Mileage Run Deals - CDG-LHR-CDG $37 on aa.com (OLD THREAD)

I don't know if this should be posted here or AA or BA or AF, but after browsing for a couple of cheap "I" business class fares on BA.com, I figured I go to AA.com to compare. Surprise, AF was only $37. Better scheduled times, too. With tax, $101. I grabbed 2 tickets (paper): 16-Dec/24-Dec.

This compares with $334+tax for BA. Usually pretty loyal to OW, but the difference is too compelling--cheaper than EuroStar!

I don't know if this should be posted here or AA or BA or AF, but after browsing for a couple of cheap "I" business class fares on BA.com, I figured I go to AA.com to compare. Surprise, AF was only $37. Better scheduled times, too. With tax, $101. I grabbed 2 tickets (paper): 16-Dec/24-Dec.

This sounds great, but unfortunately I am unable to find this fare on aa.com. There's no first class, so I suppose you mean business, and on aa.com, I either get an error message when picking AA codeshares, or something in the GBP500 price range when picking other airlines. Any advice would be appreciated.

This sounds great, but unfortunately I am unable to find this fare on aa.com. There's no first class, so I suppose you mean business, and on aa.com, I either get an error message when picking AA codeshares, or something in the GBP500 price range when picking other airlines. Any advice would be appreciated.

I selected Restricted Business and selected "all airlines". The resutling fairs all indicated "First Class", but I know that technically there is no 1st class between CDG and LHR.

This copy/paste doesn't line up, but here's a small extract of one such search:

Lowest Average Fare
37.00 USD

AIR FRANCE oneworld

Non-Stop
37.00 USD 334.00 USD
1 Stop

2+ Stops



The cabin you requested is not offered on one or more of the flights displayed below. Please check under Cabin for difference.

Display All Sort By:

Average Fare Per Person - 37.00 USD
Fare Alert: Nonrefundable fare. Change fee associated with fare.
Carrier Flight
# Departing Arriving Aircraft
Type Cabin On Time
Base Miles Meals Travel Time
City Date & Time City Date & Time
1 hr
15 min

AIR FRANCE
1570 CDG
Paris 12/16/2005 12:00 PM LHR
London 12/16/2005 12:15 PM 320 First
N/A N/A
1 hr
10 min

AIR FRANCE
2271 LHR
London 12/24/2005 08:15 PM CDG
Paris 12/24/2005 10:25 PM 318 First
N/A N/A

I selected Restricted Business and selected "all airlines". The resutling fairs all indicated "First Class", but I know that technically there is no 1st class between CDG and LHR.

I found GBP76.20 all-in on AF, a very good deal, about what I'd be willing to pay for coach. 750 earned miles and mqms each way; too expensive for a MR, but great for a weekend trip to London. Thanks for pointing this out, great find!

Are there any other cities, connections, etc.?

I wouldn't hope too much for this one, it could be that AA interprets the fare codes wrong. Fare bucket A is not first class on AF, but economy. Check the fare basis, there are currently two low fares on AF CDG-LHR: A21PROMO and AWEEK21. Those are most likely not business-fares, but economy. Try pricing one out, and see if you can choose seats in C, then you know where you're seated :-)

I found GBP76.20 all-in on AF, a very good deal, about what I'd be willing to pay for coach. 750 earned miles and mqms each way; too expensive for a MR, but great for a weekend trip to London. Thanks for pointing this out, great find!

Are there any other cities, connections, etc.?


I didn't do extended checking, but other dates showed the same or similar price. In addition, CDG-MAN and CDG-EDI were more expensive, but significantly cheaper than BA. I just looked, but don't see similar pricing on AF or Travelocity or Expedia.

