[FARES GONE] Egyptian Pound Devalued - bargain prices for RTW tickets
Nov 7, 2016, 10:31 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 25
I was just thinking hypothetically the point at which an existing DONE4 specifically not ex-CAI, at what point it would potentially be worthwhile to cancel and rebuy ex-CAI, assuming changing route was possible in your own travel plans, and accepting the fx risk.Yes, the cancel/refund process is straightforward. You call them up, request to cancel and refund the ticket, they inform you that there is a 5% cancellation penalty, you agree, they cancel the ticket, and the refund less the 5% is credited to the credit card that was used for the original purchase. My refund posted to my CC within a week.
Nov 7, 2016, 10:59 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: RTW
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 65
aaupgrade, i am in the process of doing the same. was yours booked with BA? if so, did you call BA JNB number or other general international number? want to make sure they process the return n the original currency, not sure if only BA JNB can do this... thanks!
Nov 7, 2016, 11:43 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,077
Yes, my ex-JNB was booked with BA and purchased via the SA phone number due to ticketing country limitations at the time. When I cancelled the ticket and requested the refund I'm pretty sure I called the BA RTW desk here in the US at 1-800-828-7797. It got sent to the rate desk (or their version of it) for SA as I remember the agent coming back and saying they needed to send it over there since it was in ZAR. I said OK and went on faith and it all turned out as expected.
Nov 7, 2016, 12:32 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: JAX
Programs: Ex-BA/AA/CP/LY staff, BA Executive Club Blue, IHG Diamond, Marriott Silver, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 3,583
If you touch the first segment in any way (change date, change routing, change connection to stopover after the first segment) then you will need a new ticket. The old ticket is cancelled, refunded (in the local currency at the original price minus fees).
Then you will get a completely new ticket, new price (if it has changed) with a new 1 year period before the first flight etc.
The major financial risk is (as mentioned) the FX difference between the day the old tickt was issued and when it was refunded.
This has been my experience so far.
Then you will get a completely new ticket, new price (if it has changed) with a new 1 year period before the first flight etc.
The major financial risk is (as mentioned) the FX difference between the day the old tickt was issued and when it was refunded.
This has been my experience so far.
When it comes time to refund, if you paid by credit card, any fee to be deducted should use the purchase date exchange rate - or if you paid in USD anyway then it's just a straightforward deduction.
The reality now is that the first segment can no longer be 365 days out as we don't have open segments on e-tickets anymore. Back when we had paper tickets you could book that first segment out at the end of schedule (365 days out) and then the other segments as open.
Nov 7, 2016, 12:50 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,808
Bear in mind that you no longer have to purchase these lower fares in the local currency but can have them priced in the currency of your choosing (probably the one your credit card is in) - then the airline is handling the FX, not you/your credit card.
When it comes time to refund, if you paid by credit card, any fee to be deducted should use the purchase date exchange rate - or if you paid in USD anyway then it's just a straightforward deduction.
Doesn't BA allow open segments on etkts? They certainly used to be possible while I was with them. (-3 years ago)
Nov 7, 2016, 6:14 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
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First one just came back from the AA rate desk. $2,794 base fare, $3,483.47 total for a DONE4. Ticketed.
Jerry, can you explain a little further, please, as it matters to me for my next ticket (which I'm going to try to do tomorrow). Do the three required segments have to be a complete RTW journey back to origin? So presumably one would book this then keep the first segment and change the rest at the change fee of $150?
AA RTW desk requires that your credit card have a U.S. billing address if you want it priced and charged in USD. Agent just told me that she understands that that is not in the fare rules, but that's what AA is doing. So apparently they will only price and sell in the currency of your credit card billing address.
Tried to get AA to do it; but they would not. When I directed agent to this wording in the rules:
... agent put me on hold. He came back after a few minutes and said that that means that I have to book specific flights and can change them later. Obviously that's not what it means, but we have no bargaining power, except, perhaps, to file a complaint with the DOT. Of course, by the time that got resolved, the fare would be long gone.
The reality now is that the first segment can no longer be 365 days out as we don't have open segments on e-tickets anymore. Back when we had paper tickets you could book that first segment out at the end of schedule (365 days out) and then the other segments as open. Now you have to be able to book the 3 minimum segments required for the ticket before the end of schedule (so within one year) at time of booking. This necessarily limits how close to the end of schedule you can book your first segment as you still need to be able to book at least a minimum number of segments to go around the world with the dates (365 days or sometimes less) that are available at time of booking.
5.(a) Reservations for the first international flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure. Subsequent segments may be open-dated.
Last edited by Dr. HFH; Nov 7, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Nov 7, 2016, 6:35 pm
#37
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,808
First one just came back from the AA rate desk. $2,794 base fare, $3,483.47 total for a DONE4. Ticketed.
Jerry, can you explain a little further, please, as it matters to me for my next ticket (which I'm going to try to do tomorrow). Do the three required segments have to be a complete RTW journey back to origin? So presumably one would book this then keep the first segment and change the rest at the change fee of $150?
...
Tried to get AA to do it; but they would not. When I directed agent to this wording in the rules:... agent put me on hold. He came back after a few minutes and said that that means that I have to book specific flights and can change them later. Obviously that's not what it means, but we have no bargaining power, except, perhaps, to file a complaint with the DOT. Of course, by the time that got resolved, the fare would be long gone.
Jerry, can you explain a little further, please, as it matters to me for my next ticket (which I'm going to try to do tomorrow). Do the three required segments have to be a complete RTW journey back to origin? So presumably one would book this then keep the first segment and change the rest at the change fee of $150?
...
Tried to get AA to do it; but they would not. When I directed agent to this wording in the rules:... agent put me on hold. He came back after a few minutes and said that that means that I have to book specific flights and can change them later. Obviously that's not what it means, but we have no bargaining power, except, perhaps, to file a complaint with the DOT. Of course, by the time that got resolved, the fare would be long gone.
Nov 7, 2016, 6:41 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: RTW
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 65
Yes, my ex-JNB was booked with BA and purchased via the SA phone number due to ticketing country limitations at the time. When I cancelled the ticket and requested the refund I'm pretty sure I called the BA RTW desk here in the US at 1-800-828-7797. It got sent to the rate desk (or their version of it) for SA as I remember the agent coming back and saying they needed to send it over there since it was in ZAR. I said OK and went on faith and it all turned out as expected.
Nov 7, 2016, 6:55 pm
#39
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London (~75% of the year).
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 473
Nov 7, 2016, 7:35 pm
#40
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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Nov 7, 2016, 9:58 pm
#42
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Nov 7, 2016, 10:03 pm
#43
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
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