[Resolved] AA & US Fares No Longer Available On Orbitz Websites
Aug 26, 2014, 5:02 pm
#31
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
As AA and US are still operating separately and there's a current thread dealing with this topic in the appropriate pre-merger forum, we will remind you this is part of a longtime debacle you can read more about here.
As others have reported to moderators, given this issue now affects both AA and US, we will move this discussion back to the Consolidated forum. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
/Moderator
As others have reported to moderators, given this issue now affects both AA and US, we will move this discussion back to the Consolidated forum. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
/Moderator
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 26, 2014 at 7:20 pm
Aug 26, 2014, 6:44 pm
#32
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
Programs: United Silver and HH Diamond
Posts: 1,474
Aug 26, 2014, 7:11 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PBI/FLL/MIA
Programs: DL DM/2MM, MR Ambassador, National EE
Posts: 1,614
https://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/ota.jsp
Last edited by krlcomm; Aug 26, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Aug 26, 2014, 7:29 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA PLT 3MM
Posts: 1,135
Aug 26, 2014, 9:28 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
In that case why are they not going after TAs when the vast majority that I know have clientele that do not purchase these upsell products?
Aug 26, 2014, 9:58 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
Aug 26, 2014, 10:58 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: NW Gold, '06. Good times.
Posts: 7,363
IME, Orbitz is a fun site to play on, but Kayak is, too. Not sure about the Orbitz rewards thing they recently started, though. I have a whopping two bucks ready to burn on... something.
If history is any indicator, AA and Orbitz will eventually kiss and make up. Meanwhile, I'll do what most of us do and keep comparison shopping.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:25 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
(1) Multicity search with 6+ segments. 8 would be even better.
(2) Ability to limit search to at least 2-3 specific airlines.
So, I can give a 6-segment itinerary and ask to only look at AA, BA and AY flights. This keeps the search from being overwhelmed with permutations involving carriers I have no interest in.
(3) Ability to select segment by segment. It is a simple idea, but I don't know why many others don't offer it.
(4) Ability to modify a search and run it again. You'd be surprised how many OTAs make you reenter the whole trip all over again if you want to change something.
I liked these features about Orbitz and would like to make a list of others offering the same. Then we can get on with determining which ones actually find the most interesting itineraries and lowest fares.
Does anybody have any OTAs to suggest with all/most of these features?
Last edited by aktchi; Aug 27, 2014 at 8:16 am
Aug 27, 2014, 1:52 am
#40
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: BA LifetimeGold GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,140
Very good question. For starters, I would like to shortlist those with the following features:
(1) Multicity search with 6+ segments. 8 would be even better.
(2) Ability to limit search to at least 2-3 specific airlines.
So, I can give a 6-segment itinerary and ask to only look at AA, BA and AY flights. This keeps the search from being overwhelmed with permutations involving carriers I have no interest in.
(3) Ability to select segment by segment. It is a simple idea, but I don't know why many others don't offer it.
I liked these features about Orbitz and would like to make a list of others offering the same. Then we can get on with determining which ones actually find the most interesting itineraries and lowest fares.
(1) Multicity search with 6+ segments. 8 would be even better.
(2) Ability to limit search to at least 2-3 specific airlines.
So, I can give a 6-segment itinerary and ask to only look at AA, BA and AY flights. This keeps the search from being overwhelmed with permutations involving carriers I have no interest in.
(3) Ability to select segment by segment. It is a simple idea, but I don't know why many others don't offer it.
I liked these features about Orbitz and would like to make a list of others offering the same. Then we can get on with determining which ones actually find the most interesting itineraries and lowest fares.
Aug 27, 2014, 2:56 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA Explat, UA 1K
Posts: 389
Indeed, these features are extremely useful and that's why I use Orbitz for my AA bookings. It is not complicated and it allows multi segment bookings with lots of options. The Orbitz booking features are far advanced in comparison with the ones on the very basic AA website. Why can AA not include these features in its booking process?
In theory, another method could be to use hipmunk to find your ideal itinerary and then click through to purchase. In practice hipmunk's advanced codes never work for me.
Aug 27, 2014, 4:31 am
#42
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
guess no more flying on AA or US unless absolutely necessary...
I got the email from AA because I have always purchased AA ticket on Orbitz. Not by choice. The problem is that AA does not accept my foreign credit card. I live in the US but only have foreign credit cards. AA's website NEVER accepts the foreign credit card(VISA). That is why I had to go through Orbitz.
I suppose I can use another travel site to do the same, but I feel like AA doesn't want my business. They know perfectly well that I have purchased on average 3 or 4 AA tickets via Orbitz every month. If they don't want my business either way, so be it.
I got the email from AA because I have always purchased AA ticket on Orbitz. Not by choice. The problem is that AA does not accept my foreign credit card. I live in the US but only have foreign credit cards. AA's website NEVER accepts the foreign credit card(VISA). That is why I had to go through Orbitz.
