Feb 23, 2015, 6:35 am
Last edit by: NWIFlyer
With the evolution of the Miles&Bonus program, there are a number of threads on this forum that contain outdated information, plus a further set that - whilst describing the new program - contain conflicting information that has only been crystallised as we all discover how certain aspects of the program either work or are interpreted.
It is perhaps therefore unsurprising that many new members find searching through this myriad of threads a little daunting, and consequently they post a question in one of the FAQ threads.
This tends to irk those who've been around for a while who expect the new posters to at least do some basic searching before posting a question that has probably been asked many times before. This also causes the forums to become very congested and less easy to read through with the same question being asked and answered many times.
I am therefore creating a thread, which will be stickied, for anyone to ask any question they like about the M&B program where they are unsure or it's not obvious where they should be posting it.
There is no such thing in this thread as a stupid question, no issue with asking a repeat question, and any answers should be 100% flame-free. I will take a dim view of anyone that abuses a member or provides a less than helpful answer (such as 'do a search') to any question asked in here, because this is being created to benefit all of us so the other threads flow more cleanly. Thank you for your co-operation on this.
It might be that I move questions to more appropriate threads so they receive an answer more quickly, but if I do so I will always add a note to indicate where they originated, and ask that the flame-free answer principle be respected.
NWIFlyer
Moderator
Aegean M&B
It is perhaps therefore unsurprising that many new members find searching through this myriad of threads a little daunting, and consequently they post a question in one of the FAQ threads.
This tends to irk those who've been around for a while who expect the new posters to at least do some basic searching before posting a question that has probably been asked many times before. This also causes the forums to become very congested and less easy to read through with the same question being asked and answered many times.
I am therefore creating a thread, which will be stickied, for anyone to ask any question they like about the M&B program where they are unsure or it's not obvious where they should be posting it.
There is no such thing in this thread as a stupid question, no issue with asking a repeat question, and any answers should be 100% flame-free. I will take a dim view of anyone that abuses a member or provides a less than helpful answer (such as 'do a search') to any question asked in here, because this is being created to benefit all of us so the other threads flow more cleanly. Thank you for your co-operation on this.
It might be that I move questions to more appropriate threads so they receive an answer more quickly, but if I do so I will always add a note to indicate where they originated, and ask that the flame-free answer principle be respected.
NWIFlyer
Moderator
Aegean M&B
Flame-Free Questions on A3 - ask your newbie (and not so newbie) questions here
May 28, 2017, 11:14 pm
#1276
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Also, no show may lead to a cancelation of your ticket. Moreover, even if this is not the case, there is no guarantee that there will be seats available for the next flight. I brief, go to bed early and look forward to a nice vacation... 
May 30, 2017, 3:59 am
#1278
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
I am wondering if anybody has any actual experience regarding changing flexible flights. The fare rules do explain the procedure somewhat, but I'm not sure if the rules are implemented in the same way on the website. And/or that I am missing (or misreading) the rules as they are quite complicated.
Currently there is a 40% sale going on for early 2018. If I would book P class at the discounted prices in Flex, what happens if (at a later date when these sales have ended) I do:
- Change the flight to another day with P class available
...Would the change be free, or would I be asked to pay the difference between the 'Sale' P-fare and 'Normal' P-fare?
- Change the flight to another day with U class available
...Would I pay the fare difference between the U and the current P-fare price at that time, or, the discounted fare/price that I paid for P initially? In other words: Normally the fare difference is about 10 euro to go from P to U, would that be the price to pay - or would I also have to cover the gap between 'sale price' for P and 'Normal price' for P?
I'm tempted to book flights now as they are actually quite alot discounted - 90 euro r/t from AMS/DUS-ATH. But my dates are not 100% firm yet, so I'm wondering if I can change them for free later on outside of the sale period. That would also allow me to move/choose days that have upgrade space available - as new coupons are released in November.
Currently there is a 40% sale going on for early 2018. If I would book P class at the discounted prices in Flex, what happens if (at a later date when these sales have ended) I do:
- Change the flight to another day with P class available
...Would the change be free, or would I be asked to pay the difference between the 'Sale' P-fare and 'Normal' P-fare?
- Change the flight to another day with U class available
...Would I pay the fare difference between the U and the current P-fare price at that time, or, the discounted fare/price that I paid for P initially? In other words: Normally the fare difference is about 10 euro to go from P to U, would that be the price to pay - or would I also have to cover the gap between 'sale price' for P and 'Normal price' for P?
I'm tempted to book flights now as they are actually quite alot discounted - 90 euro r/t from AMS/DUS-ATH. But my dates are not 100% firm yet, so I'm wondering if I can change them for free later on outside of the sale period. That would also allow me to move/choose days that have upgrade space available - as new coupons are released in November.
May 30, 2017, 7:50 am
#1279
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Based on the few times (<10) that I changed flights, I guess that yo'll be asked tp pay the "real" difference between what you paid and the new price. No guarantee, though, I've never read the rules, this is what I found out when asking at the CI counters in ATH.
May 30, 2017, 8:15 am
#1280
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,729
You should always assume that "flexible" and "free changes" just means that the change fee is waived.
