Standby questions for LHR-MIA and MIA-SJU today (24 Jan 2019)
Jan 25, 2019, 2:02 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,598
Was this an actual J (full fare business class, refundable and changeable at no charge), or a D or I fare? An AAnytime award (which is full fare J) or MilesAAver award (which isn't)? If FF J/AAnytime they should have given you the seat, D or I there is the fee for change thing and do you want to pay to change and/or reprice and thus you get lumped in a list with upgrades. That's what I suspect. Full fare J the Flagship Lounge would have handled it with aplomb I'd think.
1/2 an hour (in MIA with the shutdown, no less!) on the other hand is a terrific connection. Did you use connecting security, or did you exit baggage/customs and go back up to D or E?
1/2 an hour (in MIA with the shutdown, no less!) on the other hand is a terrific connection. Did you use connecting security, or did you exit baggage/customs and go back up to D or E?
I used the connecting flights security. Perhaps the fact that I was among the first to leave the aircraft helped.
Jan 25, 2019, 6:24 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
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As you saw from the other thread, this is an ongoing issue. Often but not always, the gate agent will upgrade passengers who are already on the upgrade list before clearing standby pax who have a J/F ticket. I've had it happen both ways and its a potential risk when standing by for an earlier flight. In other cases, I've been able to make a confirmed flight change straight into J/F
Jan 25, 2019, 6:38 am
#18
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As you saw from the other thread, this is an ongoing issue. Often but not always, the gate agent will upgrade passengers who are already on the upgrade list before clearing standby pax who have a J/F ticket. I've had it happen both ways and its a potential risk when standing by for an earlier flight. In other cases, I've been able to make a confirmed flight change straight into J/F
Jan 25, 2019, 6:52 am
#19
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
It sounds as though OP was on separate tickets, not simply separate PNR's (both BA and AA would each assign a PNR, even on a single ticket).
It is not the GA's decision. This is all handled in the software with the new overlay.
Without getting into the vagaries of each and every fare basis, if the fare basis is fully changeable without fee, then all OP needed to do was to have the change made. It is neither same-day standby nor same day change. This means that if, at the time the passenger requests the change, thee is one seat in J, the passenger gets it.
If the passenger was on a Saver redemption (which he likely was as he notes), then he may make the change, but goes onto the SB list for an upgrade just like the rest of the pack.
With all of the above said, I would have made the change before departure and not waitlisted. The transfer time (not a connection) was more than sufficient and OP was reasonably assured of no major delays by that point. Unlike BA, AA protects across OW-AA ticket transfers. Thus, had OP's inbound to MIA been delayed, AA would have rebooked him (perhaps into Y), but at least he would not have lost his ticket and he would have been no worse off than originally booked.
It is not the GA's decision. This is all handled in the software with the new overlay.
Without getting into the vagaries of each and every fare basis, if the fare basis is fully changeable without fee, then all OP needed to do was to have the change made. It is neither same-day standby nor same day change. This means that if, at the time the passenger requests the change, thee is one seat in J, the passenger gets it.
If the passenger was on a Saver redemption (which he likely was as he notes), then he may make the change, but goes onto the SB list for an upgrade just like the rest of the pack.
With all of the above said, I would have made the change before departure and not waitlisted. The transfer time (not a connection) was more than sufficient and OP was reasonably assured of no major delays by that point. Unlike BA, AA protects across OW-AA ticket transfers. Thus, had OP's inbound to MIA been delayed, AA would have rebooked him (perhaps into Y), but at least he would not have lost his ticket and he would have been no worse off than originally booked.
Jan 25, 2019, 7:06 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,220
AA just does not handle standby on premium cabin tickets reasonably, IMO.
It doesn't make sense to me to prioritize upgrades over standbys. I understand OP's frustration, although they could easily ban standby on award tickets, so be careful what you wish for.
It doesn't make sense to me to prioritize upgrades over standbys. I understand OP's frustration, although they could easily ban standby on award tickets, so be careful what you wish for.
Jan 25, 2019, 7:10 am
#21
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,711
I agree but it's also inconsistently applied. I had a trip last year where one gate agent told me they would upgrade everybody on the list before processing the standby list, even if someone was standing by premium only (of course that gate agent also thought I was an employee standing by at first and not a revenue passenger). I rolled to the next flight where that gate agent told me she would process me first, over the upgrade list. Two flights to the same destination on the same ticket no less. Two different methods of processing the upgrade and standby lists.
Jan 25, 2019, 9:16 am
#22
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Location: London, UK
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From the Twitter team:
Don’t know how much the voucher is for! To be honest, I would’ve rather travelled first class. I had two vouchers from the catering situation last year and had to gift them to a friend.
Thanks for hanging in there while we took a closer look, ringingup. We're sorry again for the issues that you encountered when you were on standby for a flight with us. We’ve sent you a voucher as a way to say we’re sorry for the issues you encountered on your trip. While we know this can’t change what happened, we hope it conveys our sincere apology. It’s valid for one year from it’s date of issue, and travel will need to be booked on it before it expires but can extend past the vouchers expiration date. It was sent via postal mail and you should expect to receive it within the next 4 weeks. We see that your ticket was booked with British Airways miles, you may want to contact British Airways to see if an adjustment is warranted.
