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[PREM FARE GONE] AA DCA-PEK sub-$450 a/i rt in J

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Old Mar 17, 2015, 9:24 pm
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Last edit by: Server
*Update 28/10/2015*
American Airlines has sent out a batch of emails offering customers two options. None of which earns miles and does not address DOT's old guidelines.

We have yet to here from DOT.

Here is a copy of the letter:

Thank you for your patience in our responding to your complaint regarding the cancellation of a reservation for travel to China which you placed on hold earlier this year.

The reservation you placed on hold was for an extremely low fare offered by American in error, and the mistaken fare was offered for only a few hours. Because the fare was offered in error, we cancelled those reservations, such as yours, that had been made but not ticketed.

In our view, given the fact that the fares American offered for China travel in those few hours were so low that it was obvious they were offered in error (a fact widely acknowledged in the social media posts which prompted many of those who reserved the fares to do so), we were justified in cancelling those reservations that were made but not ticketed, and accordingly will not honor the fare associated with your cancelled reservation. However, we will offer to you two options for reduced rate travel to China, one for business class and one for coach class. The two options are as follows:

Option A – Business Class: We offer you a $1,500 discount on any roundtrip business cabin fare to Shanghai or Beijing.
  • Reservation must be booked by AA and operated entirely by AA (including AA’s regional partners).
  • Travel may not be upgraded, by upgrade certificate, AAdvantage status, or any other means, to a higher class of service.
  • Travel will not be eligible to earn AAdvantage miles or Elite Qualifying Miles or points, and will not count as Elite Qualifying segments in the AAdvantage program.
  • Travel may be ticketed immediately and must be completed within one year of the date of this letter.
  • Travel to PEK or PVG should originate and end in the same U.S. airport(s) as in the original PNR with the same passenger(s) (or subset of passengers) traveling as were listed in the cancelled PNR.
  • Must be ticketed within six weeks of the date of this letter.

Option B – Main Cabin: We offer you the opportunity to receive a $0 fare basis main cabin fare to Shanghai or Beijing, subject to taxes and fees of approximately $450 (varies slightly by routing)..
  • Reservation must be booked by AA for any Q or O class fare to PEK or PVG, and operated entirely by AA (including AA’s regional partners).
  • Travel may not be upgraded, by upgrade certificate, AAdvantage status, or any other means, to a higher class of service.
  • Travel will not be eligible to earn AAdvantage miles or Elite Qualifying Miles or points, and will not count as Elite Qualifying segments in the AAdvantage program.
  • This offer is subject to Q or O class inventory availability for travel outbound starting November 15, 2015.
  • Travel must be completed within one year of the date of this letter.
  • Travel to PEK or PVG should originate and end in the same U.S. airport(s) as in the original PNR with the same passenger(s) (or subset of passengers) traveling as were listed in the cancelled PNR.
  • Must be ticketed within six weeks of the date of this letter.

If you would like to accept one of these offers, please contact American Airlines at the following number to make your flight reservation.



When and where are you traveling? - edit below

March
27-March-2015 -- 30-March-2015 (NYC)-DCA-ORD-PEK heatheresq FIRST (apparently)!
30-March-2015 -- 02-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK transparent
31-March-2015 -- 03-April-2015 ICN-PEK-ORD-DFW timid_trnchcoat, Y only


April
01-April-2015 -- 05-April-2015 DCA-BOS-ORD-PEK-HKG-DFW-DCA thegrailer
02-April-2015 -- 07-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK Soddon
03-April-2015 -- 07-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK jetsarefast2
03-April-2015 -- 10-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK fly2nrt
04-April-2015 -- 07-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK cocobird
07-April-2015 -- 10-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK/PEK-ORD-DCA DiscoverCSG
07-April-2015 -- 16-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK learingtofly2015

08-April-2015 -- 12-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK IWontRegretThis
09-April-2015 -- 13-April-2015 IAD-DFW-PVG/PVG-LAX-IAD Tblack15 Confirmed 2x EQPs; had no elite status
10-April-2015 -- 13-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK andrewwm