Only works CDG-LHR, not the other way around. @:-)

I wouldn't hope too much for this one, it could be that AA interprets the fare codes wrong. Fare bucket A is not first class on AF, but economy. Check the fare basis, there are currently two low fares on AF CDG-LHR: A21PROMO and AWEEK21. Those are most likely not business-fares, but economy. Try pricing one out, and see if you can choose seats in C, then you know where you're seated :-)

Fare rules from www.aa.com :


Detailed Fare Rules
Click on the fare basis code for each city pair to view its particular fare rules.
NOTE: The most restrictive set of fare rules applies to the entire itinerary. In addition other fare rules may apply


City Pair Fare Basis Display Below
CDG to LHR AWEEK21 Yes
LHR to CDG AWEEK21
No


AWEEK21
Refunds Reissues Not Applicable
Seasonality Not Applicable
Flight Applications THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AF FLIGHTS 5018 THROUGH 5029.
Maximum Stay TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.
Minimum Stay Not Applicable
Eligibility Not Applicable
Surcharges Not Applicable
Embargo Dates Not Applicable
Advance Reservation Ticketing Restrictions RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. NOTE - WARNING ALL TICKETING DEADLINES CAN BE OVERRULED AT ANY TIME BY REVENUE MANAGEMENT. ALL RESERVATIONS MADE WITHOUT TICKET NUMBER CAN BE CANCELLED AT ANY TIME BY THE CARRIER. PLEASE CHECK AF INFORMATION PAGES KEYWORD FIAB.
Penalties CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES NOT PERMITTED.
Day Time Application Not Applicable
Sales Restrictions EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY IS NOT PERMITTED.

I wouldn't hope too much for this one, it could be that AA interprets the fare codes wrong. Fare bucket A is not first class on AF, but economy. Check the fare basis, there are currently two low fares on AF CDG-LHR: A21PROMO and AWEEK21. Those are most likely not business-fares, but economy. Try pricing one out, and see if you can choose seats in C, then you know where you're seated :-)

AA.com doesn't let you choose seats on other airlines, so I don't know about this, but the fare basis appears to be what you indicate above AWEEK21 (see below) but there is no indication of class.

>> I certainly don't want to fly AF in coach--that's not what I input. Hmmm...I guess I should contact AA. Any suggestions?<<

AWEEK21
Refunds Reissues Not Applicable
Eligibility Not Applicable
Seasonality Not Applicable
Surcharges Not Applicable
Sales Restrictions EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY IS NOT PERMITTED.
Advance Reservation Ticketing Restrictions RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. NOTE - WARNING ALL TICKETING DEADLINES CAN BE OVERRULED AT ANY TIME BY REVENUE MANAGEMENT. ALL RESERVATIONS MADE WITHOUT TICKET NUMBER CAN BE CANCELLED AT ANY TIME BY THE CARRIER. PLEASE CHECK AF INFORMATION PAGES KEYWORD FIAB.
Embargo Dates Not Applicable
Minimum Stay Not Applicable
Day Time Application Not Applicable
Flight Applications THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AF FLIGHTS 5018 THROUGH 5029.
Penalties CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES NOT PERMITTED.
Maximum Stay TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

This is a coach fare.

** RULES DISPLAY ** TAX MAY APPLY
31JUL05**31JUL05/AF PARLON/NSP;EH/TPM 220/MPM 264
LN FARE BASIS OW EUR RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
01 AWEEK21 31 A NRF - - +21+ - 12M R
FCL: AWEEK21 TRF: 21 RULE: 3594 BK: A
PTC: ADT-ADULT FTC: XAC-SUPER/SPECIAL ADV PURCHASE
RU.RULE APPLICATION
AIR FRANCE SEMAINE FARES
APPLICATION
AREA
THESE FARES APPLY
FROM FRANCE TO EUROPE.
CLASS OF SERVICE
THESE FARES APPLY FOR ECONOMY CLASS SERVICE.
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION
FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE
ROUND-TRIP/CIRCLE-TRIP/SINGLE OPEN-JAW JOURNEYS.
FARES ONLY APPLY IF PURCHASED BEFORE DEPARTURE.
CAPACITY LIMITATIONS
THE CARRIER SHALL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED
PAGE 1/ 8
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ON ANY ONE FLIGHT AT FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE AND SUCH
FARES WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE AVAILABLE ON ALL FLIGHTS.
THE NUMBER OF SEATS WHICH THE CARRIER SHALL MAKE
AVAILABLE ON A GIVEN FLIGHT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE
CARRIERS BEST JUDGMENT
OTHER CONDITIONS
PASSENGER EXPENSES NOT PERMITTED
----
FULL AND SEQUENTIAL USE OF FLIGHT COUPONS-
THE TICKET /OR ELECTRONIC TICKET/ IS NOT VALID IF
THE FIRST COUPON HAS NOT BEEN USED AND WILL NOT
BE HONORED IF ALL THE COUPONS ARE NOT USED IN THE
SEQUENCE PROVIDED IN THE TICKET /OR ELECTRONIC
TICKET/.

