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)
Jun 15, 2013, 11:16 am
#76
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
This was my experience as well, albeit for domestic tickets (I know the OP said it's an int'l itin). Sometimes the agents are unaware of this but this is now the rule. I believe it changed when change fees went away for all domestic F tickets.
I remember my GF needing to change a coach ticket which cost something like $450 and my figuring out that it was actually cheaper to upfare to F, which was about $565, then change for free, rather than pay another $150 only to stay in coach. Perhaps the best deal I've ever located
.
I remember my GF needing to change a coach ticket which cost something like $450 and my figuring out that it was actually cheaper to upfare to F, which was about $565, then change for free, rather than pay another $150 only to stay in coach. Perhaps the best deal I've ever located
.
Jun 15, 2013, 4:28 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AA SPG Amex
Posts: 4,644
Jun 16, 2013, 8:17 am
#78
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: HND
Programs: JAL Sapphire
Posts: 542
Do purchases for MCE also count towards the new ticket, or are those purely non-refundable? (Alternatively, could I upfare into a higher economy tier and keep the MCE seats?)
Jun 16, 2013, 9:22 am
#79
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AA SPG Amex
Posts: 4,644
However your profile says you are PLT, can I assume you're asking this as a hypothetical, since you should get MCE for no additional cost?
Jun 16, 2013, 9:27 am
#80
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: HND
Programs: JAL Sapphire
Posts: 542
I'm an Admirer, not yet Plat
I'm thinking of doing the challenge rather soon, so I'd like to do so at as small a cost as possible, and if that involves upfaring fares that my employer pays for, I'm down for that
I'm thinking of doing the challenge rather soon, so I'd like to do so at as small a cost as possible, and if that involves upfaring fares that my employer pays for, I'm down for that
Jun 17, 2013, 4:01 pm
#81
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
MCE is fully refundable if you do not use it. For example, if you UG to Business or First you can file for a refund on the amount you paid for the MCE seat. Just file for a refund on AA's refunds site with your ticket number.
Jun 29, 2013, 1:46 pm
#82
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: AUS / DXB
Programs: BA Silver | AA LT Gold | EY Silver | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,838
I'm considering purchasing a fare with the outbound in J and inbound in Y with a waitlisted SWU (the reason for the J purchase outbound is to upgrade to F). If about 2 weeks prior to travel it's not looking good on the return, I'll ask for an upfare to J. Would this qualify for a fee waiver under the above rule?
Another related question: if in the above itinerary, I use a heavily discounted I-fare for the outbound portion in J which has expired by the time I need to do the upfare for the return segment (which will be after the outbound is flown), will AA use the expired discounted I-fare as the fare basis for the upfare, or will it be repriced at current prices? Usually when changing the return segment after flying the outbound, the historical fare is used, even when expiring - just want to know if the same rule applies for upfaring.
Another related question: if in the above itinerary, I use a heavily discounted I-fare for the outbound portion in J which has expired by the time I need to do the upfare for the return segment (which will be after the outbound is flown), will AA use the expired discounted I-fare as the fare basis for the upfare, or will it be repriced at current prices? Usually when changing the return segment after flying the outbound, the historical fare is used, even when expiring - just want to know if the same rule applies for upfaring.
Aug 26, 2013, 9:46 pm
#85
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
Correct. I do this all the time. CS is always available to do this. One caution: be sure to put it on hold rather than ticketing; did this in error once and had to pay a change fee + the upfare cost.
Aug 27, 2013, 1:08 am
#87
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
I'm considering purchasing a fare with the outbound in J and inbound in Y with a waitlisted SWU (the reason for the J purchase outbound is to upgrade to F). If about 2 weeks prior to travel it's not looking good on the return, I'll ask for an upfare to J. Would this qualify for a fee waiver under the above rule?
Another related question: if in the above itinerary, I use a heavily discounted I-fare for the outbound portion in J which has expired by the time I need to do the upfare for the return segment (which will be after the outbound is flown), will AA use the expired discounted I-fare as the fare basis for the upfare, or will it be repriced at current prices? Usually when changing the return segment after flying the outbound, the historical fare is used, even when expiring - just want to know if the same rule applies for upfaring.
Another related question: if in the above itinerary, I use a heavily discounted I-fare for the outbound portion in J which has expired by the time I need to do the upfare for the return segment (which will be after the outbound is flown), will AA use the expired discounted I-fare as the fare basis for the upfare, or will it be repriced at current prices? Usually when changing the return segment after flying the outbound, the historical fare is used, even when expiring - just want to know if the same rule applies for upfaring.
But looking at a sample I4NAJB, even if you change before flying the first segment, you will pay a change fee associated with the return leg and then only the new fare for that leg..the first segment is priced using historical fares.
Dont be surprised to spend an hour telling the agent she needs to ask the rate people again...and you really need to have copies of the rules for the fares. IMO
GL
A.
Sep 2, 2013, 6:03 pm
#88
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Programs: AA EXP & 3MM, SPG GLD
Posts: 1,215
How to avoid G, Q, N, O, S on AA.com
Does anyone know how to avoid the dreaded deep discount booking codes in coach on AA.com? Even all those "Choice Plus" and "Choice Essential" options still appear to book in the same booking code as "Choice"
In other words, is there any other way to book a coach fare without the deep discount code?
In other words, is there any other way to book a coach fare without the deep discount code?
Sep 2, 2013, 6:28 pm
#89
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,702
Put the fare on hold and call AA.com to upfare. You'll still be able to purchase the ticket online.
But if you want to find the lowest fare yourself, another option is to use the ITA matrix to search out itineraries:
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
Let's say you are looking for SFO-JFK and back and want to avoid G, Q, N, O, S. Here is what you enter:
SFO :: aa+ /f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H|bc=K|bc=M|bc=L|bc=W|bc=V|bc=F|bc=A| bc=P|bc=J|bc=D|bc=I
JFK :: aa+ /f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H|bc=K|bc=M|bc=L|bc=W|bc=V|bc=F|bc=A| bc=P|bc=J|bc=D|bc=I
Go to AA.com and match the flight times. After you put the itinerary old hold call AA up to upfare.
Clunky? Yes, but it gets the job done.
But if you want to find the lowest fare yourself, another option is to use the ITA matrix to search out itineraries:
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
Let's say you are looking for SFO-JFK and back and want to avoid G, Q, N, O, S. Here is what you enter:
SFO :: aa+ /f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H|bc=K|bc=M|bc=L|bc=W|bc=V|bc=F|bc=A| bc=P|bc=J|bc=D|bc=I
JFK :: aa+ /f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H|bc=K|bc=M|bc=L|bc=W|bc=V|bc=F|bc=A| bc=P|bc=J|bc=D|bc=I
Go to AA.com and match the flight times. After you put the itinerary old hold call AA up to upfare.
Clunky? Yes, but it gets the job done.
Last edited by Xero; Sep 2, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Sep 2, 2013, 6:44 pm
#90
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
Does anyone know how to avoid the dreaded deep discount booking codes in coach on AA.com? Even all those "Choice Plus" and "Choice Essential" options still appear to book in the same booking code as "Choice"
In other words, is there any other way to book a coach fare without the deep discount code?
In other words, is there any other way to book a coach fare without the deep discount code?
as mentioned above, put it on hold &call to up fare.
i've only done it when family was doing a challenge....