11-April-2015 -- 19-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK thyeri
13-April-2015 -- 16-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK bchips
13-April-2015 -- 16-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK cbuckhouse
Confirmed 2x EQPs; had Platinum status

14-April-2015 -- 22-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA fijaircan
15-April-2015 -- 21-April-2015 IAD-DFW-... elliottishere
16-April-2015 -- 21-April-2015 ...-DFW-PVG elliottishere
22-April-2015 -- 27-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEKChucksterace
22-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEKtn8
26-April-2015 -- 29-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA MarkP24
26-April-2015 -- 29-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA FriendlySkies
26-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA miffsc
26-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA travelsavant
26-April-2015 -- 03-May-2015 IAD-DFW-ORD-PEK-ORD-MIA-IAD Fredd and Mrs. Fredd
27-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA MsSTL
27-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCAlakers6902
27-April-2015 -- 05-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK smikih
27-April-2015 -- 06-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA the_happiness_store
29-April-2015 -- 09-May-2015 IAD-DFW-ORD-PEK-DFW-IAD Brituchenite



May
01-May-2015 -- 14-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PVG-ORD-DCA Novemurr+2
06-May-2015 -- 10-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK edbyu +1
07-May-2015 -- 10-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PVG iadp
08-May-2015 -- 11-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK Golfingboy washeelers747 +2
08-May-2015 -- 11-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD a330300
08-May-2015 -- 12-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA smoneyxc
08-May-2015 -- 12-May-2015 IAD-DFW-... eap
09-May-2015 -- 12-May-2015 ...-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD eap
09-May-2015 -- 13-May-2015 ...DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA Bonaventure
10-May-2015 -- 16-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK Kidorki
11-May-2015 -- 14-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK medichill
12-May-2015 -- 19-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK party_boy
12-May-2015 -- 23-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA rexid
13-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-DCA hoosiereph+3
13-May-2015 -- 20-May-2015 IAD-DFW-... travisair
13-May-2015 -- 16-May-2015 IAD-ORD-PEK Long Train Runnin
14-May-2015 -- 17 May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK Bigguyinpasadena
14-May-2015 -- 20-May-2015 ...-DFW-PEK travisair
14-May-2015 -- 17-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK roastpuff
14-May-2015 -- 17-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK Robert
14-May-2015 -- 18-May-2018 DCA-DFW-PEK Cachris69
14-May-2015 -- 17-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PVG iadp
14-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA AJollyLife (Birthday on the 23rd! )
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2015 DCA-DFW-HKG-PEK-HKG-DFW-DCA Bonaventure
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK alexj7
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK andrewwm
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2105 DCA-ORD-PEK-DFW Madone59
16-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA davidyyz
16-May-2015 -- 19-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK schwimmair
16-May-2015 -- 24-May 2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-DCA keepssmile
17-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK tzvilev
17-May-2015 -- 23-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA tommya
17-May-2015 -- 27-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD krazieman
18-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA ben1979
18-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA DS
18-May-2015 -- 22-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA miffsc
19-May-2015 -- 22-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA Bonaventure
19-May-2015 -- 30-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-DFW-DCA transparent
20-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 IAD-DFW-... elliottishere
20-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK thepla
20-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK cvg-aa
21-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 ...-DFW-PVG elliottishere
21-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK/PEK-ORD-DCA awaite01
21-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK/PEK-ORD-DCA smitty06 and shynate
21-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA Tobypie
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK tsz
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PVG PaceLaw2012
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK alexj7
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK onfo
22-May-2015 -- 27-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD ghzhammer
23-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK jetsarefast2
23-May-2015 -- 31-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA bqkali
23-May-2015 -- 31-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA blootch
23-May-2015 -- 31-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD FlyingChuck
24-May-2015 -- 27-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK northshorepa
24-May-2015 -- 27-May-2018 DCA-DFW-PEK Cachris69 +1
24-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK Bikeguy+1
24-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-DFW-... Server
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ICN-DFW-DCA Bonaventure
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 ...-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA Server
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA ben1979
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD bartmas777
26-May-2015 -- 29-May-2015 CMH-DCA-ORD-PEK paramenace
27-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-DCA platinumTA
28-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK anchor79
28-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA flying for gold elite
28-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-DFW-DCA cfegeley
29-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA Mrp Alert
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[PREM FARE GONE] AA DCA-PEK sub-$450 a/i rt in J