MX.MAX STAY

TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12
MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

SR.SALES RESTRICT
PAGE 2/ 8
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TICKET VALIDITY MAY NOT BE EXTENDED.

AP.ADVANCE RES/TKT

RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 21 DAYS
BEFORE DEPARTURE.
TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE
WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
NOTE -
WARNING
ALL TICKETING DEADLINES CAN BE OVERRULED AT ANY
TIME BY REVENUE MANAGEMENT.
ALL RESERVATIONS MADE WITHOUT TICKET NUMBER CAN BE
CANCELLED AT ANY TIME BY THE CARRIER.
PLEASE CHECK AF INFORMATION PAGES KEYWORD FIAB.

FL.FLT APPLICATION
BETWEEN PAR AND LON

THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
PAGE 3/ 8
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ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
AF FLIGHTS 5018 THROUGH 5029.

CD.CHILD DISCOUNTS

ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11 - CHARGE 100 PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS CH.
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS IN SAME COMPARTMENT
BY ADULT 18 OR OLDER
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITH A SEAT - CHARGE 100 PERCENT OF
THE FARE.
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS IN SAME
COMPARTMENT BY ADULT 18 OR OLDER
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITHOUT A SEAT - CHARGE 10 PERCENT OF
THE FARE.
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS IN SAME
COMPARTMENT BY ADULT 18 OR OLDER
OR - UNACCOMPANIED CHILD 5-11 - CHARGE 100 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.

TC.TOUR CONDUCTOR
PAGE 4/ 8
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TOUR CONDUCTOR 100 PCT(CG00, TUR) - NO DISCOUNT.

AD.AGTS DISCOUNTS

AGENT(AD, AGT) - NO DISCOUNT.


SO.STOPOVERS
STOPOVERS NOT PERMITTED..

TE.TKT ENDORSEMENT

THE ORIGINAL TICKET MUST BE ANNOTATED - NONREF/APEX - IN
THE FORM OF PAYMENT BOX
OR - THE ORIGINAL TICKET MUST BE ANNOTATED - NO CHANGE/
CARRIER RESTR - IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX.

PE.PENALTIES

CANCELLATIONS
PAGE 5/ 8
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ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES NOT PERMITTED.


CO.COMBINABILITY
DOUBLE OPEN JAWS NOT PERMITTED.
ADD-ONS PERMITTED.
END-ON-END
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS PERMITTED WITH DOMESTIC FARES.
VALIDATE ALL FARE COMPONENTS. FARES MUST BE SHOWN
SEPARATELY ON THE TICKET. TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE POINT
OF COMBINATION.
OPEN JAWS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
-TO FORM SINGLE OPEN JAWS.
PAGE 6/ 8
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OPEN JAWS NOTE -
IN CASE OF COMBINATIONS - THE MORE RESTRICTIVE
CONDITIONS APPLIES TO THE WHOLE JOURNEY
PROVIDED -
WHEN THE OPEN SEGMENT OCCURS
-WITHIN EUROPE
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY ROUND TRIP FARE FOR CARRIER
AF IN RULE 3592/3593/3594 IN TARIFF
IPREURP - WITHIN EUROPE-INTERNATIONAL.
ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
-TO FORM ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS.
ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS NOTE -
IN CASE OF COMBINATIONS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE
CONDITIONS APPLY TO THE WHOLE JOURNEY.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY ROUND TRIP FARE FOR CARRIER
AF IN RULE 3592/3593/3594 IN TARIFF
IPREURP - WITHIN EUROPE-INTERNATIONAL.

