Acouple of days ago I looked at aa.com for flights SFO to Shanghai and found them all over $800 (plus additional tax) for the days I wanted to go (March 15-26).

While on the phone to AA on another matter I thought, why not ask them what the best fare was for that flight those days. He came back with $784 including all tax.

While still on the phone with the agent I reentered the same query to aa.com for exactly the same flight numbers and still got the $800 plus taxes fare.

Apparently he had access to seats I couldn't see. It was well worth the $10 to book with the agent.

My question is how can this happen? I don't have EF, but have always thought that availability was availabilty, and the seats were there or not.

I don't think I got the very last seat in that fare bucket because the price I saw online was the same before and after I booked with the agent.

Any illumination here?