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Old Mar 26, 2015, 8:17 am
  #1171  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Plat, SPG 100 Plat, MR, AA
Posts: 7
Question Cost shown on reservation vs. breakdown detail

Apologies if it's been asked, but I couldn't find any discussion about the difference in displayed trip cost vs the breakdown detail. What I mean is, when I look at my reservation on AA.com, the total cost is shown as follows:

Fare Amount
Adult
1 × -$498.60 USD -$498.60 USD

Taxes & Carrier-Imposed Fees
Taxes
$148.60 USD
Carrier-Imposed Fees
$350.00 USD

However, I only paid $462 for this ticket, which is confirmed in the cost breakdown detail shown when clicking the "Price and Tax Information" link:

Adult fare, taxes and carrier-imposed fees
Base fare $20.00 USD
Per person

CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $350.00 USD

AIRPORT FEE $14.40 USD
CHINA
TRANSPORTATION TAX $35.40 USD
UNITED STATES
US APHIS USER FEE $5.00 USD
UNITED STATES
PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGE $13.50 USD
UNITED STATES
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE $7.00 USD
UNITED STATES
US SECURITY FEE $11.20 USD
UNITED STATES
US CUSTOMS USER FEE $5.50 USD
UNITED STATES

Total Adult taxes and carrier-imposed fees
$442.00 USD

Per person

Per the breakdown, the taxes only total $92. So is AA "eating" some of the taxes on this fare, or is the $498.60 a mistake? (lol)

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help clarify!!
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 10:00 am
  #1172  
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Anyone needing positioning flights ORD-WAS, Frontier has ORD-IAD for $39 ((on Kayak/priceline; it is to IAD, not DCA, so this is recommended for the day before only, also to safeguard for delays). For return flights DFW-ORD, United has early evening flights from $69.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 10:09 am
  #1173  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 72
Did DOT ever make any official statement regarding hold tickets?
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 12:10 pm
  #1174  
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I did buy 69 ticket dfw to ord.

UA award is 10k plus 6 bucks for ord to dca.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 2:41 pm
  #1175  
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Originally Posted by offtheglass
Did DOT ever make any official statement regarding hold tickets?
Not yet.

But I believe that what they are going to say is "we are not going to extend a requirement meant to protect passengers who have 'paid in full' (which ends up being mostly mistake fares, not the consumer protection stuff we thought we were covering) to passengers who haven't paid."

In other words, if you ONLY had "Rule A" (24 hour hold or 24 hour refund), then an airline might come back, long after you bought your ticket, and say "we are going to cancel because you got too good a deal." To prevent THAT from happening (mostly for consumer protection, not to assist mistake fares) the DOT passed "Rule B" (nothing to do with Rule A) which says "if you have paid for your ticket the airline can't change their mind about the price." So the protection from Rule B (price paid=ticket bought) is not going to be extended to Rule A (you have 24 hours to make up your mind on non-refundable ticket).
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 3:23 pm
  #1176  
 
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Originally Posted by sbrower
Not yet.

But I believe that what they are going to say is "we are not going to extend a requirement meant to protect passengers who have 'paid in full' (which ends up being mostly mistake fares, not the consumer protection stuff we thought we were covering) to passengers who haven't paid."

