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)
Aug 22, 2018, 12:43 pm
#346
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Nov 12, 2018, 10:17 pm
#347
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 147
I have purchased a ticket through my corporate travel agent, so i need to work with them to do any changes to the ticket (as the new fare can be charged to the company). Does the "sell up" policy exist with them as well, or is the fee-free upfare available only to tickets that AA controls? Is the waiver code something that any TA can utilize, or would i be better off trying to get AA to take control of the ticket to do the upfare?
Last edited by bver100; Nov 12, 2018 at 10:41 pm
Nov 13, 2018, 7:53 am
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
I have purchased a ticket through my corporate travel agent, so i need to work with them to do any changes to the ticket (as the new fare can be charged to the company). Does the "sell up" policy exist with them as well, or is the fee-free upfare available only to tickets that AA controls? Is the waiver code something that any TA can utilize, or would i be better off trying to get AA to take control of the ticket to do the upfare?
Nov 13, 2018, 8:56 am
#349
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
I have purchased a ticket through my corporate travel agent, so i need to work with them to do any changes to the ticket (as the new fare can be charged to the company). Does the "sell up" policy exist with them as well, or is the fee-free upfare available only to tickets that AA controls? Is the waiver code something that any TA can utilize, or would i be better off trying to get AA to take control of the ticket to do the upfare?
Call Meeting Services and they'll be able to help you process the upsell. Standard AAdvantage Reservations desk won't be able to help you and will transfer you to them.
Nov 13, 2018, 2:44 pm
#350
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 147
Isn’t that documentation in the image only for AA internal reps? It wasn’t clear if this is info published to all providers booking AA.
Nov 15, 2018, 1:20 am
#351
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 147
For what it's worth, was able to call in to our agency (Amex GBT) and explained how there should be a fee waiver for upfaring. It's unclear if she used these rules, she mentioned looking to see if our corporate rate had allotted funds for changes. Didn't get charged the $200 change fee in the end.
Nov 28, 2018, 10:22 pm
#352
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 124
I just upgraded one leg of an upcoming round trip flight. It was originally booked through Concur in economy, so paid the difference out of pocket.
I just noticed on my CC transactions that AA had 2 separate charges....one for the fare and another $50 even. I thought this was always supposed to waived since it’s a higher class of service, plus the agent never even mentioned it.
This is the first time I’ve ever been charged this fee when upfaring and if the agent was upfront about it, I obviously would’ve put up a fight or HUCA.
Has anyone had success getting that refunded?
I just noticed on my CC transactions that AA had 2 separate charges....one for the fare and another $50 even. I thought this was always supposed to waived since it’s a higher class of service, plus the agent never even mentioned it.
This is the first time I’ve ever been charged this fee when upfaring and if the agent was upfront about it, I obviously would’ve put up a fight or HUCA.
Has anyone had success getting that refunded?
Nov 29, 2018, 1:02 am
#353
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,697
Sounds like that is the agency fee assessed when AA makes changes to a booking made by an agency. If u are EP then it should have definitely not been charged. If u are not EP then technically aa could chRge as they say they will not charge any fare penalties when up faring. But have also seen many instances of this fee not being assessed.
Call and ask.
Call and ask.
I just upgraded one leg of an upcoming round trip flight. It was originally booked through Concur in economy, so paid the difference out of pocket.
I just noticed on my CC transactions that AA had 2 separate charges....one for the fare and another $50 even. I thought this was always supposed to waived since it’s a higher class of service, plus the agent never even mentioned it.
This is the first time I’ve ever been charged this fee when upfaring and if the agent was upfront about it, I obviously would’ve put up a fight or HUCA.
Has anyone had success getting that refunded?
I just noticed on my CC transactions that AA had 2 separate charges....one for the fare and another $50 even. I thought this was always supposed to waived since it’s a higher class of service, plus the agent never even mentioned it.
