UPGRADES: “Waitlisted” “Cleared” “Confirmed” “Pulled” “ …Scammed?
Feb 6, 2008, 3:57 pm
#91
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat), HH DIA, Hyatt DIA
Posts: 456
I did learn a lesson in this case and it didn't cost me any $ or FF account problems. I have no intention of purchasing upgrades in the future, primarily because I don’t want to risk my FF account. Honestly, if was just the money, it wouldn't be as big a deal. I did fly this weekend using one of the upgrades that cleared. I knew it was wrong, should I have come clean at the gate and demanded I get put back in coach?
Feb 6, 2008, 4:20 pm
#92
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++
FWIW, I do think the EVIP seller was being truthful . He refunded my money almost immediately, and reposted the upgrades for sale on Ebay. So I am pretty confident that whatever was wrong with his account, he did not get caught selling EVIPs.
As for “SafeFlyer” the first 10 names I tried weren’t available and since I work in the field of Avation Safety, it seemed “OK.” I’ll also add that what I tried to do and in fact did (one of the upgrades cleared prior and worked this past weekend) may have been stupid, but it certainly wasn’t “unsafe.”
PS: I did not tell AA that I purchased that upgrades, nor did they ask at anytime.
FWIW, I do think the EVIP seller was being truthful . He refunded my money almost immediately, and reposted the upgrades for sale on Ebay. So I am pretty confident that whatever was wrong with his account, he did not get caught selling EVIPs.
As for “SafeFlyer” the first 10 names I tried weren’t available and since I work in the field of Avation Safety, it seemed “OK.” I’ll also add that what I tried to do and in fact did (one of the upgrades cleared prior and worked this past weekend) may have been stupid, but it certainly wasn’t “unsafe.”
PS: I did not tell AA that I purchased that upgrades, nor did they ask at anytime.
Feb 6, 2008, 4:30 pm
#93
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Location: Tainan, Taiwan
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Dooooooo Dooooooo Dooooooo Dooooooo
Uhhh, gotta ask. How did AA discover your identity and link to your AA account from an eBay ad?
Feb 6, 2008, 5:22 pm
#94
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And the sale of eVIPs is strictly forbidden according to AAs T & Cs, so he's not being truthful there.
Feb 6, 2008, 5:44 pm
#95
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 737
Also it's quite easy to send a message/question and get the email address and match it up that way.
Feb 6, 2008, 9:31 pm
#96
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
I know we all want to damn X to hell for selling eVIPs, but when I read the claim that he had be EXP for 15 years, I assumed he meant he was a top-tier AA flyer -- whatever the top-tier status was as the time.
Yes, X is violating AA's T&C but that is not the same as breaking the law. To me those are two very different things. As such we should not use this opportunity to cast doubt on X's entire pathology, though I'm certain most will disagree with me on this. The fact that one of OP's eVIPs did work and that he did get a refund for the unused ones is an indication that, while X is violating AA's T&C, X had no intention of swindling the OP.
FWIW, I have never bought, sold, or bartered miles or eVIPs but certainly have given away a few of them.
Yes, X is violating AA's T&C but that is not the same as breaking the law. To me those are two very different things. As such we should not use this opportunity to cast doubt on X's entire pathology, though I'm certain most will disagree with me on this. The fact that one of OP's eVIPs did work and that he did get a refund for the unused ones is an indication that, while X is violating AA's T&C, X had no intention of swindling the OP.
FWIW, I have never bought, sold, or bartered miles or eVIPs but certainly have given away a few of them.
Feb 6, 2008, 10:01 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
I don't think that the number is assigned later, even in this case. What may be happening is that the number is assigned immediately, but that there are additional steps to actually "pulling" the eVIP. I always thought of this as the same action, but they could be different, and it would only matter if the assigned, numbered eVIP somehow went away in the interim.
So yes, it appears one eVIP can generate more than one certificate number. You could also have a situation where the same eVIP is used more than once to fly immediately, and by the time the system updates, travel is completed and the account goes into a negative balance.
If and when the account goes negative, I suspect it is handled on a case-by-case basis with the customer.
I have not had this happen to me, but it has been explained to me in this manner by the EXP desk.
Feb 7, 2008, 6:40 am
#99
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I know we all want to damn X to hell for selling eVIPs, but when I read the claim that he had be EXP for 15 years, I assumed he meant he was a top-tier AA flyer -- whatever the top-tier status was as the time.
Yes, X is violating AA's T&C but that is not the same as breaking the law. To me those are two very different things. As such we should not use this opportunity to cast doubt on X's entire pathology, though I'm certain most will disagree with me on this. The fact that one of OP's eVIPs did work and that he did get a refund for the unused ones is an indication that, while X is violating AA's T&C, X had no intention of swindling the OP.
FWIW, I have never bought, sold, or bartered miles or eVIPs but certainly have given away a few of them.
Yes, X is violating AA's T&C but that is not the same as breaking the law. To me those are two very different things. As such we should not use this opportunity to cast doubt on X's entire pathology, though I'm certain most will disagree with me on this. The fact that one of OP's eVIPs did work and that he did get a refund for the unused ones is an indication that, while X is violating AA's T&C, X had no intention of swindling the OP.
FWIW, I have never bought, sold, or bartered miles or eVIPs but certainly have given away a few of them.
We know the following:
The seller is breaking AA rules by selling the eVIPs on eBay.
The OP got his money back and AA hasn't penalized him.
I haven't been on FT nearly as long as some here, but long enough that I can envision these two facts morphing into "proof" that nothing happens to someone who decides to sell eVIPs/miles, etc... . (Sort of the same way the various Op Up stories result in people w/no status in deep discount on a TATL flight post and say "gee, if I ask will AA just give me an F seat too, what are the magic words?").
Nothing could be further from the truth. AA is aggressive in their pursuit of eBay sales. The OP got lucky and I'm very pleased for him/her that s/he got a refund. However, seller X is another issue. No sooner had the problem been rectified than he ret'd to eBay to sell the eVIPs again. I suspect that seller X will not be given the opportunity to try and sell the eVIPs a 3rd time.
Last edited by bdemaria; Feb 7, 2008 at 7:40 am
Feb 14, 2008, 11:22 pm
#101
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 5
thanks for this message board... i was aggressively pursuing trying to purchase 2 VIP upgrades on ebay for the last few days. i'm glad i lost the auction. so i'm guessing the consensus is dont buy them from ebay???
Feb 15, 2008, 1:03 am
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
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Welcome to FT.
Yes- do not buy eVIPs (or miles) from eBay, craigslist, or anywhere else.
Cheers.
Yes- do not buy eVIPs (or miles) from eBay, craigslist, or anywhere else.
Cheers.
Feb 15, 2008, 2:04 pm
#103
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA L/T Gold
Posts: 174
better.....
better luck and odds of success in Las Vegas
Feb 15, 2008, 4:17 pm
#104
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Buying / selling eVIPs can result in accounts being blocked and audited, and worse. AA maintains active auditing of places like eBay, Craigslist, etc. There are a few threads on this Forum with firsthand experience, and they make for some interesting reading (particularly on dark, stormy nights.
)
Buying / selling eVIPs can result in accounts being blocked and audited, and worse. AA maintains active auditing of places like eBay, Craigslist, etc. There are a few threads on this Forum with firsthand experience, and they make for some interesting reading (particularly on dark, stormy nights.
)
Feb 16, 2008, 8:31 am
#105
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