In other words, if you ONLY had "Rule A" (24 hour hold or 24 hour refund), then an airline might come back, long after you bought your ticket, and say "we are going to cancel because you got too good a deal." To prevent THAT from happening (mostly for consumer protection, not to assist mistake fares) the DOT passed "Rule B" (nothing to do with Rule A) which says "if you have paid for your ticket the airline can't change their mind about the price." So the protection from Rule B (price paid=ticket bought) is not going to be extended to Rule A (you have 24 hours to make up your mind on non-refundable ticket).
Rule a specifically states FREE holds. So I don't see how a paid ticket has any bearing on this. It's not contract law. It's a matter of AA breaking a government regulation and if the gov is going to say the did and institute a fine large enough to make aa rather reticket. Or maybe aa didn't do anything wrong. It's up to the dot to decide.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 4:13 pm
  #1177  
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Originally Posted by citsfo
Rule a specifically states FREE holds. So I don't see how a paid ticket has any bearing on this. It's not contract law. It's a matter of AA breaking a government regulation and if the gov is going to say the did and institute a fine large enough to make aa rather reticket. Or maybe aa didn't do anything wrong. It's up to the dot to decide.
Because you are ignoring what I said. Hold or not, the airlines used to argue that they could cancel your ticket just because they decided that you paid too little. NOW there is a rule (separate from the hold rule) which says "Once you pay in full . . . " So, if you haven't "paid in full" then the airline still has the ability to say "sorry, mistake fare."
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 4:25 pm
  #1178  
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Originally Posted by sbrower
Because you are ignoring what I said. Hold or not, the airlines used to argue that they could cancel your ticket just because they decided that you paid too little. NOW there is a rule (separate from the hold rule) which says "Once you pay in full . . . " So, if you haven't "paid in full" then the airline still has the ability to say "sorry, mistake fare."
Why? Nowhere in the regulation does it say that the hold has to be applied for 24 hours, unless there's a pricing error. A hold is a hold, whether there is an error or not. You're looking at this from the airline's perspective when you should be looking at it from the consumer's perspective, as that is the group the rule was designed to protect. The consumer doesn't know if there is a pricing error or not, nor should the consumer care. It's the airline's job to determine what fares to publish, and when a mistake is made, it's their job to deal with it.

A required 24 hour hold is just that, required. A pricing error is irrelevant to that rule.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 5:25 pm
  #1179  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Originally Posted by cmd320
Why? Nowhere in the regulation does it say that the hold has to be applied for 24 hours, unless there's a pricing error. A hold is a hold, whether there is an error or not. You're looking at this from the airline's perspective when you should be looking at it from the consumer's perspective, as that is the group the rule was designed to protect. The consumer doesn't know if there is a pricing error or not, nor should the consumer care. It's the airline's job to determine what fares to publish, and when a mistake is made, it's their job to deal with it.

A required 24 hour hold is just that, required. A pricing error is irrelevant to that rule.
I also think it's important to consider how this would have played out had the mistake fare been offered by an airline that offered a 24-hour cancellation option instead of a 24-hour hold option. In that situation, customers would have purchased the airfare with the option to exercise the 24-hour cancellation instead of placing a 24-hour hold. Then, all customers would have equal protections under the DOT regulations (because tickets were paid for).

In the current situation, AA is attempting to take advantage of the fact that the DOT regulations don't explicitly offer the same protections for 24-hour holds as purchased tickets (with 24-hour cancellation options). However, they violated the 24-hour hold rule in the process.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 5:28 pm
  #1180  
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Originally Posted by Chicago Sailor
I also think it's important to consider how this would have played out had the mistake fare been offered by an airline that offered a 24-hour cancellation option instead of a 24-hour hold option. In that situation, customers would have purchased the airfare with the option to exercise the 24-hour cancellation instead of placing a 24-hour hold. Then, all customers would have equal protections under the DOT regulations (because tickets were paid for).

In the current situation, AA is attempting to take advantage of the fact that the DOT regulations don't explicitly offer the same protections for 24-hour holds as purchased tickets (with 24-hour cancellation options). However, they violated the 24-hour hold rule in the process.
Agreed. Equally disturbing is the number of AAgents and supervisors who seem to believe the hold is simply a formality and carries little meaning if the airline chooses not to honor it.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 6:45 pm
  #1181  
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Originally Posted by cmd320
Agreed. Equally disturbing is the number of AAgents and supervisors who seem to believe the hold is simply a formality and carries little meaning if the airline chooses not to honor it.
I know we are not going to agree, but I will try one more time anyway.

