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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 12:10 pm
  #5  
bestof2k9
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 571
Originally Posted by Retired FF
Two of us are currently booked on a reward ticket bkk-nrt-sfo-yyz-yow and return back to bkk. These are F reward tickets with nrt-sfo and sfo-nrt segments in F and the rest in J.
I understand that once we start the journey, we can NOT change the routing but can change the date for a fee. We are advised by AE booking agent that when we change the date, we MUST fly in the same class of service as booked. In other words, if on the changed date we would like to fly(after the journey has commenced) , if the sfo-nrt is not available in F but is available in J (or 1 in F and 1 in J), we can NOT volunteerly downgrade (We are NOT seeking any return of points) to J.
The problem is that our outbound is in Jan, and we want our return some time in December. It is too early to book a reward ticket for Dec., so we have booked it for Sept. knowing that once the Dec. inventory is loaded, we will change the date. We are fairly flexible with dates, but if we book in F and nothing is available in F for weeks/months, then according to the agent, we are SOL.

This morning, on another file, I was speaking with the scheduling dept. of AE and happened to mention this issue and according to her, I should be able to
change class of service after the jouney has commenced. She was 100% sure of this but could not refer me to an AE clause of a manual.

Any experts out there who can break this tie.
The information provided to you by the first agent is incorrect Retired FF.
Technically the rules state that post departure no changes of itinerary/carrier/routing/class of service/fare basis code are permitted. However the reason why class class of service changes are not permitted is just so they dont have an impact on the reward code. For instance someone flying YVR-FRA (STOP) FRA-YVR (on lufthansa) in Y wouldnt be able to change the return portion once the travel has begun to J, even if J is the only thing available because that will impact the reward code. However if your already booked in F (and therefore your booking has an F reward code) you SHOULD be able to make a change to J, in the instance J is the only thing available. But I will double check just to make sure, and let you know.

Bestof2k9
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