Downgrade from J on Aeroplan redemption
Dec 3, 2020, 11:39 am
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,632
Downgrade from J on Aeroplan redemption
Sister Lev booked herself and her family (total 4 people) from YYZ-LIR on an Aeroplan J redemption. Somewhere along the line after the time of booking AC switched from mainline back to Rouge (same flight times but different flight number). It appears that nobody at AE/AC bothered to port the reservations over to the new flight number and presumably in the intervening period AC happily sold the remaining J seats on the flight. They just got notification that their flight has been "cancelled due to COVID" (when it was just a switch to rouge). There are now no J seats left on the plane and AE is basically saying happy to rebook you in Y but no compensation other than refund of points difference.
Has this happened to others when AC has switched back from mainline to rouge?
Any suggestions?
Has this happened to others when AC has switched back from mainline to rouge?
Any suggestions?
Dec 3, 2020, 11:55 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
That's really odd because that is a route where rouge markets J, not PY.
Can they adjust the date?
Are there ANY seats? Could you split the PNR, get some people confirmed, and set an EF alert for more seats?
Would you accept an alternate routing (even on another airline)? You could push for something like that.
Can they adjust the date?
Are there ANY seats? Could you split the PNR, get some people confirmed, and set an EF alert for more seats?
Would you accept an alternate routing (even on another airline)? You could push for something like that.
Dec 3, 2020, 12:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,725
YYZ-SJO is still on a 333, so if you don't mind a longer drive once you land, it probably wouldn't be hard to get rebooked on that.
I'm amazed both routes are running at all, let alone originally scheduled for daily widebodies.
I'm amazed both routes are running at all, let alone originally scheduled for daily widebodies.
Dec 3, 2020, 12:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,602
Sister Lev booked herself and her family (total 4 people) from YYZ-LIR on an Aeroplan J redemption. Somewhere along the line after the time of booking AC switched from mainline back to Rouge (same flight times but different flight number). It appears that nobody at AE/AC bothered to port the reservations over to the new flight number and presumably in the intervening period AC happily sold the remaining J seats on the flight. They just got notification that their flight has been "cancelled due to COVID" (when it was just a switch to rouge). There are now no J seats left on the plane and AE is basically saying happy to rebook you in Y but no compensation other than refund of points difference.
Has this happened to others when AC has switched back from mainline to rouge?
Any suggestions?
Has this happened to others when AC has switched back from mainline to rouge?
Any suggestions?
Dec 3, 2020, 12:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: YEG
Programs: Table scraps from Aeroplan and AmEx Plat
Posts: 895
It is not a short drive, and Costa Rica roads (the majority of this route is two-lane) are not for the faint of heart. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive from SJO to Guanacaste and at times was probably mas loco than the locals but I do come from a place with an even worse driving culture.
Dec 3, 2020, 12:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,602
Already making the drive one way. It is 4 hours on bad roads. I would rather fly in Rouge Y than make the drive...
Dec 3, 2020, 1:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,958
Sister Lev booked herself and her family (total 4 people) from YYZ-LIR on an Aeroplan J redemption. Somewhere along the line after the time of booking AC switched from mainline back to Rouge (same flight times but different flight number). It appears that nobody at AE/AC bothered to port the reservations over to the new flight number and presumably in the intervening period AC happily sold the remaining J seats on the flight. They just got notification that their flight has been "cancelled due to COVID" (when it was just a switch to rouge). There are now no J seats left on the plane and AE is basically saying happy to rebook you in Y but no compensation other than refund of points difference.
Has this happened to others when AC has switched back from mainline to rouge?
Any suggestions?
Has this happened to others when AC has switched back from mainline to rouge?
Any suggestions?
Dec 3, 2020, 1:14 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
Exactly the same thing happened to me on the same route. Concierge put notes on the file to put us on the waitlist when the flight opens 24 hours prior. Based on the loads it would be unlikely that this will clear. It is incredibly poor but they should have received an email notification of the flight change. It isn't that they sold the J seats, it is that the cabin went from 27 J to 12 J and likely only protected paid J on flight. With no J available they simply cancelled that portion of the booking without moving the booking over (which is incredibly bad customer service). I did complain, but with no J seats, the only option was to rebook in economy on that portion or move the travel date.
And there are plenty of cases where I've been automatically rebooked from P or R to Y on a CR9 to DH4 downgauge. There's no technical reason this booking shouldn't have behaved the same.
Dec 3, 2020, 1:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,602
Dec 3, 2020, 2:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,725
Oh, I'm aware. This is why I talked Mrs.YOWgary out of a trip to Tamarindo this winter; whether it's Rouge Y, or those roads, no chance I get there with an intact spinal column.