Mileage Run Discussion - TK First class booking [error?]

Was searching for flights JFK-IST in october. Flights are coming up 690-750$. Orbitz and cheaptickets show the flights in First. Kept clicking all the way thru and it still said first. Even cfmn email from cheaptickets shows first class. [See below]

Im thinking this may be some weird booking class glitch online, but i booked just in case not. Now what do i do? Chill on it? Try to get seats and see what happens? Etc...

Thanks!!!!



Ticket Information
Passenger(s):

Turkish Airlines record locator: R
Ticket type requested: electronic (e-ticket)
CheapTickets record locator: AP
Airline ticket number(s): 23



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Thursday, October 7, 2010
Turkish Airlines # 2

New York John F Kennedy Intl (JFK) to Istanbul Ataturk (IST)
Departure (JFK): October 7, 4:45 PM EDT (afternoon)
Arrival (IST): October 8, 9:25 AM EEST (morning)

This is an overnight flight.

Class: First Class


--------------------------------

Monday, October 11, 2010
Turkish Airlines # 1

Istanbul Ataturk (IST) to New York John F Kennedy Intl (JFK)
Departure (IST): October 11, 11:00 AM EEST (morning)
Arrival (JFK): October 11, 2:45 PM EDT (afternoon)


Class: First Class


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Cost and billing summary
Booking Confirmation


Total airfare: $691.70USD (including taxes)

It's definitely a fare class glitch. It books into P which orbitz is reading as first class when in fact it is economy on Turkish. 99% chance you will not get a first class seat on this ticket.

Expedia has the same fare listed as coach. I think that it's just a display glitch, like the recent AA/QF fare from US to Sydney. If you booked the ticket just to get a cheap 1st class flight, then the best idea would probably to get a refund.

It won't get honoured at the airport. They'll offer you economy or the highway. It doesn't matter what the travel agent says, either. It depends on the fare basis according to the airline.

Honestly, I just booked it to see what happens.
Figured worst case is i get a refund, maybe some a voucher or two from c.t. :p

the same fare is showing up on ita, and I'm thinking of throwing my hat in on this one as well.

This has been tricky to find availablity. I see sporadic availability in Oct/Nov and some middle January. Damn I wanted to do one of these or at least attempt. Below are the limiting factors in fare construction:


PERMITTED 16SEP THROUGH 30APR ON THE OUTBOUND
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.

Minimum stay requirements

TRAVEL FROM INBOUND TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR MUST COMMENCE NO
EARLIER THAN THE FIRST SUN AFTER DEPARTURE OF THE OUTBOUND
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.

Blackout Dates

OUTBOUND -
TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED 14MAY 10 THROUGH 30SEP 10.

It's definitely a fare class glitch. It books into P which orbitz is reading as first class when in fact it is economy on Turkish. 99% chance you will not get a first class seat on this ticket.

P class code used to be for First Class. But some airlines use P class code in their economy fares since most use the more generic term: F.
TK is one, and LX is the other who use P class for their economy class fares.

So the fare is still in economy, its just that the booking engine sees it as First Class. If you book this fare, you will sit in economy class. Cos there is nothing wrong with the fare, its: PLPXX3M

Problem is TA's not airline's, so this is not like the QF/AA or BA debacles.

Question is whether the big O will honor the fare and whether it's worth it to fight with them until they do! Someone would have to be pretty litigious and with a lot of time on their hands to do so.

I think AF has a similar problem with their A class for Premium Econ while other airlines use it as First.

Still, a nice looking ticket!!! :D

http://academic.udayton.edu/terencelau/pics/orbitz.jpg

Problem is TA's not airline's, so this is not like the QF/AA or BA debacles.

Question is whether the big O will honor the fare and whether it's worth it to fight with them until they do! ..
http://academic.udayton.edu/terencelau/pics/orbitz.jpg

Of course O, E and T will honor the fare... but where you sit will be decided by the airline. Remember that the agencies act only as issuing agents for the airlines. With e-tickets these days, the final say will be the airlines.

Basically whoever buys this fare in the hopes of sitting in F is just dreaming. The fare by the way is nonrefundable too.

has anyone ticketed this and if so could u pull it up on the TK website
that will tell the story
if it says F on the TK website.
I am sure if you use a plat AMEX and the selling party says F but the eticket on the TK website says Y then the credit card company should refund the purchase as you did not get what you paid for.

AA 's instant upgrade fare books in P for First.

