Really AA Agent? (upgrade rules / F going out not full)
Dec 22, 2011, 3:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA Platinum/UA 1K/Global Entry
Posts: 16
Really AA Agent? (upgrade rules / F going out not full)
Im an AA Plat. Yesterday I was traveling MIA-SJU with my family of 5 but with a reservation of 2 and one of 3. My wife(gold) and I on one, and my 3 kids on the other. My wife and I got upgraded 72 hrs out, and so we went to the airport with 2 F seats and 3 Y seats. We got to the gate and found out that there were 11 F seats still open and no one on the upgrade list. The agent said that I could claim one of my kids for the upgrade, and my wife could claim the other, leaving one child in economy. I decided just to upgrade 1 so at least we would have 3 and 2. As the plane was boarding, still with 11 seats open in F, the agent still refused to let us bring up the last child and gave 3 seats to crew and left 8 seats left empty. Also, we were all on FULL FARE economy tickets (B). I find it ridiculous that when all their competitors give complimentary upgrades to all elites, AA refuses to let 1 child sit on a full fare ticket sit in first class when there are 11 open seats. I know that its all about which gate agent you get because I know many gate agents would have no problem bringing one person up in that situation. Thoughts?
Dec 22, 2011, 3:05 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
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Dec 22, 2011, 3:05 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Im an AA Plat. Yesterday I was traveling MIA-SJU with my family of 5 but with a reservation of 2 and one of 3. My wife(gold) and I on one, and my 3 kids on the other. My wife and I got upgraded 72 hrs out, and so we went to the airport with 2 F seats and 3 Y seats. We got to the gate and found out that there were 11 F seats still open and no one on the upgrade list. The agent said that I could claim one of my kids for the upgrade, and my wife could claim the other, leaving one child in economy. I decided just to upgrade 1 so at least we would have 3 and 2. As the plane was boarding, still with 11 seats open in F, the agent still refused to let us bring up the last child and gave 3 seats to crew and left 8 seats left empty. Also, we were all on FULL FARE economy tickets (B). I find it ridiculous that when all their competitors give complimentary upgrades to all elites, AA refuses to let 1 child sit on a full fare ticket sit in first class when there are 11 open seats. I know that its all about which gate agent you get because I know many gate agents would have no problem bringing one person up in that situation. Thoughts?
Dec 22, 2011, 3:12 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT,VS Silver,SPG gold, Hilton, AMEX Plat, BA nothing.
Posts: 3,312
Next time do the right thing and make your wife sit in the back. 
Dec 22, 2011, 3:17 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
If everyone really had a B fare then everyone could have upgraded for free strictly on the basis of the ticket.
Dec 22, 2011, 3:21 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AA EXP; AA 2MM+; Marriott Plt; SPG Gold
Posts: 156
Dec 22, 2011, 3:22 pm
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,480
You unfortunately got an AAgent who wouldn't budge from the rules.
With F wide open like that, and with no elites on the upgrade list, I've been allowed on several occasions to upgrade more than 1 companion. In all instances though this was done at the AC, and they were more than happy to do it since F was pretty empty.
With F wide open like that, and with no elites on the upgrade list, I've been allowed on several occasions to upgrade more than 1 companion. In all instances though this was done at the AC, and they were more than happy to do it since F was pretty empty.
Dec 22, 2011, 3:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,172
If the child was upgraded, so why did the FA refuse? Did you use stickers or miles to upgrade?
The only way the upgrade would have processed would be to split the reservation between you and your wife, and split the children's reservation into 1 and 2. Then link the 1 child to yours and process the upgrade. Did she do all of that? Or did she just tell you that she will give the free upgrade?
OP, can you clarify your story? You said the the "FA refused to bring the last child up" but you mentioned that there were 2 children in the back as you decided not to have a single child alone?
The only way the upgrade would have processed would be to split the reservation between you and your wife, and split the children's reservation into 1 and 2. Then link the 1 child to yours and process the upgrade. Did she do all of that? Or did she just tell you that she will give the free upgrade?
OP, can you clarify your story? You said the the "FA refused to bring the last child up" but you mentioned that there were 2 children in the back as you decided not to have a single child alone?
Dec 22, 2011, 3:28 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
Traveling LGA-MCO a couple years ago as an EXP I had a GA let me upgrade +3 children. I thought it was nice. One the way back they only allowed +1 and I was fine with that. Back with TW I once had a GA upgrade +4 when two of us were already in F JFK-SJU. That was really nice. Both were Christmas holiday trips.
Dec 22, 2011, 3:32 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Here it says Y/B fares are entitled to complimentary upgrades.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/e...#complimentary
Yet on the chart, it shows you need 8K miles to upgrade a Y/B fare.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/...rade-chart.jsp
Dec 22, 2011, 3:34 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DSM
Programs: AA EXP .72MM
Posts: 188
I think they should use common sense and fill empty F
Im an AA Plat. Yesterday I was traveling MIA-SJU with my family of 5 but with a reservation of 2 and one of 3. My wife(gold) and I on one, and my 3 kids on the other. My wife and I got upgraded 72 hrs out, and so we went to the airport with 2 F seats and 3 Y seats. We got to the gate and found out that there were 11 F seats still open and no one on the upgrade list. The agent said that I could claim one of my kids for the upgrade, and my wife could claim the other, leaving one child in economy. I decided just to upgrade 1 so at least we would have 3 and 2. As the plane was boarding, still with 11 seats open in F, the agent still refused to let us bring up the last child and gave 3 seats to crew and left 8 seats left empty. Also, we were all on FULL FARE economy tickets (B). I find it ridiculous that when all their competitors give complimentary upgrades to all elites, AA refuses to let 1 child sit on a full fare ticket sit in first class when there are 11 open seats. I know that its all about which gate agent you get because I know many gate agents would have no problem bringing one person up in that situation. Thoughts?
AA sometimes lets F seats go empty and wont even let other elites up front without charging them...I never agreed with that rule until I made EXP!!
Dec 22, 2011, 3:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Fresno, CA
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 304
Non-elites can upgrade using stickers when flying on a Y or B ticket. I suppose the additional upgrade wasn't worth buying the two stickers for MIA-SJU.
Dec 22, 2011, 3:38 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Dec 22, 2011, 3:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
The 8k miles gets you a confirmed or waitlisted upgrade at booking, the sticker upgrade gets processed after all elite upgrade requests. 8k miles could be a relatively cheap way to buy peace of mind.
Dec 22, 2011, 3:49 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
So it seems if all five members of the OP's party were on a real Y/B fare, the Mom (GLD) and the DAD (PLT) could have requested complimentary upgrades for one kid each. The third kid could have been upgraded using 8K miles or two stickers purchased and deposited into his account.
Hopefully the OP will use all of this information we have provided to make sure everyone in his party gets upgraded on the return.