Nov 25, 2016, 10:22 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Buying Higher Class of Service Than Ticketed
"Effective December 19, 2012, AA will waive the ticket change charge if customer purchases into a higher cabin (business or first), regardless of booking inventory, on the same routing/same day*. For example, no changes to origin/destination except the change to cabin/flight time is allowed with no ticket change charge. Customer would be responsible for paying the difference in fares. The non-refundable portion of the ticket remains non-refundable and would be handled internally by Refunds when necessary."
- AA Revenue Tickets, Ticket Change
Unlike an upgrade, earnings in EQM etc. should be for the new fare.
*This includes co-terminals as allowed in the detailed fare rules or elsewhere.
"Effective December 19, 2012, AA will waive the ticket change charge if customer purchases into a higher cabin (business or first), regardless of booking inventory, on the same routing/same day*. For example, no changes to origin/destination except the change to cabin/flight time is allowed with no ticket change charge. Customer would be responsible for paying the difference in fares. The non-refundable portion of the ticket remains non-refundable and would be handled internally by Refunds when necessary."
- AA Revenue Tickets, Ticket Change
Unlike an upgrade, earnings in EQM etc. should be for the new fare.
*This includes co-terminals as allowed in the detailed fare rules or elsewhere.
Upgrading AA Fare Code or Class of Service - Upfare / Upfaring (master thd)
Sep 7, 2016, 12:03 pm
#166
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Applies to:
AA prime flights
AA* operated by any carrier
Any Joint Business Partner prime flight (AY, BA, IB, JL and/or QF)
AA prime flights
AA* operated by any carrier
Any Joint Business Partner prime flight (AY, BA, IB, JL and/or QF)
Sep 12, 2016, 1:25 pm
#167
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 318
Called to up-fare an Economy ticket to First using our corporate discount, and reservations redirected me to meeting services to get it done as they don't have access to the discounts apparently. The meetings services agent was able to look up and price our negotiated rate in First, but charged a $50 "re-ticketing" fee because the original Economy ticket was booked through our corporate system.
I realize that this is not the change fee per se, but has anyone else had experience with this and is this fee correct? I thought up-faring to First charged only difference in fare, no fees.
I realize that this is not the change fee per se, but has anyone else had experience with this and is this fee correct? I thought up-faring to First charged only difference in fare, no fees.
Sep 12, 2016, 2:32 pm
#168
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador, AA Plat Pro, DL Gold, UA*S, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 631
Called to up-fare an Economy ticket to First using our corporate discount, and reservations redirected me to meeting services to get it done as they don't have access to the discounts apparently. The meetings services agent was able to look up and price our negotiated rate in First, but charged a $50 "re-ticketing" fee because the original Economy ticket was booked through our corporate system.
I realize that this is not the change fee per se, but has anyone else had experience with this and is this fee correct? I thought up-faring to First charged only difference in fare, no fees.
I realize that this is not the change fee per se, but has anyone else had experience with this and is this fee correct? I thought up-faring to First charged only difference in fare, no fees.
Sep 12, 2016, 2:35 pm
#169
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA CK EXP 3MM, National EE, Hertz Plat
Posts: 323
Called to up-fare an Economy ticket to First using our corporate discount, and reservations redirected me to meeting services to get it done as they don't have access to the discounts apparently. The meetings services agent was able to look up and price our negotiated rate in First, but charged a $50 "re-ticketing" fee because the original Economy ticket was booked through our corporate system.
I realize that this is not the change fee per se, but has anyone else had experience with this and is this fee correct? I thought up-faring to First charged only difference in fare, no fees.
I realize that this is not the change fee per se, but has anyone else had experience with this and is this fee correct? I thought up-faring to First charged only difference in fare, no fees.
Sep 12, 2016, 3:20 pm
#170
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 318
That sounds right as it came up as "External Reservation Handling Service." Assumed it would also be waive as I'm up-faring to F on the same flights.
Sep 12, 2016, 4:12 pm
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,422
I think AA also charges for agent-assisted seat assignment changes if the ticket was purchased through an external channel. Similar idea here I suppose. Wouldn't your alternative be to buy up to the published (publicly-available) first class fare? Would that end up costing you more or less than the $50 fee? I guess you can decide which is better for you.
