Flight cancellations on AAward - advice needed.
May 15, 2008, 4:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Flight cancellations on AAward - advice needed.
This September, I'm due to fly LHR-YVR-SFO and back SFO-YVR-LHR-MAD-OPO for my wedding and honeymoon (with my wife to be of course), all in F.
We ticketed this back in October on a combination of BA/AS/IB. Now, due to AS dropping YVR-SFO altogether, we're stuck flying YVR-SEA-SFO. This isn't much a problem on the outbound (only get in one hour later), but it is a bit on our return.
We were originally supposed to leave SF around noon, but now we've been rescheduled to depart at 9:30, connecting through SEA with the SEA-YVR leg on QX. As we're getting married in Napa and staying there the night before we leave, this poses a bit of a problem, especially given that we'll be flying out on a Monday. Furthermore, I'm a bit concerned about us and our bags making it through 4 connections on 4 different carriers.
Its now 7 months after ticketing and there aren't any Z seats available on AA. The EXP desk sent a request to revenue management to open seats on LAX-LHR, but I'm not holding out much hope.
Does anyone have any suggestions about the best way to approach this? Any advice is much appreciated!
We ticketed this back in October on a combination of BA/AS/IB. Now, due to AS dropping YVR-SFO altogether, we're stuck flying YVR-SEA-SFO. This isn't much a problem on the outbound (only get in one hour later), but it is a bit on our return.
We were originally supposed to leave SF around noon, but now we've been rescheduled to depart at 9:30, connecting through SEA with the SEA-YVR leg on QX. As we're getting married in Napa and staying there the night before we leave, this poses a bit of a problem, especially given that we'll be flying out on a Monday. Furthermore, I'm a bit concerned about us and our bags making it through 4 connections on 4 different carriers.
Its now 7 months after ticketing and there aren't any Z seats available on AA. The EXP desk sent a request to revenue management to open seats on LAX-LHR, but I'm not holding out much hope.
Does anyone have any suggestions about the best way to approach this? Any advice is much appreciated!
May 15, 2008, 7:31 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
Try calling the EXP desk again. Since the schedule you booked no longer is available and the new itinerary does not work for you, you might prevail on an EXP agent to treat you as an "involuntary reroute" and give you revenue inventory seats.
May 15, 2008, 7:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Miami/Philly
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 103
Sorry to hear that your plans are in disarray prior to such an important trip. Hang tight a bit. Having the EXP desk go to revenue management worked for us in the past. I got a call the next day and was told the seats we needed were now available and they were mine. I suspect that we got some extra consideration because we were in the situation due to the cancellation of a service route.
BTW, I tend to agree with you that the chances of your baggage showing up remotely on time after passing through the hands of 4 carriers on a single trip are not good.
BTW, I tend to agree with you that the chances of your baggage showing up remotely on time after passing through the hands of 4 carriers on a single trip are not good.
May 15, 2008, 8:21 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVP Gold, BA Silver, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,619
Are the seats you've requested through AA revenue mangement for one of the 2 daily BA flights from SFO - LHR, or really an AA flight from LAX - LHR?
My wife and I value the AA Suite higher than BA FIRST, but most people disagree that assessment. I also wonder why you would be requesting a 2 legged trip (SFO - LAX - LHR) versus a direct nonstop...
Hope that everything works out.
My wife and I value the AA Suite higher than BA FIRST, but most people disagree that assessment. I also wonder why you would be requesting a 2 legged trip (SFO - LAX - LHR) versus a direct nonstop...
Hope that everything works out.
May 15, 2008, 8:29 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
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May 16, 2008, 12:04 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Thanks for all the advice.
We'd be fine with BA nonstop, but I assume that AA couldn't open up seats because of the US-UK restriction. Does this change with the schedule change?
We'd also happily fly back on AA as it seems to get the best of both worlds - better service for our day LHR-YVR and a better bed (and slightly longer flight for sleeping) on the return.
We'd be fine with BA nonstop, but I assume that AA couldn't open up seats because of the US-UK restriction. Does this change with the schedule change?
We'd also happily fly back on AA as it seems to get the best of both worlds - better service for our day LHR-YVR and a better bed (and slightly longer flight for sleeping) on the return.
May 16, 2008, 12:31 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
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Thanks for all the advice.
We'd be fine with BA nonstop, but I assume that AA couldn't open up seats because of the US-UK restriction. Does this change with the schedule change?
We'd also happily fly back on AA as it seems to get the best of both worlds - better service for our day LHR-YVR and a better bed (and slightly longer flight for sleeping) on the return.
We'd be fine with BA nonstop, but I assume that AA couldn't open up seats because of the US-UK restriction. Does this change with the schedule change?
We'd also happily fly back on AA as it seems to get the best of both worlds - better service for our day LHR-YVR and a better bed (and slightly longer flight for sleeping) on the return.
May 16, 2008, 2:40 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8100/4.2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)
Usually AA is very accomodating with opening seats on any of their flights. However, I have never had luck with other airlines opening seats for AA. Try to move as many flights to AA as possible.
Usually AA is very accomodating with opening seats on any of their flights. However, I have never had luck with other airlines opening seats for AA. Try to move as many flights to AA as possible.
May 16, 2008, 11:39 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Hang tight a bit. Having the EXP desk go to revenue management worked for us in the past. I got a call the next day and was told the seats we needed were now available and they were mine. I suspect that we got some extra consideration because we were in the situation due to the cancellation of a service route.
