Bookings using Customer Service going from $5 to $8
 

Just got off the phone with an AA reservations rep. Was told the ticketing fee was increasing to $8 as of tomorrow (the 24th).

You can still book some tickets online without a service fee.

He justified it be saying all the other airlines had raised their fees.

I still object to being charged a fee for tickets which cAAn't be booked online.

i.e., international AAward tickets.

I can see where if you chose to call instead of using the Internet the "penalty" is justified, but when you have no choice, that's just wrong. That's like paying a "cash register fee" at the grocery store.

From aa.com:

Note: Reservations ticketed by our reservations offices are subject to a $5.00 USD fee ($8.00 USD effective August 24, 2005).

Note: Reservations ticketed by our airport agents are subject to a $10.00 USD fee ($15.00 USD effective August 24, 2005).

Pendejos!!!

I trust EXP bookings remain fee-free...

Let's hope. Of course even now they charge if you are not one of the pax (found this out recently booking award tix for family) Boo to the zero advance notice by the way.

Once again AA gets led by the nose ring by some other airline. If they really needed to raise the fee $3 then they should have done it on their own initiative long ago when it was needed and made the justification on its own merits.

If they could have lived without the increase then they should keep it at $5 and make a point to tell the world that "AA has the lowest reservation fee in the business" or some such marketing spin.

These guys have no imagination.... nor leadership ..... anymore.

Yeah, but you gotta love their warm and cuddly bosoms...

How soon a nickel-and-dime practice becomes a dollar or some multiple thereof. :(

The cost of award tickets (for most AAdvantage members) has been bumped up by $8 per ticket since 2004, right?

At this pace (from the $5 to $8), how soon until the booking fee hits $25? :(

Anyone who uses vouchers to ticket at the airport is now going to lose $15 or is that waived for EXPs?

One can do international awards online. Maybe you mean partner awards? In that case, I agree.

Cheers.

Last time I made a "Vocher" reservation I had to make it with a CSR and couldn't make it online. Therefore I would be charged the $8. I thought the $5 was wrong, now it's more wrong. :td:

I rationalize this fee by calling 5-10 times on the same reservation only to make minor changes. :mad:

You make me laugh, I do the same thing. I had to book over the phone b/c I had some credits I needed to use and I called them 3 times the next day to change my seat. Might as well get my money's worth.

Agree. I hope you wrote to the DOT with your (very legitimate and valid) concerns (see http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm )

True. And right or wrong, it has nothing to do with making award reservations...which can still be done online.

Cheers.

Agreed - in fact I support them charging people to call in when they don't have to. Airlines need to capture every nickle they can get...I rather they institute these increases than go BK.

Still, the fee should be waived when AA.com can't handle it