VIP for Q Fares
 

In the 2004 EXP handbook (page 13), the Systemwide Upgrade Terms and conditions reads as follows:

Upgrades are not applicable to tour fares, off-tariff or non-published fares (such as AAdvantage travel awards, any free ticket or tickets
booked in I or O Class, or transatlantic, transpacific, South America, Central America, or Mexico tickets booked in Q Class that do not
originate in the United States), or other privately negotiated discount fares including, without limitation, group or block discounts,
contract bulk, military or other government fares, or opaque fares, nor toward the purchase of Prepaid Tickets (PTA), Miscellaneous
Charge Orders (MCO) or special Service Tickets (Form 406). However, this upgrade is applicable to meeting services, privately negotiated
corporate fares, NetSAAver® Fares, fares booked on AA.com and senior discount fares.

2004 Guide: http://www.aa.com/content/images/AAd...ep_02_2004.pdf

In the 2005 EXP handbook (page 15), the the Systemwide Upgrade Terms and conditions reads as follows:
Upgrades are only valid on individual published-fare tickets. Upgrades are not applicable to AAdvantage travel awards; any free ticket; tickets booked in I or O class; transatlantic, transpacific, South America, Central America, or Mexico tickets booked in Q Class; military or other government fares; opaque fares; infant tickets (including INFO fares) or purchased extra seats.

2005 Guide : http://www.aa.com/content/images/AAd...tinumGuide.pdf


This raises a few questions.

Note the language change from 2004 to 2005 regarding the Q Fares. 2004
reads "transpacific, South America, Central America, or Mexico tickets booked in Q Class that do not originate in the United States)," whereas 2005 reads "transpacific, South America, Central America, or Mexico tickets booked in Q Class;"

1. Does this mean that eVIPs that were earned mid-late 2004 are still under the 2004 terms and conditions since they were earned/deposited during that time period?

Also, 2004 reads "However, this upgrade is applicable to meeting services, privately negotiated corporate fares, NetSAAver® Fares, fares booked on AA.com and senior discount fares." Of course there is no mention of NetSAAver or AA.com fares mentioned in 2005. Same question applies with the Systemwides earned in 2004.

These questions have arisen because of the new ORD-NGO service and the current sale fare is available only in Q class, thus preventing the use of a system wide upgrade (at least based on the 2005 verbage).

I understand that we are now in the new membership year, and the rules are clear. However, if I earned 8 certificates in July 2004, I would receive my card, the 2004 book, and 8 eVIP's that would expire July 2005. Would these not still fall under the 2004 eVIP rules?

I am curious if there is a separate starfile for the 2004 VIP certificates and the 2005 VIP certificates. If in fact there is, then perhaps there is still hope.
:confused:

A much discussed topic. Too bad search is down as it's several pages back. This general topic has been discussed quite a bit. There is nothing to indicate that VIPs earned in 2004 would fall under the "old" rules, as you suggest. I posted exactly that in one of the threads and suggested that we write to inquire, nay demand this. (ok, so ask :)).

Cheers.

There is no hope. No more international VIP upgrades on Q-fares, period. I just had to buy-up a Q-fare to SCL (bought before the change) to a N-fare in order to use eVIP on same.

:(

Anyone else predict AA restricting their applicability to Y, B, H and K down the line?

Personally, I see zero chance of that.