Purchasing with intent to cancel?
Dec 14, 2017, 7:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: MVP Gold
Posts: 215
Purchasing with intent to cancel?
So I am curious if this frowned upon or "illegal" or what haha
So I am planing on going back home on Saturday and I booked a red-eye flight earlier this year because it was cheaper fare and now I plan on doing the same day confirmed change (as a MVP Gold) so switch to the morning flight. How bad would it be to purchase a ticket for the morning flight using miles to make sure I have a good seat (exit row or premium) then canceling after being able to the same-day?
Let me know your thoughts on this
So I am planing on going back home on Saturday and I booked a red-eye flight earlier this year because it was cheaper fare and now I plan on doing the same day confirmed change (as a MVP Gold) so switch to the morning flight. How bad would it be to purchase a ticket for the morning flight using miles to make sure I have a good seat (exit row or premium) then canceling after being able to the same-day?
Let me know your thoughts on this
Dec 14, 2017, 7:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Plat, AS MVPG, Bonvoy Plat/LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,263
Violates the Contract of Carriage:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/le...arriage/rule-7
Whether they’ll catch you may be a different story.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/le...arriage/rule-7
Whether they’ll catch you may be a different story.
Dec 14, 2017, 8:27 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Do it once and nobody knows or cam be sure. Do it a few times and that is costing AS serious money in revenue forgone. AS doesn't spend money on anti-fraud software so that it can let ticketing fraud go.
It's a private business, so hard to blame it for not wanting to be defrauded.
It's a private business, so hard to blame it for not wanting to be defrauded.
Dec 14, 2017, 8:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,838
So I am curious if this frowned upon or "illegal" or what haha
So I am planing on going back home on Saturday and I booked a red-eye flight earlier this year because it was cheaper fare and now I plan on doing the same day confirmed change (as a MVP Gold) so switch to the morning flight. How bad would it be to purchase a ticket for the morning flight using miles to make sure I have a good seat (exit row or premium) then canceling after being able to the same-day?
Let me know your thoughts on this
So I am planing on going back home on Saturday and I booked a red-eye flight earlier this year because it was cheaper fare and now I plan on doing the same day confirmed change (as a MVP Gold) so switch to the morning flight. How bad would it be to purchase a ticket for the morning flight using miles to make sure I have a good seat (exit row or premium) then canceling after being able to the same-day?
Let me know your thoughts on this
Dec 14, 2017, 9:03 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: MVP Gold
Posts: 215
I don't plan on doing it but was just curious
Dec 15, 2017, 5:55 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,048
I recall that some frequent flyers have gotten into trouble for IT glitches that allowed First Class seats to appear as occupied, so that their upgrade is more likely to clear on the day.
Definitely a bad idea OP...
Definitely a bad idea OP...
Dec 15, 2017, 8:30 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 56
As soon as you cancel ticket your good seat will be assigned to the highest priority Elite which might be someone else. Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the system lock the seat change on the day of travel that only gate agents can upgrade?
Dec 15, 2017, 9:51 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
You can still change your seat assignment after check-in, but I do believe it locks closer in (maybe <1 hr).
Dec 15, 2017, 6:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVPG, Alaska Lounge, HHonors Silver, Bonvoy Gold, National Executive
Posts: 455
Two flights leaving the same day would definitely be flagged.
Dec 16, 2017, 1:12 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
I mean, normally I don't mind doing whatever against big corporations to get whatever benefit you can squeeze out of them, but in this case it doesn't seem worth it at all. If you were getting some good benefits out of your strategy, sure. But in this case you're only doing it for a slightly better seat - not worth it.
How was this enforced (call, email etc?). E.g. Southwest and AA do an automatic cancellation of one/both itineraries. Does alaska auto-cancel or give you time to think etc?
and they flagged that and required me to cancel one of them.
Dec 16, 2017, 1:42 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I mean, normally I don't mind doing whatever against big corporations to get whatever benefit you can squeeze out of them, but in this case it doesn't seem worth it at all. If you were getting some good benefits out of your strategy, sure. But in this case you're only doing it for a slightly better seat - not worth it.
How was this enforced (call, email etc?). E.g. Southwest and AA do an automatic cancellation of one/both itineraries. Does alaska auto-cancel or give you time to think etc?
How was this enforced (call, email etc?). E.g. Southwest and AA do an automatic cancellation of one/both itineraries. Does alaska auto-cancel or give you time to think etc?