Hi Y'all

Ironically, most airlines website don't access the reservation system (CRS) directly. The website is on a server that knows how to draw the pretty windows and such. When you ask for info on skeds, fares and such, the server transfers the request to a fron end processor that re-formats the pretty window into the same computer entry an agent would make to ask for the same info, then sends the request to the CRS. The translation is done in reverse forthe response. So there is a time lag in transferring info between the 2.

On any airline's website, clicking the "purcase" button doesn't actually produce the ticket. It places your reservation (PNR) on a queue to be processed, but records the fare quote in the PNR. Fares aren't garunteed until ticketed, but clicking the "purchase" button should lock in the fare as of that moment in time (there are literally hundreds of fare updates every day).

It appears to me that during the time lag of communicating between the two systems either "T" class inventory sold out,or the fare increased. This would cause a furthur delay in the actual ticketing because the PNR quote doesn't match actual. This would put your PNR on a "bounce" queue to be reviewed manaully by an actual person.

From what you've said here, I'd say that "T" class sold out between the time you clicked "hold" and the few seconds it took to advise the reservation system of the potential purchase. The system did the next best thing and re-booked you into the lowest fare class available just to hold you a seat as promised. Once a human could read your PNR's history and determine the sequence of events, they did the right thing and had yeild management allocate one more "T" class seat.

Steve