AA Computer Systems Out Of Sync? Award On Hold, Different Taxes
Recently I went through issues with AA staff about the AAdvantage system that customers see availability of Award Seats are not seen by AA booking personnel for seats between Sydney and the U.S at about 328-330 days out. I was able to find 2 business seats that I put on hold while I talked with my wife about her interest in these seats, but when I went back to purchase these seats well within the 5 days, the reservation tax price that the AA agent saw was more than what was in my AAdvantage website and my hold portfolio. When I discussed this with the AA agent, she told me this was the way it was, and I must pay the increased tax as she could not see what I was holding. I had no other choice but to go ahead and pay the additional tax, and then had the agent send me over to Web Support at my request. Because I had purchased the seats at the agent's tax rate, the Web Support person could not see what I was holding, and told me that if I wanted these seats I must pay the tax that the agent quoted. No matter how hard I tried, the Web Support person would not (could not) answer why what I had on hold was different from what the agent was seeing.
I took a picture of what I was seeing, but decided not to follow the recommendation of another poster on FT who recommended that US regulatory agencies be notified if AA does not honor what passengers had on hold as the increase in price was not very much.
However, I was concerned about the consequences that might occur for others who find that AA agents cannot see what records passengers have saved, especially if what is of question are 2 business or first AAdvantage seats.
For those who have concerns why I called AA to have these seats booked, their web site would not allow me to book and directed me to call the AAgents. I asked the agent if the reason I could not book my "On Hold" seats were that the price I had was a mistake, she told me she had no way to know. AA web support could not be convinced to discuss this and to provide a fix for this as well.
This is the first time such an experience has happened to my wife and me though all those years of EXP and Multi-Million Miles status.
Friends: Be aware that the two AA computer systems are not in sync and agents cannot see what passengers are holding.