Hotel_junkie

SFO T2 is my favorite terminal...great food, massage station...AC could be a little bigger...feels like Grand Central Terminal at rush hour some times!

I have not had any issues at T2 SFO although I am TSA Pre-check and I don't check in any bags. Maybe I've been spared the amateur agents LOL!

no2chem

Okay, this happened just once when I was platinum... SFO-ORD. Showed up late at the airport due to traffic (was already rushed returning rental, and airtrain broke down of all things, and my cell phone was out of battery so no bp...). The later SFO-ORD flight was sold out but there was a SFO-LAX-ORD (there's actually 2x evening LAX-ORD flights vs 1x SFO-ORD) so of course I thought the fastest way to resolve the problem is to go to check-in agent... WRONG. Not only is the line broken (no one paying attention to the priority line), the agent is super slow and "isn't sure if he can put me on standby for the next flight because theres no space and the standby list is long, and definitely cannot change routing"... eventually some supervisor tells him how to put me on standby. The second to the last SFO-LAX flight that evening had finished boarding by the time I got through security. Luckily the last SFO-LAX flight still had availability. DFW weather that night didn't help. Probably should have learned my lesson that night...

So yes, this instance my fault, but my results would have been better going to VX counter and purchasing a ticket to get through security, followed by going straight to the gate and asking the gate agent if there was space. Not that I actually did that.

Eh, you're right about #5. Welp, guess there's nothing to do except deal with the check-in agents at SFO in that case and hope for the best. Note: probably not all the check-in agents at SFO are bad, I seem to remember some efficient, friendly/good ones, but there most definitely are some bad apples in the mix there.

And no, I have no actually applied any of these creative solutions yet. But I do often have very weird travel itineraries, like international double open-jaw flights.

Hm, yeah, although historically linking another PNR has "gifted" baggage allotment to the other non status passenger, that's not actually policy. Doubtful the SFO check-in agents would be that lenient though.

Centurion

Is it possible the check in agent had some non rev friends on the flight?

corncob

This raises an interesting question. Can you actually buy a refundable ticket at the counter? It seems like that wouldn't be allowed for obvious reasons. If you're already at the airport and requesting that, you're definitely not planning on using it.

Now, if your phone wasn't dead, you might be able to buy one online. But by the time you do that, get it ticketed, and check-in, you could probably already have called the EXP or normal AA line (barring major weather events and such, of course).

That's precisely why I'm asking the OP how his tickets were purchased. Perhaps the agents were following policy, although that's a long shot!!

no2chem

I've legitimately bought refundable tickets at the ticket counter in irrops conditions. I don't know why they wouldn't let you buy one at the counter, really. --- there are plenty of reasons people buy refundable (full-fare tickets) at airports.

Yeah, though it still doesn't explain the W op-down (attempt?).

pdquick

San Francisco is definitely ruder, but it's from the influx of self-absorbed techies and financiers, not service workers.

I've never had a problem with agents at SFO, though I once heard one get mighty gruff with someone who desperately deserved it.

corncob

What reasons? I'm legitimately curious. I can't think of any reason for wanting to buy a refundable ticket at the counter, at least one that I'm intending to use. And if I have zero intention of using it, what reason does the airline have to make they available?

intub8r

Maybe F or Y is the only fare bucket left on the flight?
Maybe you want the mile or point bonus that comes with a full fare ticket?
Maybe it's not a simple one way or round trip ticket but one that includes other layovers or stopovers and you want flexibility to change those?

I've never done it either but I can think of some examples as to why it might be done, besides for the ploy of accessing the gate / lounge and then cancelling.

no2chem

As intub8r indicates, its often the only available fare last minute, especially on short haul flights.

What happens to me is that my destination goes WX (for example SFO fog during runway construction...) and I really need to get there, or I already purchased a last minute refundable fare anyway. If I see that some other carrier has not posted a delay on their flight, I'll go over and pick up a ticket. Sometimes my original flight ends up being faster, sometimes the new flight ends up faster.

So if my original flight ends up being fine, I just cancel the refundable ticket I just bought. After all, thats what they are for, right?

inpd

Hi Everyone,

Gosh my post got a lot of interest and quite a divided response.

The wife and kids were on AA awards from my account SFO-MEL. I was on a paid ticket exact same route.

According to AA's own website they should be allowed two bags each. So in total just between the three of them they should have been allowed 6 bags.

inpd

Yes, no bags were oversized and the TPAC allowance is quite generous.

inpd

Hi

I was only treated badly by the check in agents.

FullFare

Well, has anyone tried calling the EXP line lately? It has, IMHO, sunk very badly from the glory days of 10 - 15 yrs ago. Now, all I get, is "Welcome back*****, we'd like to call you back in 10 - 14 minutes. Don't worry, you won't lose your place in line" and yadda.

When I get the re-calls, they often flub them, and it's another 14 minutes. I'm sorry, but this is unacceptable.

JonNYC

Agreed, and there's also thread on the subject here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html

corncob

Ah, makes sense. And something to think about (fare rules, etc) should I ever need to buy a ticket at the counter. Thanks ^