$300 [or maybe £300] charge to standby LHR-ORD
#16
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Folks keep trying to explain the amount by looking at rules and policy....
Have you guys read the sabre records of your travels?? The first telephone agent could have noted: "pax indicated desire to standby for AAxxx, advised 300 fee'. All subsequent agents may have just seen that simple note. Op: A travel agent can view this stuff for you.
Just pulling up the first aa TATL fare I could find:
ANY TIME
CHARGE USD 300.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE - TEXT
Again, the gate agent can do anything .... Put you in first at no charge, collect 300, or collect 300 plus 2376 for a new Y fare. Don't get caught up in the details of the fee- at the airport rules are not mandatory.
I've always had good treatment by AA in lhr. Otoh, BA has been abysmal.
Have you guys read the sabre records of your travels?? The first telephone agent could have noted: "pax indicated desire to standby for AAxxx, advised 300 fee'. All subsequent agents may have just seen that simple note. Op: A travel agent can view this stuff for you.
Just pulling up the first aa TATL fare I could find:
ANY TIME
CHARGE USD 300.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE - TEXT
Again, the gate agent can do anything .... Put you in first at no charge, collect 300, or collect 300 plus 2376 for a new Y fare. Don't get caught up in the details of the fee- at the airport rules are not mandatory.
I've always had good treatment by AA in lhr. Otoh, BA has been abysmal.
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Best way to handle these things is not to try to slot yourself into terminology which may or may not make sense.
Simply say, "I notice that there is an earlier flight, do you think that you could find me a seat on it?" Then wait and see what the agent says.
The correct answer was likely that OP should have been offered the change at US$300 + fare difference. But, he never got that far.
Also worth noting the as OP asked a check-in agent for something which required a ticketing agent, it's close to a certainty that the check-in agent entered something in the PNR notes. Once that happens, you can ask every AA employee you can find and you won't get a significantly different answer.
Bottom line is that OP got a correct answer (although the EUR vs. $ distinction is easily attributed to an agent who doesn't handle the transaction itself).
Lastly, it is not a stupid rule. AA, when it sees the need for seats will solicit people and many will jump at it. Once in a blue moon, it does wind up oversold and can't fix it, so somebody gets IDB and AA pays out the comp for it. But, that isn't often and not offering standby preserves the full-fare brand.
Simply say, "I notice that there is an earlier flight, do you think that you could find me a seat on it?" Then wait and see what the agent says.
The correct answer was likely that OP should have been offered the change at US$300 + fare difference. But, he never got that far.
Also worth noting the as OP asked a check-in agent for something which required a ticketing agent, it's close to a certainty that the check-in agent entered something in the PNR notes. Once that happens, you can ask every AA employee you can find and you won't get a significantly different answer.
Bottom line is that OP got a correct answer (although the EUR vs. $ distinction is easily attributed to an agent who doesn't handle the transaction itself).
Lastly, it is not a stupid rule. AA, when it sees the need for seats will solicit people and many will jump at it. Once in a blue moon, it does wind up oversold and can't fix it, so somebody gets IDB and AA pays out the comp for it. But, that isn't often and not offering standby preserves the full-fare brand.
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,548
This part sounds odd.
In cases where standby is allowed (i.e. domestic), if SDC is not available, passengers who don't qualify for free standby (no status,etc) may now pay the same $75 fee to try standby. But as the T&C note:
"Passengers who purchase Same-Day Standby and are unable to use it due to lack of available inventory, cancellation of standby flight, or involuntary routing change are eligible for a refund."
So if standby, you're refunded if you don't clear. For a re-ticketing, if you get IDB, then you get comp that should exceed the change fee.
In cases where standby is allowed (i.e. domestic), if SDC is not available, passengers who don't qualify for free standby (no status,etc) may now pay the same $75 fee to try standby. But as the T&C note:
"Passengers who purchase Same-Day Standby and are unable to use it due to lack of available inventory, cancellation of standby flight, or involuntary routing change are eligible for a refund."
So if standby, you're refunded if you don't clear. For a re-ticketing, if you get IDB, then you get comp that should exceed the change fee.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
They were quite helpful and not at all surly.
I'm afraid the staff may also have been constrained by possible knowledge that they are likely to be audited and chastised for breaking any standby rules, discouraging them from being helpful.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
On several recent flts. from jfk to zrh, the monitor at the podium had many names on the STANDBY list--maybe lots of misconnects(?)
Several years ago jfk-cdg, I was booked on 120 (evening flt.), when I got to jfk, in time to get on 44 (late afternoon flt.); it was snowing heavily--I was permitted NO fee to go standby on 44.
