Originally Posted by
Frequentflyer99
Thanks for the response. Whilst I take all your points, the problem is that the et-ticket does not set out the fare rules, or come to that even the fare base or the fare bucket (J/D/I). All it gives is the cabin.
The e-ticket does let one link to the pop up that one could access when making the booking which shows the fare rules, but I have always assumed that this is not how the AA agents access the rules as it always seems to take them so long to do so, and they often have to call up someone else to check them out.
I fully agree with your point that if you co-mingle, the most restrictive rules should apply. Hence my scepticism at the aa.com info that mixing a semi-flex I with an inflexible L will make the L semi-flexible.
As it happens I have found a workaround for this trip, but it did make me wonder generally how much reliance one could place on what aa.com tells one. I know one can take screen prints and all the rest before pushing the "Buy" button, but it is hard to match those to a specific booking afterwards.
AA.com will show cabin and INVENTORY, not fare basis. So "I" or "D", etc... when you are browsing and searching the various fares (Click on the '+' symbol and the inventory for each will expand)
But once you pick a fare and move to reserve or prchase it will then show a link for fare rules. THIS is the fare basis that you want to screen capture- and which you can use on EF, etc. to drill down. The fare code basis as published controls the rules for the ticket, period. The wrappers of 'choice plus', etc, etc, are just website tools to chose the underlying fare bases.
If in doubt, hold it for 24 hrs. Then check fare basis with aa over the phone.
Remember an "UP" fare will not
necessarily get you 'up' to the biz or first cabin if there are irrops, flight changes, etc. And technically if you are making voluntary changes mid trip in I, D, etc, the are supposed to only accomodate you if I or D inventory is available. I've usually been successful with only paying the usual US$500 change fee (lucky me)