Thank you Often1 and Ancien Maestro – I was avoiding giving all the details b/c I was trying to get a sense of what are the general procedures/steps involved in getting a ticket reissued. If it’s approved (by the original airline and any subsequent airline to which a ticket will be endorse) isn’t it a matter of entering in some data on a computer, which would then generate the reissue w/in a few minutes at most?

Well, as an update, I have some evidence that the answer is, yes, that’s the case. I called (with my traveling partner) again today and he was very calm and nice, but firm with them and insisted on getting some action and, by the end of it, I had two emails – one a ticket receipt (with ticket number and all details) and the other for “Booking Service Information” that, even though it doesn’t list a ticket number, the airline described as if it constitutes the ticket reissue.

So I think I have what I need, even though I have nothing from the new airline (and so I will likely call to make sure that the ticket number is in there system and I will be able to check in and travel with no problem).

Ancien Maestro – I had my original receipt (issued by agent Orbitz) all along, but I think that became less than useful when a segment of my flight was cancelled and I had no other confirmed reservation. See timeline of events below. Any explanation for why confirmed doesn’t really mean confirmed?!? And what good a receipt will do if an airline removes certain flights from the itinerary?!? Meaning, if BR cancels a flight and I am not booked on an alternative (see second sentence of (5) below), what good will the receipt do me for getting b/w the cities that were cancelled?

Often 1 – Here’s the basic sketch. And may I ask, what do you mean by “ticket from your new carrier”. I have new documents from the original carrier. And no suggestion from anyone that I will receive anything from the new carrier. When a ticket is reissued (in this case, if I have the jargon right, endorsed from one carrier to another), does the PAX have to obtain some documentation from the new carrier? I am being told no, that what I get from the original carrier should suffice and the new carrier will not send me anything. Any insights as to what I could have done to better protect myself (in case something like this should happen again, to me or someone reading along), would be appreciated.

1) Purchased RT tix on BR from JFK to Bali (with stopover in TPE).
2) Received alert from Orbitz and am instructed to call. I call Orbitz and am told BR cancelled one segment of outbound flight and automatically scheduled us for the next day (Christmas Day). This was not acceptable for us, so Orbitz called BR and together we (BR, Orbitz and myself) discussed alternatives. BR agreed to put us on another carrier so we could fly on the day originally scheduled. BR could not get a response from the other carrier and suggested they would have a confirmation for me in 1-2 days. Agreement was that if I heard nothing, I would call Orbitz and together we’d call BR in 2 days.
3) 2 days later, no word, but BR database has read throughout this time that we are on the “waiting list” for the pending flight/change. Called Orbitz and we tried BR, but they were closed.
4) 3rd day later, still no word (and still “waiting list”. Called Orbitz, who called BR who initially refused to conference with me, but after some time agreed. The flight to which they tried to move us is overbooked and we’re on standby. BR offered to put us on the Christmas day flight or refund. These are not acceptable to us and, under the Conditions of Carriage, not the only options. BR found another possible flight option, but it involves a new/additional stopover. I pushed BR to look at additional carriers for a Dec 24 flight with the same number of stops as our original agreement. (There are many that I can see via Kayak, airline websites, etc.) BR found at least one option on Korean Airlines that BR can “confirm” us for. We all 3 stayed on the phone to see if the change could be finalized, but it’s not happening and BR indicates it should happen w/in 1 day. Ended the call agreeing (a) BR will remove us from the standby list of the flight they tried to get us on and email me upon reissue for the new itinerary and (b) if I hear nothing by the next day I am to call BR directly (not Orbitz).
5) 4th day later, no reissue. BR database said we’re confirmed for the new flights (and shows no other flights for outbound), but I have the understanding that this doesn’t mean anything without the new ticket number/reissue. I called KE and they report that they see us confirmed for the flights, but that the confirmation is only being held for 3 more days. Ie, BR must reissue the ticket before then, or we will no longer be confirmed. Called BR and am told supervisors have been alerted and are calling the ticketing office directly to instruct that the ticket reissue be done asap. Agreed that if I don’t receive notice of reissue by close of business, I would call back (the next a.m.) to speak with supervisors or legal dept. Rather than wait ‘til the next a.m., after 6pm my time (E.T.), my partner and I conference call BR. We are given a lot of apologies and explanations that there is only one person working the local ticketing office, etc., and are told it should just be 1 more day. My partner is nice but firm and, in the end, our tickets are reissued.

This was so frustrating b/c it proves or at least suggests that it only took the keystrokes of someone w/ the proper authority to get the reissue done. Why did it take so much time and effort? (As the clock ticks, the listed price for these holiday season tickets is going up…so it seems likely BR’s cost to endorse to the other carrier may go up as well. The risk that I’m going to have a claim – based on the Conditions of Carriage - and make things worse for BR goes up as well.)

I know this is so long...but that seems not so rare around here. I guess that’s why there are so many acronyms! I’m trying to learn. Thanks if you’re following along!