It won't prevent you from being expected to pay a fare difference.
In most cases, the fares that apply on the date of the change are the rates against which the fare difference is calculated if you make the change before travel starts; if travel has already started (i.e. you are changing the return flight(s) after already using the outbound flight(s)), usually the prices that were in force on the day of purchase are those used when determining the fare difference.
You should always therefore count on having to pay a fare difference. The cheaper your ticket was to begin with, and the closer to the departure date you request the change, the larger this amount is likely to be.
It won't prevent you from being expected to pay a fare difference.
In most cases, the fares that apply on the date of the change are the rates against which the fare difference is calculated if you make the change before travel starts; if travel has already started (i.e. you are changing the return flight(s) after already using the outbound flight(s)), usually the prices that were in force on the day of purchase are those used when determining the fare difference.
You should always therefore count on having to pay a fare difference. The cheaper your ticket was to begin with, and the closer to the departure date you request the change, the larger this amount is likely to be.
May 30, 2017, 12:53 pm
#1281
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
Thanks both. I was under the impression that, when changing to a flight with availability in the same fare class/code, commonly only the change fee was due (none with flex fare). It seems this is not the case then.
Still may be worth booking some flights as they are about 15% lower than the lowest sales I have seen so far on this route. Perhaps I can estimate some travel dates from now on already..
Still may be worth booking some flights as they are about 15% lower than the lowest sales I have seen so far on this route. Perhaps I can estimate some travel dates from now on already..
May 30, 2017, 1:13 pm
#1282
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 128
Is there a downside for you? If you are certain about the flights, but not the actual dates you're just more likely to get a cheaper price. If you change later on, you just pay the price difference. So no downside for you, right? Unless, of course, you would have to cancel the flight (other airports, less flights) because of the cancelation fee.
Jun 1, 2017, 9:49 am
#1284
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: CPH
Programs: SK, A3, QR
Posts: 220
Can someone advise me on the minium connecting time in ATH?
I'm looking at two A3 flights, TLV-ATH scheduled to arrive at 7:50 and ATH-CPH scheduled to depart at 8:30.
It can't be booked through A3 website, so this might be self-explanatory, but still wanted to double check: Is 40 minutes to connect not enough to if I travel with hand luggage only? I know it's tight and I come from outside of schengen, but is it not possible to do?
Thanks
I'm looking at two A3 flights, TLV-ATH scheduled to arrive at 7:50 and ATH-CPH scheduled to depart at 8:30.
It can't be booked through A3 website, so this might be self-explanatory, but still wanted to double check: Is 40 minutes to connect not enough to if I travel with hand luggage only? I know it's tight and I come from outside of schengen, but is it not possible to do?
Thanks
Jun 1, 2017, 10:34 am
#1285
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
Can someone advise me on the minium connecting time in ATH?
I'm looking at two A3 flights, TLV-ATH scheduled to arrive at 7:50 and ATH-CPH scheduled to depart at 8:30.
It can't be booked through A3 website, so this might be self-explanatory, but still wanted to double check: Is 40 minutes to connect not enough to if I travel with hand luggage only? I know it's tight and I come from outside of schengen, but is it not possible to do?
Thanks
I'm looking at two A3 flights, TLV-ATH scheduled to arrive at 7:50 and ATH-CPH scheduled to depart at 8:30.
It can't be booked through A3 website, so this might be self-explanatory, but still wanted to double check: Is 40 minutes to connect not enough to if I travel with hand luggage only? I know it's tight and I come from outside of schengen, but is it not possible to do?
Thanks
If everything works well you'd need an hour, on separate tickets I'd be allowing at least two, probably more given the financial consequences of having to pay for a last minute CPH flight - you're not dealing with a low cost trip domestic trip with many flights per day so the risk is exponentially higher.
Jun 1, 2017, 10:50 am
#1286
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,729
If you like living dangerously and are happy to buy a brand new ticket on the day at ATH airport to get you to CPH, then sure, go for it!!!
Jun 1, 2017, 11:41 am
#1287
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: C2, BTS, VIE
Programs: A3 *G, AA Exec Plat Pro, Accor Silver, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, PP
Posts: 321
the question would be, if the OTA sells it as one ticket TLV-CPH (with a 40min stop in ATH), or not... If yes, then I would risk it, the worst case scenario would be that you miss the connection and you would receive EU261 compensation money + free rebooking and hotel (if needed)..
Jun 1, 2017, 12:08 pm
#1288
Community Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
the question would be, if the OTA sells it as one ticket TLV-CPH (with a 40min stop in ATH), or not... If yes, then I would risk it, the worst case scenario would be that you miss the connection and you would receive EU261 compensation money + free rebooking and hotel (if needed)..
Jun 2, 2017, 4:58 pm
#1290
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sunshine State
Programs: Avis Trump. Costco Exec. SPG PLAT PREM-90. WN A+/CP. AA SLV. Nat EE..
Posts: 456
Okay friends. So here is my deal. I'm crediting my miles to A3 through some family/affiliate flights should make *G shortly. So here is my noob question. I should have a lot of A3 miles soon. Can I transfer then to anyone? SPG? Or do I need to redeem them with A3? Thanks in advance.