International award tickets for a not-yet-born baby?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP; WN; SPG; Hyatt
Posts: 20
International award tickets for a not-yet-born baby?
I'm trying to take the family to Asia in August. Caveat: wife and I are expecting #2 in early Feb. I'm looking to use miles to book the wife and kids into Business class and purchasing myself an economy ticket to upgrade with SWUs. The availability (U and C) is there for mid August.
Called AA yesterday morning and I was able to put the seats on hold. Then called back last night to pay and was told they couldn't issue the tickets without a DOB. Rep suggested I book the rest of the family now and try again for the baby after he/she is born. This is not acceptable to me because it doesn't seem likely that the award availability will be there 4 months from now. I would prefer to travel in August. I suppose if I can't get these seats ticketed, I will need to wait until Feb to book, which could mean traveling as late as December.
I've read several threads here discussing how to ticket an unborn child, but most of the suggestions offered deal with domestic travel. My understanding from those threads is you can get away with this domestically because there is no ID requirement for under-two's to travel. My question is: has anyone been able to do this on AA? Recently?
Called AA yesterday morning and I was able to put the seats on hold. Then called back last night to pay and was told they couldn't issue the tickets without a DOB. Rep suggested I book the rest of the family now and try again for the baby after he/she is born. This is not acceptable to me because it doesn't seem likely that the award availability will be there 4 months from now. I would prefer to travel in August. I suppose if I can't get these seats ticketed, I will need to wait until Feb to book, which could mean traveling as late as December.
I've read several threads here discussing how to ticket an unborn child, but most of the suggestions offered deal with domestic travel. My understanding from those threads is you can get away with this domestically because there is no ID requirement for under-two's to travel. My question is: has anyone been able to do this on AA? Recently?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 421
Why do you want to get a full award ticket for what I'm assuming will be a lap infant? You can get the award tickets for adults and other children, and then call AA to get a lap infant ticket which should be 10% of what the non-award fare cost should be.
Pray for everyone involved that you don't have a colic-y baby in J on a flight to Asia
Pray for everyone involved that you don't have a colic-y baby in J on a flight to Asia
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP; WN; SPG; Hyatt
Posts: 20
Why do you want to get a full award ticket for what I'm assuming will be a lap infant?
#4
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 715
Does the dr have an anticipated due date? If so use that date and change it later.
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
I'm trying to take the family to Asia in August. Caveat: wife and I are expecting #2 in early Feb. I'm looking to use miles to book the wife and kids into Business class and purchasing myself an economy ticket to upgrade with SWUs. The availability (U and C) is there for mid August.
Called AA yesterday morning and I was able to put the seats on hold. Then called back last night to pay and was told they couldn't issue the tickets without a DOB. Rep suggested I book the rest of the family now and try again for the baby after he/she is born. This is not acceptable to me because it doesn't seem likely that the award availability will be there 4 months from now. I would prefer to travel in August. I suppose if I can't get these seats ticketed, I will need to wait until Feb to book, which could mean traveling as late as December.
I've read several threads here discussing how to ticket an unborn child, but most of the suggestions offered deal with domestic travel. My understanding from those threads is you can get away with this domestically because there is no ID requirement for under-two's to travel. My question is: has anyone been able to do this on AA? Recently?
Called AA yesterday morning and I was able to put the seats on hold. Then called back last night to pay and was told they couldn't issue the tickets without a DOB. Rep suggested I book the rest of the family now and try again for the baby after he/she is born. This is not acceptable to me because it doesn't seem likely that the award availability will be there 4 months from now. I would prefer to travel in August. I suppose if I can't get these seats ticketed, I will need to wait until Feb to book, which could mean traveling as late as December.
I've read several threads here discussing how to ticket an unborn child, but most of the suggestions offered deal with domestic travel. My understanding from those threads is you can get away with this domestically because there is no ID requirement for under-two's to travel. My question is: has anyone been able to do this on AA? Recently?
Even if the agent is willing to do the name change (and it can be done, though it is done rarely), it must be an all AA itinerary.
Time to agent shop!
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AS, BA, AA
Posts: 3,670
Reserve two award seats for your wife (use "Xtra Seat" as the passenger name, the same way that you would for a fat person or a cello).
Then after the baby is born, you can see if the EXP desk can work some magic to convert the Extra Seat to the baby's name. Even if it involves cancelling the extra seat and re-purchasing the award ticket, that should be free for an EXP. The EXP desk should be able to contact revenue management, explain the special circumstances, and ensure the inventory is re-released into the same award inventory so that you can re-book it for the baby.
If they refuse to change "Xtra Seat", (extremely unlikely, IMO) you can add the baby as a lap child and still use the extra seat. The worst possible outcome I can see is that you will be out the 10% lap child fee.
Then after the baby is born, you can see if the EXP desk can work some magic to convert the Extra Seat to the baby's name. Even if it involves cancelling the extra seat and re-purchasing the award ticket, that should be free for an EXP. The EXP desk should be able to contact revenue management, explain the special circumstances, and ensure the inventory is re-released into the same award inventory so that you can re-book it for the baby.
If they refuse to change "Xtra Seat", (extremely unlikely, IMO) you can add the baby as a lap child and still use the extra seat. The worst possible outcome I can see is that you will be out the 10% lap child fee.
Last edited by janetdoe; Oct 9, 2012 at 2:35 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO, CLT
Programs: AA Bonsai EXP (2.9 MM), AS MVPG
Posts: 1,393
Not surprisingly, this issue has come up many times in the past on the AAdvantage forum as well as on other fora. Lots of information on FT already.
Search term {unborn}
Here are a few of the 20+ threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...orn-child.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...orn-child.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...born-baby.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...med-child.html
Search term {unborn}
Here are a few of the 20+ threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...orn-child.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...orn-child.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...born-baby.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...med-child.html
#8
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,603
#9
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Gold, AA Lifetime Gold, United Silver, BA Gold
Posts: 864
Vowwww.... So a car seat in a lie flat business class seat. I am sure you will be the talk of the town OR at least talk of the plane :-)
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 736
Also if OP wants to use his miles for this, not sure why he's getting flak about it. It's his prerogative.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: Former AA EXP; 2M Lifetime PLT member-
Posts: 405
cant imagine traveling in business class or first class with a crying baby for the haul... i hope it does not happen on any of my flights....
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: STL
Programs: MR LT Titanium, UA 1K, DL Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 886
I can't imagine that people with a child would need to travel. I'm convinced they should sit at home until the kids are at least 15. Grandma and Grandpa can come visit them, even though Grandpa just had a stroke and can't walk very well.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Gold, AA Lifetime Gold, United Silver, BA Gold
Posts: 864
Also if OP wants to use his miles for this, not sure why he's getting flak about it. It's his prerogative.
As for him spending his miles, he is free to block the entire Business Class even using Standard Awards if needed. His choice and his miles.
As a member of FT, it is out duty to advise flyers on getting the best of their miles. After that it is completely their own choice.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PDX & MVD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 318
Btw, you'd have to pay %10 of a full business fare to do the infant in seat even if the rest of you are on miles. The way it works out, it makes more sense to get the baby a seat using miles.