Beware fare
Nov 9, 2004, 10:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
Beware fare
Manchester-Orlando RT for Family member at Thanksgiving which I just tried to rebook for a later date.
No Refund...As expected
No Change...Now Thats New to me
No Refund of Taxes...Now Thats Robbery
No Refund...As expected
No Change...Now Thats New to me
No Refund of Taxes...Now Thats Robbery
Nov 9, 2004, 11:41 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Yikes. 
Reminds me of a transcon ticket I purchased a few years ago. I "held" the reservation on AA.com and went back early the next day to purchase it. To my surprise, AA.com said my fare had dropped by a few dollars. What luck.
Problem was, I was in a hurry and completed the purchase without printing out the fare rules AGAIN (as I had already printed them out the day before).
Big mistake. Turns out that AA.com substituted a "use it or lose it" special web-only fare for my normal L or N discount fare. My plan changed, I tried to change (willing to pay change fee, of course)the ticket, and was told "Sorry - you purchased a no-change fare. It's now worthless." This was long before the well-publicized "use it or lose it" rules that went into effect a couple years ago.
It took several letters to AA before I was able to re-use that ticket.
What galled me the most was that AA.com essentially did a "bait and switch" on me. I reserved a non-refundable fare that could be changed for the change fee, and when I hit "purchase," AA substituted an inferior product but only told me that it was 4 or 5 dollars cheaper than the one I'd reserved.
Arguably, I shared some blame for not reading the fare rules again. But when I hit "purchase," I intended to purchase what I had reserved the day before.
Fortunately, AA.com has never tried to pull that stunt on me since.
Reminds me of a transcon ticket I purchased a few years ago. I "held" the reservation on AA.com and went back early the next day to purchase it. To my surprise, AA.com said my fare had dropped by a few dollars. What luck.
Problem was, I was in a hurry and completed the purchase without printing out the fare rules AGAIN (as I had already printed them out the day before).
Big mistake. Turns out that AA.com substituted a "use it or lose it" special web-only fare for my normal L or N discount fare. My plan changed, I tried to change (willing to pay change fee, of course)the ticket, and was told "Sorry - you purchased a no-change fare. It's now worthless." This was long before the well-publicized "use it or lose it" rules that went into effect a couple years ago.
It took several letters to AA before I was able to re-use that ticket.
What galled me the most was that AA.com essentially did a "bait and switch" on me. I reserved a non-refundable fare that could be changed for the change fee, and when I hit "purchase," AA substituted an inferior product but only told me that it was 4 or 5 dollars cheaper than the one I'd reserved.
Arguably, I shared some blame for not reading the fare rules again. But when I hit "purchase," I intended to purchase what I had reserved the day before.
Fortunately, AA.com has never tried to pull that stunt on me since.
Nov 9, 2004, 11:57 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
how can an airline refuse to refund taxes? i would think this is dispute-able with the credit card company. how can an airline charge tax on a service that is never provided?
Nov 9, 2004, 12:49 pm
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA EXP/Marriott Plat/Hertz PC
Posts: 12,724
Originally Posted by fly co to see the yanks
how can an airline refuse to refund taxes? i would think this is dispute-able with the credit card company. how can an airline charge tax on a service that is never provided?
Nov 9, 2004, 1:00 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
Originally Posted by whirledtraveler
Yes, now that is where you pull out the bullhorn. Collecting taxes on an unused ticket has to be illegal.
Nov 9, 2004, 1:07 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
By the way the taxes and fees were around $100, so I've asked Customer Service to follow The Fare rules 100%. There was a 10 minute schedule change after the reservation, and in accordance with the fare Rules, its refundable if there is a schedule change, yes I know about the unwritten 2 hours thing, just awaiting their reaction to my e-mail.