Will still be a long haul to OPO, but at least a lot better than before.
Thanks again for all the advice!
Jun 4, 2008, 2:19 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Sorry to reopen this thread.
After sorting this all out two weeks ago, Horizon shuffled and canceled flights at YVR resulting in us losing our YVR-SEA-SFO connection (in fact, no options at all to SFO after 2PM).
I called AA and this time have run into many more issues.
1) AS apparently (via the AA liaison) refuses to book us on another flight on 9/13, even the 5:45PM via LAX - despite the fact that there are seats available.
2) Instead, the earliest flight we can get on is via LAX on 9/14 with a 6 hour layover, not arriving SFO until 11PM.
3) So far, AA YM hasn't opened up seats on LHR-LAX or any other routings, though we've put in an "appeal"
I'm a bit astonished, having gone from a quick 2 hour flight YVR-SFO to a 30 hour mess. At the very least, if we don't sort out another option, I'd expect for AS or AA to cover a hotel in YVR for the night (seems to be in their contract of carriage), though it seems crazy that we can't get another option to get into SFO on the same day.
Whats the best way to handle this? I think I've gotten unlucky as the EXP desk has been of limited help!
Bummed as we were looking forward to BA F, but will consider any options at this point.
After sorting this all out two weeks ago, Horizon shuffled and canceled flights at YVR resulting in us losing our YVR-SEA-SFO connection (in fact, no options at all to SFO after 2PM).
I called AA and this time have run into many more issues.
1) AS apparently (via the AA liaison) refuses to book us on another flight on 9/13, even the 5:45PM via LAX - despite the fact that there are seats available.
2) Instead, the earliest flight we can get on is via LAX on 9/14 with a 6 hour layover, not arriving SFO until 11PM.
3) So far, AA YM hasn't opened up seats on LHR-LAX or any other routings, though we've put in an "appeal"
I'm a bit astonished, having gone from a quick 2 hour flight YVR-SFO to a 30 hour mess. At the very least, if we don't sort out another option, I'd expect for AS or AA to cover a hotel in YVR for the night (seems to be in their contract of carriage), though it seems crazy that we can't get another option to get into SFO on the same day.
Whats the best way to handle this? I think I've gotten unlucky as the EXP desk has been of limited help!
Bummed as we were looking forward to BA F, but will consider any options at this point.
Jun 4, 2008, 6:23 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
I highly doubt that this is provided for in the contract of carriage. The language regarding accommodations for forced overnights and the like is for situations that come up on the day of travel, not schedule changes that happen months in advance.
Jun 4, 2008, 6:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA (PPro/3MM/Admirals Club), AS, UA, Marriott (Gold), HHonors (Gold), Accor (Plat)
Posts: 2,602
Sorry to reopen this thread.
After sorting this all out two weeks ago, Horizon shuffled and canceled flights at YVR resulting in us losing our YVR-SEA-SFO connection (in fact, no options at all to SFO after 2PM).
I called AA and this time have run into many more issues.
1) AS apparently (via the AA liaison) refuses to book us on another flight on 9/13, even the 5:45PM via LAX - despite the fact that there are seats available.
2) Instead, the earliest flight we can get on is via LAX on 9/14 with a 6 hour layover, not arriving SFO until 11PM.
Whats the best way to handle this? I think I've gotten unlucky as the EXP desk has been of limited help!
Bummed as we were looking forward to BA F, but will consider any options at this point.
After sorting this all out two weeks ago, Horizon shuffled and canceled flights at YVR resulting in us losing our YVR-SEA-SFO connection (in fact, no options at all to SFO after 2PM).
I called AA and this time have run into many more issues.
1) AS apparently (via the AA liaison) refuses to book us on another flight on 9/13, even the 5:45PM via LAX - despite the fact that there are seats available.
2) Instead, the earliest flight we can get on is via LAX on 9/14 with a 6 hour layover, not arriving SFO until 11PM.
Whats the best way to handle this? I think I've gotten unlucky as the EXP desk has been of limited help!
Bummed as we were looking forward to BA F, but will consider any options at this point.
I'm sorry it is a mess for you. Since you are using partner carriers, it is more difficult to fix things (as you have discovered). I think hoping for a reroute to LHR-LAX is the best option as AA can still get you to SFO. Your EXP status is coming in very handy right now.
Jun 5, 2008, 12:44 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; SPG GLD; Hilton GLD
Posts: 340
Change in Schedule: When a ticketed, confirmed passenger will be delayed because of a change in AS's schedule, Alaska will arrange to:
1. Transport the passenger over its own line to/his/her next stopover point or transfer point (without stopover), in the same or higher class of service, on an alternate AS flight at no additional charge, or
2. Refund according to Rule 260. Exception 1: When an AS schedule results in the cancellation of all AS service between two cities, AS will reroute passengers holding confirmed reservations on AS between such cities over the lines of one or more other carriers at no additional cost to the passenger. Exception 2: Change in schedule does not include force majeur events as defined in Paragraph I).
1. Transport the passenger over its own line to/his/her next stopover point or transfer point (without stopover), in the same or higher class of service, on an alternate AS flight at no additional charge, or
2. Refund according to Rule 260. Exception 1: When an AS schedule results in the cancellation of all AS service between two cities, AS will reroute passengers holding confirmed reservations on AS between such cities over the lines of one or more other carriers at no additional cost to the passenger. Exception 2: Change in schedule does not include force majeur events as defined in Paragraph I).