This is the first time I’ve ever been charged this fee when upfaring and if the agent was upfront about it, I obviously would’ve put up a fight or HUCA.
Has anyone had success getting that refunded?
Nov 29, 2018, 5:03 am
#354
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,198
I just noticed on my CC transactions that AA had 2 separate charges....one for the fare and another $50 even. I thought this was always supposed to waived since it’s a higher class of service, plus the agent never even mentioned it.
This is the first time I’ve ever been charged this fee when upfaring and if the agent was upfront about it, I obviously would’ve put up a fight or HUCA.
Dec 27, 2018, 11:05 am
#355
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP/2mm, SPG Gold
Posts: 424
Routing change waived when doing upsell?
Has anyone had any luck getting a route change waived (different connection city, same number of stops) if keeping the same origin/destination?
I've had agents waive time of departure changes in the past, but never tried changing the route.
I've had agents waive time of departure changes in the past, but never tried changing the route.
Jan 11, 2019, 2:49 pm
#356
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 124
AA is definitely getting pretty strict on the $50 EXTERNAL RESERVATION HANDLING SERVICE FEE.
I just upfared another reservation originally booked through Concur and it was charged again, however I only noticed it in the emailed receipt. The agent made no mention of it when providing the difference in fare and additional amount due. I've had no success calling back and having it refunded.
I just upfared another reservation originally booked through Concur and it was charged again, however I only noticed it in the emailed receipt. The agent made no mention of it when providing the difference in fare and additional amount due. I've had no success calling back and having it refunded.
Feb 10, 2019, 6:46 pm
#357
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
Anyone had success getting a 001 stock ticket, but on BA metal upfared without a change fee being charged? The Wiki seems to indicate that this is possible, but when checking on ITA Matrix, they show that the ticketing rules call for a $500 change fee.
I havent booked the flights yet, but current fares are in the neighborhood of what I’d expect to pay for J (maybe a smidge high, but that will help get me over the hump with EQD), but F is currently way higher than I’ve paid in recent years, so it would be nice to have the option to refare without a change fee should F fares come down to what I deem to be an acceptable level.
I havent booked the flights yet, but current fares are in the neighborhood of what I’d expect to pay for J (maybe a smidge high, but that will help get me over the hump with EQD), but F is currently way higher than I’ve paid in recent years, so it would be nice to have the option to refare without a change fee should F fares come down to what I deem to be an acceptable level.
Feb 10, 2019, 8:59 pm
#358
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
Anyone had success getting a 001 stock ticket, but on BA metal upfared without a change fee being charged? The Wiki seems to indicate that this is possible, but when checking on ITA Matrix, they show that the ticketing rules call for a $500 change fee.
I havent booked the flights yet, but current fares are in the neighborhood of what I’d expect to pay for J (maybe a smidge high, but that will help get me over the hump with EQD), but F is currently way higher than I’ve paid in recent years, so it would be nice to have the option to refare without a change fee should F fares come down to what I deem to be an acceptable level.
I havent booked the flights yet, but current fares are in the neighborhood of what I’d expect to pay for J (maybe a smidge high, but that will help get me over the hump with EQD), but F is currently way higher than I’ve paid in recent years, so it would be nice to have the option to refare without a change fee should F fares come down to what I deem to be an acceptable level.
Feb 11, 2019, 10:21 am
#359
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
Thank you. Good to know that it’s possible. The AA booking window is now open (125 stock has been bookable for a month, but I need 001 stock for the EQD calc to go in my favor), so tickets are now booked. Let’s see if F fares drop, but right now I have my preferred seats booked in CW on the upper deck.
Feb 11, 2019, 12:16 pm
#360
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
I've never "upfared" before but so far it's the most hilarious process ever. I've called three times now (within 24h so could inventory have changed? Sure, but I'm skeptical). The first time just over $400, the 2nd time $599, and the most recent time $200 change fee (what?) plus $1000. I guess I'll keep calling, and if I hear a number I like, I'll take it.