HI.HIGHER INTERMEDIATE POINT
PAGE 7/ 8
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THE HIGHER INTERMEDIATE POINT RULE DOES NOT APPLY FOR
CONNECTIONS.
AND - THE HIGHER INTERMEDIATE POINT RULE DOES NOT APPLY
FOR STOPOVERS.
PAGE 8/ 8

May be that this is a fare class misunderstanding, but aa.com also has something else wrong. Residents of the US pay $37+ and residents of the UK pay GBP39.40+. Very odd.

If you end up booking, make sure to print the aa.com page that says that you bought Business class. Do not call aa about this just jet.

May be that this is a fare class misunderstanding, but aa.com also has something else wrong. Residents of the US pay $37+ and residents of the UK pay GBP39.40+. Very odd.

If you end up booking, make sure to print the aa.com page that says that you bought Business class. Do not call aa about this just jet.

Probably depends on point of sale. (UK vs US)

When I called back AA's EXP desk to get seats, the agent told me that this was an economy seat. I asked to speak with AA.COM tech support. 10 minutes into the explanation, I was cut off. I called back and reached another person at AA.COM tech support. 1+ hours later her conclusion was that this was definitely coach and that there was only one class of service on the flight so there was nothing AA could do other than refund my tickets.

I told her that (a) there are definitely 2 classes of service on those flights, and that (b) the fare clearly showed 1st class and the taxes were reflective of a premium class; and that (c) economy fare ticketed at a lesser price and lesser taxes, and that (d) I felt AA should honor its agreement (and get its programming errors fixed). This was not the case of a zero fare. The $37 price was great, but not unreasonable. (There can't be that much demand for business class seats on the 8:15pm LHR-CDG flight.)

The agent was unmoved and said that the best she could do was to permit refund of the ticket within 24 hours. I guess I'll write a letter. I'm upset with the agent's attitude. (But I do understand her trying to get me to just cancel the booking and forget it.) Not even a "thank you for bringing this to our attention." Oh, well.

Sounds to me like a reasonable solution. What it boils down to is the fare rules clearly state it is an economy fare....

got all excited for a moment there when logged in and saw the exclamation mark next to first class & CDG - this was actually something I've already raised in a previous thread - in fact this was technically my 'find', but one I quickly forgot about, along with everyone else. Found it through ITA- the bug has been there for months evidently, but there is no first class & was obviously a display error sadly.

You can argue the toss with them, but would be kind of pointless if the cabin doesn't actually exist IMHO.

Now, if you could find the fare on Air France's website - that could be a different story, might be able to hold them to task.

What it boils down to is the fare rules clearly state it is an economy fare....

The fare rules on AA.COM (see above) make no reference to economy fare, and in the US we're accustomed to seeing BC appear as FC. But I understand what you're saying.

The Tech's fabrication/rationalization of only one class of service was not called for, in any event.

Sounds to me like a reasonable solution. What it boils down to is the fare rules clearly state it is an economy fare....

The issue was resolved (see next post), but just for the sake of argument--and I've re-read the rules several times--where is it clearly stated that this is an economy fare?

Detailed Fare Rules
Click on the fare basis code for each city pair to view its particular fare rules.
NOTE: The most restrictive set of fare rules applies to the entire itinerary. In addition other fare rules may apply


City Pair Fare Basis Display Below
CDG to LHR AWEEK21 Yes
LHR to CDG AWEEK21
No

AWEEK21
Surcharges Not Applicable
Minimum Stay Not Applicable

Advance Reservation Ticketing Restrictions RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 21 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. NOTE - WARNING ALL TICKETING DEADLINES CAN BE OVERRULED AT ANY TIME BY REVENUE MANAGEMENT. ALL RESERVATIONS MADE WITHOUT TICKET NUMBER CAN BE CANCELLED AT ANY TIME BY THE CARRIER. PLEASE CHECK AF INFORMATION PAGES KEYWORD FIAB.

Maximum Stay TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

Day Time Application Not Applicable

Eligibility Not Applicable

Refunds Reissues Not Applicable

Sales Restrictions EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY IS NOT PERMITTED.

