Guide: New SDFC / Same Day Flight Change Restrictions 8 Jun 2018
Jun 10, 2018, 1:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/NYC/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
Guide: New SDFC / Same Day Flight Change Restrictions 8 Jun 2018
Just got off the phone with an AAgent to inquire about changing a flight today. I asked if there was E inventory on the flight that I was interested in, which was confirmed by her. She said that it wouldn't accept the change and put me on hold (to I assume call the help desk). When she came back, she told me that an update went into effect June 8 in which CFC availability is dictated my some automated system rather than E availability.
Has anyone seen or heard about this? Should I HUCA?
Has anyone seen or heard about this? Should I HUCA?
Jun 10, 2018, 2:53 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Why not simply ask if she can change you to the flight you want?
AA no longer trains its front line agents to even understand the specifics because it is all handled by templates making your question irrelevant to the result you sought and requiring the front-line agent to call someone to figure it out.
The benefit of simply asking is that it really doesn't matter whether the agent rebooks using SDC or simply makes a change and waives the change fee.
AA no longer trains its front line agents to even understand the specifics because it is all handled by templates making your question irrelevant to the result you sought and requiring the front-line agent to call someone to figure it out.
The benefit of simply asking is that it really doesn't matter whether the agent rebooks using SDC or simply makes a change and waives the change fee.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:06 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/NYC/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
Why not simply ask if she can change you to the flight you want?
AA no longer trains its front line agents to even understand the specifics because it is all handled by templates making your question irrelevant to the result you sought and requiring the front-line agent to call someone to figure it out.
The benefit of simply asking is that it really doesn't matter whether the agent rebooks using SDC or simply makes a change and waives the change fee.
AA no longer trains its front line agents to even understand the specifics because it is all handled by templates making your question irrelevant to the result you sought and requiring the front-line agent to call someone to figure it out.
The benefit of simply asking is that it really doesn't matter whether the agent rebooks using SDC or simply makes a change and waives the change fee.
Jun 10, 2018, 3:28 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,227
Not sure why you bring up upgrades, but E was historically used to determine if confirmed flight change was allowed. OP suggests that may have changed. If so, it could certainly make something like ExpertFlyer less useful for monitoring availability of CFC.
Jun 10, 2018, 5:24 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 75
I just looked at the AA SDFC web page (https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...day-travel.jsp) and it no longer references E space availability, just says "On select routes operated and marketed by American or American Eagle, based on availability" and "Offer is made at our discretion and subject to change or termination at any time." I had to SDFC just two weeks ago, and I'm fairly certain the page referenced E space then.
Jun 10, 2018, 5:33 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
I just looked at the AA SDFC web page (https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...day-travel.jsp) and it no longer references E space availability, just says "On select routes operated and marketed by American or American Eagle, based on availability" and "Offer is made at our discretion and subject to change or termination at any time." I had to SDFC just two weeks ago, and I'm fairly certain the page referenced E space then.
Jun 10, 2018, 6:01 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,235
Actually, found a screenshot from the above thread. Bullet point #4
Jun 10, 2018, 7:08 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
I am not eitheronline , but this thread Domestic Same Day Confirmed Flight Change / SDFC / SDC / CFC / "Standby" has several posts linking to aa.com as a source for the E class.
Actually, found a screenshot from the above thread. Bullet point #4
Actually, found a screenshot from the above thread. Bullet point #4
It may well have had it stated at one time, but the terms as shown by web archive don't show that wording from anything at all recent
The link in the wiki on that thread points to the terms from 2014 where it doesn't mention E class
Other than that thread, I don't see where E class is mentioned - I am not suggesting that the thread was incorrect , just that AA seems not to have been stating it for a long time
Jun 10, 2018, 7:59 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,235
It may well have had it stated at one time, but the terms as shown by web archive don't show that wording from anything at all recent
The link in the wiki on that thread points to the terms from 2014 where it doesn't mention E class
Other than that thread, I don't see where E class is mentioned - I am not suggesting that the thread was incorrect , just that AA seems not to have been stating it for a long time
The link in the wiki on that thread points to the terms from 2014 where it doesn't mention E class
Other than that thread, I don't see where E class is mentioned - I am not suggesting that the thread was incorrect , just that AA seems not to have been stating it for a long time
you are correct. I went through wayback machine also and nothing for 2 years if not more
Jun 11, 2018, 8:59 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dallas/Orlando
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 2,716
Recently I’ve had better luck with confirmed SDFC. Twice in one week I’ve moved to a different flight via the App and been confirmed into the last open seat in the cabin. Didn’t make sense to me but I was not one to complain. I wonder if this is just happenstance or somehow correlates with the policy change.
Jun 11, 2018, 9:04 am
#13
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Recently I’ve had better luck with confirmed SDFC. Twice in one week I’ve moved to a different flight via the App and been confirmed into the last open seat in the cabin. Didn’t make sense to me but I was not one to complain. I wonder if this is just happenstance or somehow correlates with the policy change.
I’ve had the same experience. Wide availability, even for flights that were nearly full.
Jun 11, 2018, 9:58 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
ehhh just misunderstood what CFC means. I can see why AA used the E bucket, it represents the most restricted seats in the cabin (the ones given out for employee travel). AA probably came up with a more efficient formula than relying on the seats in the E bucket.
Jun 11, 2018, 10:15 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
FWIW, I've definitely seen situations with other buckets zeroed out but with availability in E. I would be nice if they're being a bit less conservative with SDC availability, but it will be a shame if it's opaque and unpredictable.