If the DOT didn't have what I am calling Rule B (saying that airlines must honor all fares, even including [most] mistake fares, once the customer pays in full), then the airlines would honor far fewer mistake fares, even if they had already been ticketed. (Witness some recent mistake fares which have not been honored, even when fully paid, and many more prior to the implementation of Rule B.)

What AA is saying is "we would like to cancel all of these tickets, the ones on hold AND the ones which were paid, because they were mistake fares, but since Rule B covers the ones which were paid, we are going to let those people take advantage of us, but we will not extend that protection to people who aren't covered by Rule B."

Remember, none of us who book thousands of real tickets are worried that the 24 hold is being eroded, because it isn't. Rather, people are trying to use Rule A (24 hour hold) to take advantage of Rule B (you can't cancel mistake fares once they have been paid for).

And no one here has answered the question "how should the 'on hold' people be treated, even if the DOT were to rule in their favor, such that they aren't BETTER OFF than the people who paid?"
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 8:43 pm
  #1182  
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Originally Posted by sbrower
Remember, none of us who book thousands of real tickets
Here's where we're disagreeing. I consider these to be real tickets (mistake fare or not). As the consumer, it isn't really my job to decide what is and isn't a mistake. It's the airline's job to provide me with the correct fare in the first place and in this instance they may or may not have done that (I still don't really know). No matter what though, it's their job to follow both their own, and the DOT's policy of holding fares at the quoted price for 24 hours until I do or do not purchase it. They should not be let off the hook just because they claim that the fare was too low.

As for how the holds should be treated, I don't really care. DOT can't require them to reinstate the tickets so IMO AA should just be fined an amount greater than the money they're making off the seats that are being sold at a higher price than originally quoted. That should do it.
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Old Mar 26, 2015, 11:17 pm
  #1183  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Posts: 124
Originally Posted by sbrower
I know we are not going to agree, but I will try one more time anyway.

If the DOT didn't have what I am calling Rule B (saying that airlines must honor all fares, even including [most] mistake fares, once the customer pays in full), then the airlines would honor far fewer mistake fares, even if they had already been ticketed. (Witness some recent mistake fares which have not been honored, even when fully paid, and many more prior to the implementation of Rule B.)

What AA is saying is "we would like to cancel all of these tickets, the ones on hold AND the ones which were paid, because they were mistake fares, but since Rule B covers the ones which were paid, we are going to let those people take advantage of us, but we will not extend that protection to people who aren't covered by Rule B."

Remember, none of us who book thousands of real tickets are worried that the 24 hold is being eroded, because it isn't. Rather, people are trying to use Rule A (24 hour hold) to take advantage of Rule B (you can't cancel mistake fares once they have been paid for).

And no one here has answered the question "how should the 'on hold' people be treated, even if the DOT were to rule in their favor, such that they aren't BETTER OFF than the people who paid?"

If this thing had gone down the way it should have AA would have honored the holds and the ticketed fares equally and that would be the end of it. Had this happened on Delta we would have been able to cancel within 24hrs per DOT rules. AA chose to have the 24hr hold instead. It would be just as unfair to Delta that they have to honor all the bookings but not AA because they are given the right to cancel their guaranteed holds if the DOT rules in their favor. It wouldn't take long before all the airlines started that using that system as a way to blunt the impact of their own mistakes.

I predict as a matter of principle the DOT will either fine AA or AA will honor these holds. AA is big enough to take the hit without jeopardizing their reputation and system they have put in place. I see the guaranteed hold as a contract and because the DOT has said airlines must honor mistake fares then AA can't use the fact that its a mistake fare as a reason to cancel what they themselves have said was a guaranteed hold.
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Old Mar 27, 2015, 2:18 am
  #1184  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
If I cancel only the last segment will I earn miles on the flown segments, i.e., DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD?

As I don't live in DCA, I would prefer to fly ORD-home instead of ORD-DCA-home.
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Old Mar 27, 2015, 5:25 am
  #1185  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
Originally Posted by davie355
If I cancel only the last segment will I earn miles on the flown segments, i.e., DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD?

As I don't live in DCA, I would prefer to fly ORD-home instead of ORD-DCA-home.
You cannot cancel the last leg.
Mauibaby2008 is offline  


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