UPDATE:

Was an error. Apparently Cheaptickets and TK didnt get their communication straight with booking classes. CT was still reading P as coach while TK had changed it at some point.

I was weary of something like this and called cheaptickets within the 24hr cancel period and they assured me it was first class and to wait another day for it to update in the system. Next day, i called TK for seats. They said coach, CT called and realized they made a mistake. Apparently there were 30 other people affected as well.

Current offer for their mixup. (up from $350 credit) $400 voucher. Only bad part is eco on that fare only earns 50% on US. Original ticket cost was 691$

I asked if they could have the tix rebooked in Y fare bucket so i can earn 100% miles, and also get a voucher.

This suitable, or anyone else have suggestions???

$400! That's a great result! If you get the Y fare bucket I think you should take the deal and run.

$400! That's a great result! If you get the Y fare bucket I think you should take the deal and run.

+1 I'm surprised the voucher is offered to be honest but happy they did so. I would have done this strictly to collect the spoils if I was convinced it would happen.

Are they refunding you the ticket and the voucher?

I am surprised nobody mentioned that the OP broke all FT etiquette for such cases by calling both the agent and the airline!

I am surprised nobody mentioned that the OP broke all FT etiquette for such cases by calling both the agent and the airline!

You are correct as I assumed they contacted him but indeed it seems that he has contacted them. A definite NO NO.

So what was OP supposed to do, show up on the date of travel and demand to be placed in First? There was no way TK was going to do that.

So what was OP supposed to do, show up on the date of travel and demand to be placed in First? There was no way TK was going to do that.

Let's be realistic. The OP knew 99%, after looking a bit into this and starting this thread, that he would NOT be sitting pretty in First Class. The whole thing behind such deals - even when they are real - is that there is an element of risk. If you are not willing to accept it, simply don't buy. But do NOT ruin it (prematurely) for everyone else. I think this is the generally accepted logic on FT.

I am surprised nobody mentioned that the OP broke all FT etiquette for such cases by calling both the agent and the airline!
Get real. He called the airline to get seat assignments, not to question the fare.

I am surprised nobody mentioned that the OP broke all FT etiquette for such cases by calling both the agent and the airline!

Dude, get off your high horse. She only called after getting feedback here and having folks tell her it likely wasn't really in first. It's not like this was some jumbo fare mistake that people were booking like crazy. There was no "deal" to "ruin" for other people.

Get real. He called the airline to get seat assignments, not to question the fare.

Sure. And nobody investigated it further:

... CT called and realized they made a mistake. Apparently there were 30 other people affected as well...

I have to agree with Nomad here. It isn't like the seat assignment needed to be made in F this far ahead of time regardless. Let it play out and see what happens, but don't force the action as nothing good can come from that for others.

When i called, it looked like the issue i had couldnt be replicated anymore. I was unable to find it on CT or Orbitz. I wouldnt have called anyone if i thought id be sitting in F. Id just snap some photos to post of me sitting up there to gloat. :p

After doing research, i was pretty much convinced this was a booking fare error, and 99.9% sure i wasnt going to be sitting up front. I found an older FT article where something similar happened, albeit domestically. Guess what the choices were for them? Sit in Y and take the issue up with booking site, or go home.

Calling asking for a seat was my discrete way of seeing what was really going on between Tk and CT. At this point, as a previous poster said, there was, "no deal to ruin." The last thing i wanted to do was show up to the airport in October expecting to sit in F and end up in Y, with no recourse. TK would probably laugh in my face.
As for the offer, it was
1) keep ticket in Y and get $350 credit to cc (only earn 50% miles)
2) keep ticket in Y and get $400 cheaptickets voucher (50% mi)
3) xl tix and get smaller voucher

4), my counter offer was to rebook in full fare Y, and get a voucher for less than the $400. (100% earnings)

Ill post again when its fully resolved!

Umm... isn't OP the person who found this mistake in the first place? So OP found the fare, shared it with the world, and now you're mad at her for calling for a seat assignment? What the heck is wrong with you people?

Him. Not Her...

Get real. He called the airline to get seat assignments, not to question the fare.
I was weary of something like this and called cheaptickets within the 24hr cancel period and they assured me it was first class and to wait another day for it to update in the system. Next day, i called TK for seats. They said coach, CT called and realized they made a mistake. Apparently there were 30 other people affected as well.
Three calls ... 2 the OP initiated, one from CT