I suppose I can use another travel site to do the same, but I feel like AA doesn't want my business. They know perfectly well that I have purchased on average 3 or 4 AA tickets via Orbitz every month. If they don't want my business either way, so be it.
The policy you cite is common. I have run into it. But typically it would be AA United States that would not accept credit cards with a foreign billing address, and you could purchase the tickets, online or by phone, through the AA center serving your home country (i.e., the country of your cards' billing address). When you log onto aa.com you have the option of choosing your country. People there can buy AA tickets? Your "foreign credit cards" or not even among the types AA accepts, or just have foreign billing addresses? I am a US citizen in Brazil, with 3 US bank credit cards: two with Brazil address, and one with a US address to avoid problems with airline tix when I want to be billed in US dollars. If you are living in the U.S. and fly alot there, it would seem to be prudent to have at least one card with a US billing address.
You will avoid using AA even their flights cost less and/or have a better schedule for you? Have you contacted AA? It's possible they don't realize what the loss of your business means. Seriously, look into your options.
Southwest also does not appear on Orbitz. Obviously they don't want your business either?
Last edited by SoCal; Aug 27, 2014 at 4:41 am
Aug 27, 2014, 4:31 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
It is. As are Kayak, Hipmunk, CheapTickets and a bunch of airlines. As you know, Google bought ITA Software a couple of years ago and now has Google Flights, as well. I don't see Google keeping both tools around forever.
Aug 27, 2014, 5:23 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Getting a credit card isn't easy for every foreign resident. 
I don't think it is atypical actually. My suspicion is that a great many people start their search at Orbitz (or Expedia) and not so many at aa.com
Yes, quite a few: https://www.itasoftware.com/about/customers.html
Paypal ticketing can cause problems, when Paypal doesn't release funds quickly. Also, not sure what the legal protections are in the US, but they are pretty thin in Europe compared to a credit card.
This is what I do—
Build my precise itinerary on the ITA Matrix.
Then go to aa.com, and enter the route as close as possible to the multicity tool. Sometimes you have lots of cities so if you are doing a BRU-LHR//LCY-(SNN)-JFK-PHX-HNL return, you can omit cities that will be implied by the rest of your route (in this case, JFK and perhaps PHX).
Ensure my search option includes "all oneworld carriers" (not just AA) and pick "sort by schedule" (not price) and "50 per page" or whatever the maximum is.
Then I go through and pick the segments exactly as they appear on ITA.
Much of the time it is possible to price out what you need. At the end of the day, the fare is published by AA, the OTAs aren't doing anything magic except being efficient at searching for it.
This doesn't help everyone and takes a bit of getting used to, I admit. Actually to be honest I usually just telephone the BA ticketing desk and get them to do it, since they can issue tickets for AA/US. I think this isn't permitted for wholly internal US flights though.
Very good question. For starters, I would like to shortlist those with the following features:
(1) Multicity search with 6+ segments. 8 would be even better.
(2) Ability to limit search to at least 2-3 specific airlines.
So, I can give a 6-segment itinerary and ask to only look at AA, BA and AY flights. This keeps the search from being overwhelmed with permutations involving carriers I have no interest in.
(3) Ability to select segment by segment. It is a simple idea, but I don't know why many others don't offer it.
I liked these features about Orbitz and would like to make a list of others offering the same. Then we can get on with determining which ones actually find the most interesting itineraries and lowest fares.
(1) Multicity search with 6+ segments. 8 would be even better.
(2) Ability to limit search to at least 2-3 specific airlines.
So, I can give a 6-segment itinerary and ask to only look at AA, BA and AY flights. This keeps the search from being overwhelmed with permutations involving carriers I have no interest in.
(3) Ability to select segment by segment. It is a simple idea, but I don't know why many others don't offer it.
I liked these features about Orbitz and would like to make a list of others offering the same. Then we can get on with determining which ones actually find the most interesting itineraries and lowest fares.
Build my precise itinerary on the ITA Matrix.
Then go to aa.com, and enter the route as close as possible to the multicity tool. Sometimes you have lots of cities so if you are doing a BRU-LHR//LCY-(SNN)-JFK-PHX-HNL return, you can omit cities that will be implied by the rest of your route (in this case, JFK and perhaps PHX).
Ensure my search option includes "all oneworld carriers" (not just AA) and pick "sort by schedule" (not price) and "50 per page" or whatever the maximum is.
Then I go through and pick the segments exactly as they appear on ITA.
Much of the time it is possible to price out what you need. At the end of the day, the fare is published by AA, the OTAs aren't doing anything magic except being efficient at searching for it.
This doesn't help everyone and takes a bit of getting used to, I admit. Actually to be honest I usually just telephone the BA ticketing desk and get them to do it, since they can issue tickets for AA/US. I think this isn't permitted for wholly internal US flights though.
Aug 27, 2014, 7:45 am
#45
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: AA PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 282
I'm not sure this is the case as AA never had any issue with ticketing and allowing me to fly on the "cheaper" Orbitz reservations I made over the years. I'd venture to say that if there was a married segment violation in my ticket, AA would have found it and kicked it back.