Sam_AE

Interesting -- I was just told by AA that business class award tickets are not eligible for CFC at all! Yikes. BUT, because I am OneWorld Saphire, she did say that I would be able to standby for a later flight.... but that's a bit risky given I had hoped to get CFC for the last flight of the day....

brp

While I know that they can no longer see 'X' inventory, can they determine if a requested upgrade would be able to clear? I'm looking at some flights for tomorrow that are F7 E7 and F5 E7, respectively. Seems a likely upgrade (current flights are F1 F1). The new flights get in about 90 minutes later, so less convenient, but would be worth it for the upgrade...if I could know.

Still about 2 hours before T-24 on the second leg, so I still have some time to wait

Cheers.

mvoight

I did it on May 2 from MIA to LAX on a Business Extra business class award that was the continuation of a trip from BCN. I had gotten sick on the first leg, so I AA switched me to a flight to LAX 2 days later. I wanted to leave on an earlier flight that night and got CFC showing as no charge.

Sam_AE

So, here's an update as to my experience, now that the <24h window is open. I tried to click on the 'same day change' icon after logging in to my AA itinerary. The next screen said there were no flight options available for this itinerary. So, I logged in to ExpertFlyer and found that, in fact, an E class seat was available (E=1) for the later flight that I wanted. From my research (and as noted on the FT wiki) this is the fare bucket from which CFC are taken.

I decided to call AA. The agent found the seat I was talking about on the later flight and said I could have it but that I would be forfeiting my business class seat. He would put me on the waiting list to be reupgraded but that there were no guarantees. Since my flight is only 1 hour, I was totally happy to just get the economy seat.

I didn't want to ask the agent making the change too many questions, but it seems to me (from my research) that CFC isn't necessarily an option for Avios/AA business class seats. The E class seat is only an economy option -- so, this may be why the online tool did not allow me to change the seat myself.

Also, I was not charged for the CFC to the later flight. Again, I don't think the no charge was related to my Business class award seat but rather the fact that I am OW Saphire.

Not sure if this experience can be repeated.... but tuck this one away just in case it becomes relevant for anyone else out there.....

brewdog11

Flying MSY-ORD-STL in a few hours and would like to fly MSY-MIA-ORD-STL instead (want to be on the 763 MIA-ORD). E inventory is plentiful. Would this be a legal change?

I'm thinking so, but I don't want to keep playing the HUACA game with different AAgents if I'm requesting something unreasonable/illegal policy-wise.

FlyerBeek

No, this would not be a valid change. Technically, any CFC must still be rebooked to a valid routing for the original ticket. AA has no routings between MSY-STL that allow connections in both MIA and ORD. The published routings allow a connection only in ORD, CLT, or DFW. That being said, you might find an agent who doesn't know or care enough about the CFC routing rules.

-FlyerBeek

medichill

I'm flying PEK-ORD-DCA on 5/14 and there are two earlier flights from ORD-DCA that EF shows as having availability in F. If I ask for SDFC and those seats are still available, is there any reason why I wouldn't get one?

TIA

ehemmete

Should work fine. I've done it after a confirmed miles/copay upgrade. The website will show you what's available.

Stripe

Normally you can do a SDFC online for a domestic trip when booked on a SWU or miles+copay (in A class). The flights offered will be those available in F. It actually won't show you flights available in Y.

In your case, however, you're starting in PEK. I'm not sure you can do anything until you land in ORD at which point an agent can easily rebook you if there is A availability on an earlier connection.

brewdog11

Thank you for the information. I gave them a call and was politely declined the change and offered other options. I decided not to be persistent with it because it was a rather greedy change request. It's good to know that the original ticket's routing comes into play, I was not aware of that.

Thanks!

C17PSGR

I'm flying tomorrow on US metal on an AA ticket. I want to try SDC to change to an earlier flight that is on AA metal. Can I do that?

serfty

AA or US flight numbers? That's what is important ...

Being an AA Ticket does not matter - FWIW, AA's start with 001- , US's start with 037-

mvoight

Shouldn't SDFC options show up 24 hours before his connection?

RogerD408

For all intents and purposes AA and US are still separate airlines only the AAdvantage program has merged so far. Full merge is expected later this year. Until then, standby is allowed when ticketed on the same metal. So if you are booked as a US flight number on US metal, then yes. If you are on a code-share flight number (AA flight number on US metal), then no. Now that's not to say if there is an issue with your flight and IRROPS is in play that they can't move you over.

medichill

Couldn't change earlier because of the PEK-ORD leg but changed to an earlier flight right after landing.

Thanks!