Weird - Expedia lets you book Back-to-Backs
 

[This message has been edited by Fermat (edited 08-28-2001).]

I assume you are booking these as two separate reservations. So how is expedia to know they are back to backs? It is processing each booking independent of the other, as it was likely programmed to do. It is only in the human audit process that things like this get caught. Obviously, expedia has not built in a sub-routine to detect such practices. I suspect you could book the same thing on AC's site and not get caught until the two separate bookings are linked by the commonality of your Aeroplan number. At that stage, AC may have a sub-routine that alerts their audit people, who would then manually investigate each booking.

The reason you'd have problems booking this through AC res with an agent is that s/he is there to monitor and act as auditor at the booking stage. Same with a travel agent. The TA may go ahead and make the bookings, on separate files and issuing separate tickets, then leave it to the airline to discover something may be amiss.

I would just be careful when calling AC to confirm any upgrades, and to it with a separate call for each itinerary. Also, you may find the audit process kicks in at the Aeroplan posting end. If the trips are tagged with their respective res numbers, and the posts look suspicious, your original bookings can be traced.

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited 08-28-2001).]

Although I haven't booked that many, I book back to backs on Travelocity regularly. Yes they are two separate reservations. On one of my trips the checkin agent in Regina, somehow noticed (maybe Aeroplan number) and asked me if I was going to use all portions of the tickets. I told her I was, and she said that was fine, what they object to is people throwing away portions. Gave me my boarding card, wished me a pleasant flight and said she would see me next week. All miles and segments posted OK.

[This message has been edited by Fermat (edited 08-28-2001).]

Expedia appears willing to risk the wrath (and sanctions) of AC for allowing Back-to-Backs (or AC knows what is going on and tolerates it).
Although I stopped the practice long ago (in internet time, of course), in my early days as a frequent business traveller, I frequently booked back-to-back tickets via expedia. Two separate reservations, but at exactly the same time. The sets of b-to-b tickets came in the same envelope. Surely, a real person (not a computer) stuffed the tickets into an envelope and knew exactly what was going on.
The ethics of back-to-back tickets can fill an endless debate. My guess is that AC tolerates the practice at expedia even though it knows full well what they are doing.

Expedia appears willing to risk the wrath (and sanctions) of AC for allowing Back-to-Backs (or AC knows what is going on and tolerates it).
Although I stopped the practice long ago (in internet time, of course), in my early days as a frequent business traveller, I frequently booked back-to-back tickets via expedia. Two separate reservations, but at exactly the same time. The sets of b-to-b tickets came in the same envelope. Surely, a real person (not a computer) stuffed the tickets into an envelope and knew exactly what was going on.
The ethics of back-to-back tickets can fill an endless debate. My guess is that AC tolerates the practice at expedia even though it knows full well what they are doing.

Since LLSH (Loose lips sink ships)...
Deleted per popular requests.

[This message has been edited by Ew/oQ (edited 10-15-2001).]