a flight back to LAX with a different carrier?
There is of course the risk that they change the flights and the leg to CLT disappears, but I think I can live with that risk...
Thanks in advanced for any advice!
Oct 23, 2014, 6:41 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,049
Even with another carrier, there's another serious potential problem that hasn't been mentioned so far. If the LHR-CLT flight is significantly delayed or cancelled, you could: 1) arrive in CLT too late to catch your flight to LAX or 2) be re-routed LHR-ORD nonstop or to ORD via another entry point to the USA, such as BOS, JFK, PHL etc. The ticket you now have commits the airline to get you to ORD, but not to send you via CLT.