No Notification on Changes
 

On a May trip to Portugal I was routed DFW-ORD-LHR-LIS. I set the trip up in January. I just happened to be looking at my account and upcoming flights when I noticed a change in the ETD. Not only that, but a change in my seats. The ETD change left me with less connect time at ORD than desirable. The change also resulted in Angle Lie-Flat instead of Pull Flat beds. We were in Business on outbound. I never received and email or calls about the changes.

Then returning via LIS-LHR-DFW it happened again. We had originally booked 15C&D because it was a 3-5-3 configuration and decided to sit across the aisle from each other. When we checked in at LIS we got our boarding passes and went to the gate. It was there we saw that our seats were changed to row 43C&D, which were center section port side two on the aisle. That row is two from the back of the plane. There was an equipment change. When the food cart got to me there was only a cheese dish, which I cannot eat. Once again no email and no call. And my Platinum status apparently didn't alert American to not put me in the back of the bus.

Our next trip is to Australia in September. I looked at it yesterday. We're flying Business round trip. Again an equipment change apparently because on both outbound and inbound there were changes from what we booked. Again, on one leg my wife was by herself on the Port side while I was moved to sit in the center pair. I was able to get in and change our seats. But on the flight from LAX-DFW for some unknown reason, we were in different seats than originally booked in First. Worse by the way, the equipment on one flight ended up with Angle Lie-Flats instead of Full Flat beds. Again, no notifications.

So I am now paranoid about making reservations and having to check on them every week to see if American has decided to change my flights, times or seats, without calling me.

I assume everyone else has had this happen, but it seems to be happening more. How do you deal with it. And is it in fact now a requirement to check reservations every week on far out reservations?

This doesn't sound right. It is my understanding that AA only uses 77W for LAX-SYD, and at a quick glance the timetable for September still shows this.

I hear you. It has happened to me as well, although not lately. My solution is to check my PNRs about every month and proactively make repairs.

I care about connection time, type of aircraft and seat so I do check my reservations quite often, regardless if its tomorrow or in 11 months. I have never been informed by AA about an equipment change that resulted in the same class of service as I booked. If the plane changed to less seats and now in a different cabin, I would expect a call. However, you paid for a business class ticket on AA, not a full flat seat. Maybe some routes exist that guarantee the type of seating, but it isn't happening on routes I fly. I do understand that the choice you made may have depended on the type of aircraft and seating, but again, its not guaranteed. I understand the disappointment of these changes on longhaul overnights as my last EZE J flight was changed from 772 (1-2-1 seating) to the 777 (2-3-2 seating), and was expecting the lie flat, but ~12 hours before departure the plane type was changed. I booked business, flew business, so had no official complaints to make. Checking the My Trips section of AA.com daily only takes a couple minutes max and can provide the peace of mind that your travel will take place as expected, or better give you the opportunity to make adjustments when the changes were made outside of your control (by AA, etc.)

No Notification on Changes
 

Koje,

I understand that I bought Business and flew in that cabin, and I understand your reply. But to go to an extreme for a bit, suppose you walked into Business and found economy seats?

Reminds me of what BA does. Since it was a Business class trip the BA leg to LIS was the First Class cabin. But having flown BA a lot, and in First, I was prepared. They take a 3 three across economy seat section and physically attach a flat table like insert across the middle seat. Voila, you and wife sit in what is A & C in what is now First.

But I guess you confirmed that I just need to check frequently for changes. Though, as I think about it, once I know there's not much I can do once I know except to stew about it longer.

Thanks

JRidge,

Sorry I didn't note that outbound we decided to go via Honolulu and spend some time there before continuing on to SYD.

that's a complete non sequitur and red herring. A switch from lie flat to angled lie flat, while annoying, is still business class. It's not a change in class of service, which is an entirely different beast. And yes, euro business is just y seats, but it's widely known that this is the product.

Seat changes are annoying, no doubt. They happen on most airlines, and maybe with more frequency on AA. The best thing to do is check your PNR often and not get too worked up when it does happen.

This.

If you catch the equipment change early enough (at least 24 hours before the flight, in my experience) you can always call AA and see if they will re-reroute you. I have done this twice this year and both times I manage to get them to re-route me. I had to call a couple of times but eventually got an agent to do it. These were all 77W => 777 swaps.

77W to a 772 would only be a big issue if you were in F, but a swap to a 777 is the real danger and so far when it has happened to me AA has always been willing to move me to a different flight.

You are 100% right, it was a spelling mistake on my end. I meant 77W => 777.

That is only Club Europe or Business. BA doesn't fly First on shorthaul routes.

In my experience AA has been very vocal about schedule changes. I have been changed type of aircraft,connection times,seats with no notification at all , to only check my PNR very early in the website and see the changes. About a month about I- picking up the very early schedule changes... I've been called by AA notifying me about the changes. I sometimes book flights with up to more than 6 months in advance, so it's very common for me to experience equipment changes.

I have gotten AA's automated flight notifications. Both about changes, and day of flight when in delays. As also i have gotten AA personal calls and voicemail from their personnel at Mexico, and have even been called directly from Peru too. My last changes on my PNR i have been called very politely by AA in Peru if i am ok with the changes, and spoken with human AA agent notifying me about the schedule/equipment changes. Very common for me to be called directly from folks at Mexico or Peru when changes arise.

(The funny thing is that i notice changes faster than AA, probably used to check PNR on a weekly, 2 weeks basis. I as some people care about all things including my seating,equipment, connection time and route).

How did you book the tickets?

Yes, BA calls it Club Exec, or at least AA does on its ticket. I was just referring to sitting in front but actually having a normal economy seat with no one sitting next to you.

POAFlyer and Mark,

Hadn't thought of that. Will have to consider it next time.

MVTM,

That's amazing. I have never gotten a call, though I have sometimes gotten an email. You must be on their VIP/TLC list, seriously.

3Cforme,

Used miles. Lots. Maybe that's the issue. Free flyers get no consideration?

That wasn't where I was heading. AA has an obligation to inform you of schedule changes when you book through AA. If you book thru other parties it's the other (TA, Orbitz...) firm who has responsibility. Award doesn't change AA's notification obligation. IME the notice comes about 30 days before flight. Lots of people in this forum check for schedule changes regularly (obsessively!) A schedule change can provide useful leverage (to cancel something you don't want/without fee, to tune up lousy routings).

The industry convention on notification of schedule changes doesn't extend to type of seat in cabin, however.