Call center fee?
 

Since then is there a call center fee for international destinations?

Just bought a tix two days ago to Asia, and I notice a $20 fee. Last time I used them, late July, there was no such fee.

Don't recall the exact date but has been at least six months. :td:

IMO,should be waived for SE status members. :)

Domestic/North America, yes. I would think more than six monhs, actually. But I do not recall ever having paid for an overseas trip, and I have regularly bought tickets through the SE line. I checked the last one, as said above, late July, and it did not include that fee.

I also recall the issue being discussed here, but I was unable to locate the thread.

Wanted to understand how to use a flight voucher. Telephoned AC, women said "I cannot answer any questions you may have unless you first give me your name, credit card number" If the answer is something you can find on the AC website, you will be charged $ 20 per ticket involved."

I have up.

Are you serious?!?! That is ridiculous!! How can people think this is a reasonable way to run a business? :td: :td:

I have a very hard time believing this. I have never heard of such a thing and work in reservations. In fact we often get people calling who think they have to pay to ask a question as they don't listen to the IVR properly while waiting on hold. Fee applies to new bookings only and to changes to web bookings that could have been made online. Another thing...unless a booking is created, there would be no way for an agent to collect the fee as you need to be working on a file to do it. Sorry if I vented, but this one hit a nerve with me.

Still, so far nobody has really answered my question: since when is there a call center fee on international destinations, in cases where the ticket cannot be booked on the web (because including legs on another airline, which used to be bookable on the web but was eliminated in one of the latest web site downgrades)?

So what about new bookings that were not possible to make online? I recently booked a YEG-LHR-YEG trip (direct) and had to call reservations since none of the direct flights were showing up on the web. The Res Agent still did not/could not waive the fee even after checking with a supervisor. Top it off with the insane $340/ticket surcharges and the 45 minutes of my time it took to book it over the phone while the agent tried to find and reserve the flights and you've got one pi$$ed SE. I'd hate to see how they treat non *G customers!

I should add that the Res agent was extremely pleasant (as most are that I've spoken to) and I did not make a big fuss about the fee. It just annoys me that AE/AC just seem to nickel and dime on reward seats even for their best customers.

You're talking about AC reservations (not AE), correct? I can recall disputing the call centre fee perhaps 10 months ago when trying to book H class on international flights. I thought the call centre fee for international was put into effect at the same time the domestic charge was?

what's the current fee for booking AE rewards tickets?

9. As of October 1, 2005, the service fee for all airline reward travel redeemed through the Aeroplan Call Centre will be increased to CA$30.00 per passenger, plus taxes. This fee is non-refundable. It does not apply to Aeroplan Members claiming rewards through the "Buy a Ticket & Claim a Companion Ticket" Reward Sale.

Ironically, probably exactly the same!

=aw

For AC Reservations:

"A service fee applies for initial bookings or processing changes that could have otherwise been completed online. The service fee is $20 CAD ($15 USD) per passenger, with a maximum fee per booking of $50 CAD ($37 USD)."

Sorry, I have no idea what date this took effect.

Given the statement above from AC's website, I believe we should all demand refunds for those times we've been forced to pay the fee when trying to book a certain fare class. I'll certainly mention the statement next time booking international H or U class.

That is a very good point - many times I have had to call in to get a specific fare class. While I don't mind paying the $20, I would still rather keep it!:)

Cheers,

Answida