Voluntary downgrade on QR J Award - possible J seat? (to merge)
Jan 20, 2017, 3:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LHR
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 328
Voluntary downgrade on QR J Award - possible J seat? (to merge)
Hi, I'm on an AA J class award on the following itinerary
AKL-SYD (QF J)
SYD-DOH (QR J)
DOH-LHR (QR Y)
I decided to accept the economy seat (no availability in J at the time of reservation) for DOH-LHR as it's not too long and I just want to get home. There are still no award seats in J for this sector.
If it turns out J isn't full an hour or two before my DOH-LHR, is there any way for AA to negotiate the J award seat for which I've already paid in miles? I'm assuming it would have to come from AA's inventory - trying to explain the issue to a QR ticketing agent at Hamad would be useless...
Thanks for any insights!
AKL-SYD (QF J)
SYD-DOH (QR J)
DOH-LHR (QR Y)
I decided to accept the economy seat (no availability in J at the time of reservation) for DOH-LHR as it's not too long and I just want to get home. There are still no award seats in J for this sector.
If it turns out J isn't full an hour or two before my DOH-LHR, is there any way for AA to negotiate the J award seat for which I've already paid in miles? I'm assuming it would have to come from AA's inventory - trying to explain the issue to a QR ticketing agent at Hamad would be useless...
Thanks for any insights!
Jan 20, 2017, 3:59 am
#2
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
If it turns out J isn't full an hour or two before my DOH-LHR, is there any way for AA to negotiate the J award seat for which I've already paid in miles? I'm assuming it would have to come from AA's inventory - trying to explain the issue to a QR ticketing agent at Hamad would be useless...
If QR never open the award space, there's nothing to negotiate officially, though I suppose you could ask for an OpUp if you get a gracious GA.
Jan 20, 2017, 6:28 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
In my experience, QR J award availability on DOH-LHR is actually fairly decent and QR tends to open up as the the departure date nears. There's quite a bit of capacity on this route, which is to your advantage. So keep checking availability on a daily basis.
To answer your original question, AA will not "negotiate" the release of a J award with QR, regardless of how empty the flight might be. You'll just need to hope that award availability becomes available.
-FlyerBeek
To answer your original question, AA will not "negotiate" the release of a J award with QR, regardless of how empty the flight might be. You'll just need to hope that award availability becomes available.
-FlyerBeek
Jan 20, 2017, 6:39 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
Just to add to the above replies...there is no such thing as "AA's inventory" of award seats on a QR flight. Award inventory must be released by QR.
Note also that the QR GA cannot tell that you took a downgrade. All they see is that you have a Y booking.
On many flights to/from North America, QR will not release awards even if there are many empty seats. Maybe the LHR flight is different.
Note also that the QR GA cannot tell that you took a downgrade. All they see is that you have a Y booking.
On many flights to/from North America, QR will not release awards even if there are many empty seats. Maybe the LHR flight is different.
Jan 20, 2017, 7:22 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
Since your ticket is issued in Y for that segment you need to have AA reissue the ticket in J. Otherwise you will be stuck in Y even if seats open up.
I believe the only way to get an J coupon is to call AA after awards in business open up on that sector, but others might have more experience.
I believe the only way to get an J coupon is to call AA after awards in business open up on that sector, but others might have more experience.