$125 change fee on an F/J award?
Nov 1, 2014, 4:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
$125 change fee on an F/J award?
Had an F partner award where a segment didnt have any F/J award space open. 7 days out it opened and I was able to book us into business class online. I was charged a $125 change fee for my companion/wife who is MVP and not gold and rather than call and screw around wasting time before the seats disappeared I just paid rather than called so I could secure the seats. Was this charge correct in that we should have been charged a "change fee" in essence for booking into J on AA(bascically the AA fare code went from T to U and on AA U isnt upgrade), same flight, when we were already on an F award? If thats how it works then so be it, otherwise I will contact the accounting office. Ive always been under the impression that #1 changing your current fare basis on a segment to a higher one, there isnt a change fee. #2 changing a coach segment to an F seat there isnt a change fee but I know awards can be a bit funny
Last edited by ANC; Nov 1, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Nov 1, 2014, 5:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,838
If you redeemed a premium award and you had to accept coach on one or more segments due to lack of availability, generally AS will allow you to change it without charge should those segments become available. Ask them to note this in your PNR if you have to accept a lower class of service on some segments.
Nov 2, 2014, 10:13 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
non golds no longer receive the gold benefits of reservations booked with a Gold level persons miles. That used to be a nice glitch in the AS system but theyve fixed the loophole
Nov 2, 2014, 11:04 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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Location: FAI
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Gold miles still have the change fee waiver.
Gold miles still have the change fee waiver.
Nov 2, 2014, 2:34 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, DL
Posts: 278
Had an F partner award where a segment didnt have any F/J award space open. 7 days out it opened and I was able to book us into business class online. I was charged a $125 change fee for my companion/wife who is MVP and not gold and rather than call and screw around wasting time before the seats disappeared I just paid rather than called so I could secure the seats. Was this charge correct in that we should have been charged a "change fee" in essence for booking into J on AA(bascically the AA fare code went from T to U and on AA U isnt upgrade), same flight, when we were already on an F award? If thats how it works then so be it, otherwise I will contact the accounting office. Ive always been under the impression that #1 changing your current fare basis on a segment to a higher one, there isnt a change fee. #2 changing a coach segment to an F seat there isnt a change fee but I know awards can be a bit funny
Nov 6, 2014, 8:09 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
Also as a shout out to all the "MVP" level folks, while I conversed this situation I also added my 2 cents that MVP level members should receive a discounted change fee of either 50% of the current rate or change fees of $75 for any and all changes ^
Nov 6, 2014, 8:35 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LA/NY/CHI
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Posts: 1,876
I was making a booking for a friend using my miles mid-last month and the agent specifically confirmed that since the miles are coming out of my account, he would have no change fees. Unless some rules have changed between now and then...
Nov 6, 2014, 8:42 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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Still the case for change fees ^
Originally Posted by jona970318
I was making a booking for a friend using my miles mid-last month and the agent specifically confirmed that since the miles are coming out of my account, he would have no change fees. Unless some rules have changed between now and then...