Embargo Dates Not Applicable

Penalties CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES NOT PERMITTED.

Seasonality Not Applicable

Flight Applications THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AF FLIGHTS 5018 THROUGH 5029.

I sent AA Customer Relations a couple of emails, last month. A very pleasant lady called and advised that she had rebooked the flights in business class with AF and that AA would issue travel vouchers for the fare difference (roughly $500 each) to my partner and me once we completed the flights. (We will have to turn in the already issued paper tickets and buy Business Class tickets.)

IMO this is the correct and decent thing to do. I appreciate AA's honest and fair resolution of this problem.

I sent AA Customer Relations a couple of emails, last month. A very pleasant lady called and advised that she had rebooked the flights in business class with AF and that AA would issue travel vouchers for the fare difference (roughly $500 each) to my partner and me once we completed the flights. (We will have to turn in the already issued paper tickets and buy Business Class tickets.)

IMO this is the correct and decent thing to do. I appreciate AA's honest and fair resolution of this problem.
i would have asked them for a $200 voucher instead...$1000's a lot of money

eeeks, all that for something that didn't even book you into Biz, unlike the other fare errors here - you must of hit jackpot in the 'who picked up the phone' game...a real dumb*ss who prob. didn't even know that there's no such thing as 1st class w/in Europe.

Just a quick note - I changed the thread title so people didn't think this was a current deal.

bhatnasx
Mileage Run Moderator

eeeks, all that for something that didn't even book you into Biz, unlike the other fare errors here - you must of hit jackpot in the 'who picked up the phone' game...a real dumb*ss who prob. didn't even know that there's no such thing as 1st class w/in Europe.

No one at AA picked up the phone. AA Customer Relations received my emails and after several weeks called me. The agent was very professional and had obviously reviewed all facts.

The point is/was that aa.com booked my "Business Class *or Higher*" request as such. I'm a pretty loyal OW flyer, so I was not familiar with AF's classifications, but a similar occurence happened in booking a similar LAX-LIM return on AA.com the week before whereby the domestic AA legs showed as FC, whereas the international legs showed as BC. The taxes properly calculated out as BC-level taxes, so there was really no way of knowing.

Frankly, I don't understand why AF is charging over $700 for restricted business, whereas BA is charging $500; however, I was just looking for a cheap business class ticket and followed all of the steps, as I have in the past--no intention to play any games at all. The fact that AA.COM initially tried to convince me that the AF flight was a one-class flight, combined with AA.COM's continued failure to correct the "error", combined with nothing in the fare details to indicate that it was not a BC+ seat gave rise to the resolution which was offered to us. (I simply wrote in my email communications that a BC+ fare booked and paid for should be respected.)

I must admit that I don't feel very happy at AA's having to shell out more than $1,200 for error--$700 r/t CDG-LHR is a rip-off for restricted BC, IMHO. In any event, AA is being honorable--not dumb--IMHO, and I appreciate that.

I sent AA Customer Relations a couple of emails, last month. A very pleasant lady called and advised that she had rebooked the flights in business class with AF and that AA would issue travel vouchers for the fare difference (roughly $500 each) to my partner and me once we completed the flights. (We will have to turn in the already issued paper tickets and buy Business Class tickets.)

IMO this is the correct and decent thing to do. I appreciate AA's honest and fair resolution of this problem.

True to their word, AA sent out the 2 reimbursement vouchers upon receipt of the BPs. Thanks for being decent and fair!

(As to Karma, my 24-Dec LHR-CDG flignt on AF was quite unpleasant due to an AF agent with a stick up her derriere...barring any emergency, that'll be my last AF flight.)

isn't LHR-CDG only 216 miles?
business class for a 40 min flight?

True to their word, AA sent out the 2 reimbursement vouchers upon receipt of the BPs. Thanks for being decent and fair!

(As to Karma, my 24-Dec LHR-CDG flignt on AF was quite unpleasant due to an AF agent with a stick up her derriere...barring any emergency, that'll be my last AF flight.)

Nice resolution... go AA! ^