Severely oversold flight with lots of kids
Jul 20, 2010, 8:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
Severely oversold flight with lots of kids
My kids were scheduled to leave summer camp Aug 9.
The flight TVC-ORD had been getting fuller and fuller (it is now sold out).
The reason for this is that that is the day Interlochen Summer Camp (arts school) lets out.
What would happen is I buy my 3 executive platinum kids seats (AA opens up space for executive platinum at full Y)? Somebody would need to be bumped...but they are all kids?
It seems that if there are enough executive plats trying to do this it could really cause havoc with the system.
The flight TVC-ORD had been getting fuller and fuller (it is now sold out).
The reason for this is that that is the day Interlochen Summer Camp (arts school) lets out.
What would happen is I buy my 3 executive platinum kids seats (AA opens up space for executive platinum at full Y)? Somebody would need to be bumped...but they are all kids?
It seems that if there are enough executive plats trying to do this it could really cause havoc with the system.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:06 am
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
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My kids were scheduled to leave summer camp Aug 9.
The flight TVC-ORD had been getting fuller and fuller (it is now sold out).
The reason for this is that that is the day Interlochen Summer Camp (arts school) lets out.
What would happen is I buy my 3 executive platinum kids seats (AA opens up space for executive platinum at full Y)? Somebody would need to be bumped...but they are all kids?
It seems that if there are enough executive plats trying to do this it could really cause havoc with the system.
The flight TVC-ORD had been getting fuller and fuller (it is now sold out).
The reason for this is that that is the day Interlochen Summer Camp (arts school) lets out.
What would happen is I buy my 3 executive platinum kids seats (AA opens up space for executive platinum at full Y)? Somebody would need to be bumped...but they are all kids?
It seems that if there are enough executive plats trying to do this it could really cause havoc with the system.
To answer your question of what would happen is would be the latest to check-in non-child pax would be IDBed in order of status starting with none.
Btw - the two flights that day are booked at 52, 50, 49 and 52 respectively. Not a severe oversell.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:06 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
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FWIW, this benefit is somewhat in dispute. Yes, it is printed in the EXP member handbook, but reports have been mixed here on FT. Some agents claim it doesn't exist, or they don't know how to process this kind of request.
I would plan to travel on another day.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:07 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Posts: 4,010
What would happen is I buy my 3 executive platinum kids seats (AA opens up space for executive platinum at full Y)? Somebody would need to be bumped...but they are all kids?
It seems that if there are enough executive plats trying to do this it could really cause havoc with the system.
It seems that if there are enough executive plats trying to do this it could really cause havoc with the system.
I don't think the guaranteed availability benefit for EXP is used often enough to cause "havoc with the system".
Jul 20, 2010, 8:08 am
#5
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And IMHO a very lucrative one. A full Y fare is more than an IDB (and especially a VDB) in almost every market.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:10 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
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How is it in dispute? It's a published benefit. The only problem seems to be some AAgents who don't know how it works, presumably because they don't deal with it that often.
There's more discussion about that issue here:
Problem with EXP "Guaranteed Coach Availability"
There's more discussion about that issue here:
Problem with EXP "Guaranteed Coach Availability"
Last edited by videomaker; Jul 20, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Jul 20, 2010, 8:24 am
#7
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It seems the OP has devised a rather nasty hypothetical situation. I agree that in practice, this is a very low probability event. There are names for people who seek to create havoc at the clear expense of others.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:29 am
#8
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If the kids are EXPs and he wants to spend the money to buy them all tickets at full Y, I say go right ahead. AA needs the cash.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:29 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
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That's a good point. In this case, it seems there was plenty of time to purchase tickets to get the kids back from camp without using the guaranteed availability.
Jul 20, 2010, 8:42 am
#10
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Clearly, there was a reason for waiting. No one would hold out with good cause with the intention of using the EXP Y benefit for three people. Y on that route is $753+tax one way.
Jul 20, 2010, 9:21 am
#11
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You could look at it the opposite way: three very happy adults will have the chance to take VDBs, subsidized by OP's lack of planning.
Jul 20, 2010, 11:38 am
#13
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Jul 20, 2010, 12:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 503
How is it in dispute? It's a published benefit. The only problem seems to be some AAgents who don't know how it works, presumably because they don't deal with it that often.
There's more discussion about that issue here:
Problem with EXP "Guaranteed Coach Availability"
There's more discussion about that issue here:
Problem with EXP "Guaranteed Coach Availability"
Jul 20, 2010, 12:15 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
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