VIP: can't confirm domestic portion of international trip first?
Nov 24, 2007, 3:31 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
VIP: can't confirm domestic portion of international trip first?
I've on several occasions had the domestic portion of an international trip confirmed prior to the international part clearing. In one instance it was the only thing that kept the VIP alive. Agent said today that I couldn't do that. Is this now true (rule change?) or misinformed agent?
Nov 24, 2007, 3:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SMF
Programs: AA EXP 4MM
Posts: 811
I've on several occasions had the domestic portion of an international trip confirmed prior to the international part clearing. In one instance it was the only thing that kept the VIP alive. Agent said today that I couldn't do that. Is this now true (rule change?) or misinformed agent?
Nov 24, 2007, 3:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: sf bay area
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond, AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 249
I'm pretty sure you can do it--in fact, I currently have a reservation in which the upgrade on the domestic sector is confirmed, and the upgrade on the international sector is still waitlisted. The point is that I had to be willing to burn the VIP for the domestic sector even if the international sector never clears.
I have two reservations right now that I was only able to secure the upgrade on the domestic portion at time of booking (SFO-Brussels / Barcelona-SFO). International u/g has cleared on both already. I have done this on every international flight I have been on and only had one person tell me she wasn't supposed to do it, but I was persistent, telling her that I was willing to take a chance that the international u/g may not come thru (it's so worth it to me to guarantee the SFO - JFK portion!).
cat22
Nov 24, 2007, 4:03 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EX PLT
Posts: 1,428
i have done this recently in october. You just have to be willing to burn the VIP even if the intl leg doesn't clear. The agent was fine with doing this...and i do not believe there has been a policy change.
Nov 24, 2007, 4:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2006
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VIPs do NOT have to be used on international itineraries, they can be booked on any flight that is eligible, including purely domestic itineraries. You may not want to burn one on a short domestic trip, but this is most definitely valid.
I used a few that way recently (MM level plus requal plus the special 25th anniversary bonus, all at the same time that I had to cancel at least two transoceanic trips that I normally take, lead to an excess of eVIPs this year).
I used a few that way recently (MM level plus requal plus the special 25th anniversary bonus, all at the same time that I had to cancel at least two transoceanic trips that I normally take, lead to an excess of eVIPs this year).
Nov 24, 2007, 4:21 pm
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
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VIPs do NOT have to be used on international itineraries, they can be booked on any flight that is eligible, including purely domestic itineraries. You may not want to burn one on a short domestic trip, but this is most definitely valid.
I used a few that way recently (MM level plus requal plus the special 25th anniversary bonus, all at the same time that I had to cancel at least two transoceanic trips that I normally take, lead to an excess of eVIPs this year).
I used a few that way recently (MM level plus requal plus the special 25th anniversary bonus, all at the same time that I had to cancel at least two transoceanic trips that I normally take, lead to an excess of eVIPs this year).
In my experience, this is not the case, so you should probably call and talk to someone else. Before doing this however - do you have an long gap between the domestic and int'l flights - this could be complicating the issue perhaps.
Nov 24, 2007, 4:42 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: sf bay area
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond, AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 249
As i understand it, the OPs issue is not one of using the eVIP for a domestic route, but rather that s/he can only confirm the domestic portion now and has been told that the eVIP cannot be waitlisted for the int'l upgrade.
In my experience, this is not the case, so you should probably call and talk to someone else. Before doing this however - do you have an long gap between the domestic and int'l flights - this could be complicating the issue perhaps.
In my experience, this is not the case, so you should probably call and talk to someone else. Before doing this however - do you have an long gap between the domestic and int'l flights - this could be complicating the issue perhaps.
cat22
Nov 24, 2007, 11:28 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
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I would never confirm the domestic leg before the international part clears, but maybe that's just me. The only exception would be if I were trying to extend the validity of my eVIPs on the last day of February.
Nov 25, 2007, 11:31 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 2+MM
Posts: 132
It's not just you. On the domestic routes that I fly, I've had very good luck with complimentary EXP upgrades, so I won't burn an eVip for that. So far, I've been successful on every eVIP upgrade, though some of them clear at the airport.
Nov 25, 2007, 8:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Metro ATL
Programs: DL D, AA LTP 2.6MM, HHonors Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 209
If you cannot confirm the UG when you book, you can request that only the international portion of your flight be covered by the EVIP.
I have had several flights where the Domestic portion of my flight clears at 100 hours and the international piece later.
If you split the domestic and international, you don't need to be concerned that you burn the EVIP on the domestic segment(s).
I have had several flights where the Domestic portion of my flight clears at 100 hours and the international piece later.
If you split the domestic and international, you don't need to be concerned that you burn the EVIP on the domestic segment(s).