Several years ago jfk-cdg, I was booked on 120 (evening flt.), when I got to jfk, in time to get on 44 (late afternoon flt.); it was snowing heavily--I was permitted NO fee to go standby on 44.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
On several recent flts. from jfk to zrh, the monitor at the podium had many names on the STANDBY list--maybe lots of misconnects(?)
Several years ago jfk-cdg, I was booked on 120 (evening flt.), when I got to jfk, in time to get on 44 (late afternoon flt.); it was snowing heavily--I was permitted NO fee to go standby on 44.
Several years ago jfk-cdg, I was booked on 120 (evening flt.), when I got to jfk, in time to get on 44 (late afternoon flt.); it was snowing heavily--I was permitted NO fee to go standby on 44.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: AA, United, Iberia, US Airways
Posts: 47
OP here.
So I think EXEC PLAT stated that the airport personnel can make some decisions regarding applying fees (from $0 to 300 + fare difference). From the lounge staff response that they 'would see what they could do,' this seems likely. In the end, I don't know whether all seats on the 7:45 were full, but after a very comfortable 3 hour nap in the Barcalounger section of the Admirals Club, I went to the gate, was upgraded to Business (sorry, I'm kind of a newbie, I think I should say "J", right?) and saw 4 or more passengers take the $500 offer to go standby on the next flight. I slept another 2 hours on the comfy J seat, watched a movie, listened briefly to my seatmate brag incessantly about his ridiculously overachieving offspring (mine are just lovely normal people) and spent more than a couple of minutes appreciating the irony of being annoyed with AA for stupid rules and then the universe telling me to stop being such a sniveler and express some gratitude that I get to travel to interesting places in comfortable planes with safe and sane pilots and crew.
btw, I'm XX, not XY.
So I think EXEC PLAT stated that the airport personnel can make some decisions regarding applying fees (from $0 to 300 + fare difference). From the lounge staff response that they 'would see what they could do,' this seems likely. In the end, I don't know whether all seats on the 7:45 were full, but after a very comfortable 3 hour nap in the Barcalounger section of the Admirals Club, I went to the gate, was upgraded to Business (sorry, I'm kind of a newbie, I think I should say "J", right?) and saw 4 or more passengers take the $500 offer to go standby on the next flight. I slept another 2 hours on the comfy J seat, watched a movie, listened briefly to my seatmate brag incessantly about his ridiculously overachieving offspring (mine are just lovely normal people) and spent more than a couple of minutes appreciating the irony of being annoyed with AA for stupid rules and then the universe telling me to stop being such a sniveler and express some gratitude that I get to travel to interesting places in comfortable planes with safe and sane pilots and crew.
btw, I'm XX, not XY.
#23
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
OP here.
So I think EXEC PLAT stated that the airport personnel can make some decisions regarding applying fees (from $0 to 300 + fare difference). From the lounge staff response that they 'would see what they could do,' this seems likely. In the end, I don't know whether all seats on the 7:45 were full, but after a very comfortable 3 hour nap in the Barcalounger section of the Admirals Club, I went to the gate, was upgraded to Business (sorry, I'm kind of a newbie, I think I should say "J", right?) and saw 4 or more passengers take the $500 offer to go standby on the next flight. I slept another 2 hours on the comfy J seat, watched a movie, listened briefly to my seatmate brag incessantly about his ridiculously overachieving offspring (mine are just lovely normal people) and spent more than a couple of minutes appreciating the irony of being annoyed with AA for stupid rules and then the universe telling me to stop being such a sniveler and express some gratitude that I get to travel to interesting places in comfortable planes with safe and sane pilots and crew.
btw, I'm XX, not XY.
So I think EXEC PLAT stated that the airport personnel can make some decisions regarding applying fees (from $0 to 300 + fare difference). From the lounge staff response that they 'would see what they could do,' this seems likely. In the end, I don't know whether all seats on the 7:45 were full, but after a very comfortable 3 hour nap in the Barcalounger section of the Admirals Club, I went to the gate, was upgraded to Business (sorry, I'm kind of a newbie, I think I should say "J", right?) and saw 4 or more passengers take the $500 offer to go standby on the next flight. I slept another 2 hours on the comfy J seat, watched a movie, listened briefly to my seatmate brag incessantly about his ridiculously overachieving offspring (mine are just lovely normal people) and spent more than a couple of minutes appreciating the irony of being annoyed with AA for stupid rules and then the universe telling me to stop being such a sniveler and express some gratitude that I get to travel to interesting places in comfortable planes with safe and sane pilots and crew.
btw, I'm XX, not XY.
Some staff will cut us some slack - I've been told "we don't do standby on international flights" by ticket counter staff - while they changed my flight.