Sep 13, 2016, 7:20 am
#172
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 318
I think AA also charges for agent-assisted seat assignment changes if the ticket was purchased through an external channel. Similar idea here I suppose. Wouldn't your alternative be to buy up to the published (publicly-available) first class fare? Would that end up costing you more or less than the $50 fee? I guess you can decide which is better for you.
Oct 4, 2016, 7:01 am
#174
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: CLT - daily decks
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 194
I recently discovered a first class fare that was ~$100 less than the amount I paid for a coach fare. I called AA and asked to purchase the first fare. The phone agent (after realizing I didn't want to upgrade with miles) said "OK, I see why you're doing this. Let me process a voucher for the difference." After being on hold for a bit, he came back and said that since the fare was less in first, he had to charge the change fee even though I was changing cabins.
My question: has anyone heard of this before? Should I have HUCA-ed, or is this an actual rule? Too late for this trip in my case, but it would be good to know for the future.
My question: has anyone heard of this before? Should I have HUCA-ed, or is this an actual rule? Too late for this trip in my case, but it would be good to know for the future.
Oct 4, 2016, 10:35 am
#175
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
I recently discovered a first class fare that was ~$100 less than the amount I paid for a coach fare. I called AA and asked to purchase the first fare. The phone agent (after realizing I didn't want to upgrade with miles) said "OK, I see why you're doing this. Let me process a voucher for the difference." After being on hold for a bit, he came back and said that since the fare was less in first, he had to charge the change fee even though I was changing cabins.
My question: has anyone heard of this before? Should I have HUCA-ed, or is this an actual rule? Too late for this trip in my case, but it would be good to know for the future.
My question: has anyone heard of this before? Should I have HUCA-ed, or is this an actual rule? Too late for this trip in my case, but it would be good to know for the future.
Oh, it isnt too late either- a ticketing charge error can be corrected after the flight is flown. Although given AA CS these days, it will be a slog.
Oct 25, 2016, 2:53 pm
#176
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 318
I have done the upfare to First Class several times, and have always been awarded EQMs based on the new First Class fare code. Did so on a recent flight, was given EQMs for original coach fare, and several AAdvantage Customer Service reps have told me that you get EQMs based on the original fare.
I was under the impression that the ticket was reissued into a whole new First Class fare class and EQMs were awarded as such. Is that not the policy in everyone's experience?
I was under the impression that the ticket was reissued into a whole new First Class fare class and EQMs were awarded as such. Is that not the policy in everyone's experience?
Oct 25, 2016, 4:01 pm
#178
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: AA EXP, SPG GLD, Starbucks (SBUX) Super Duper Executive Gold Global Priority Platinum Prestige
Posts: 69
I have done the upfare to First Class several times, and have always been awarded EQMs based on the new First Class fare code. Did so on a recent flight, was given EQMs for original coach fare, and several AAdvantage Customer Service reps have told me that you get EQMs based on the original fare.
I was under the impression that the ticket was reissued into a whole new First Class fare class and EQMs were awarded as such. Is that not the policy in everyone's experience?
I was under the impression that the ticket was reissued into a whole new First Class fare class and EQMs were awarded as such. Is that not the policy in everyone's experience?
Oct 25, 2016, 5:22 pm
#179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 22,041
As indicated by Dave Noble, if things don't post correctly in such situations, when chasing up never use words/terms such as upfare, upgrade etc. and avoid reference to any changed booking. Simply state you booked in revenue First, have travelled and it has not credited correctly.
Oct 28, 2016, 2:25 pm
#180
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 318
This is correct - you should earn as per the fare bucket you are ticketed in. If you paid to book into A class for example, then first earnings.
As indicated by Dave Noble, if things don't post correctly in such situations, when chasing up never use words/terms such as upfare, upgrade etc. and avoid reference to any changed booking. Simply state you booked in revenue First, have travelled and it has not credited correctly.
As indicated by Dave Noble, if things don't post correctly in such situations, when chasing up never use words/terms such as upfare, upgrade etc. and avoid reference to any changed booking. Simply state you booked in revenue First, have travelled and it has not credited correctly.