AA.com Doesn't Have a Drop-Down to Pick Companion
Apr 11, 2019, 10:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,227
AA.com Doesn't Have a Drop-Down to Pick Companion
So, maybe this belongs in the What's the stupidest, least substantive thing you can complain about? thread, but maybe someone here has a workaround.
I book a lot of AA trips for myself, people that work for me, as well as family and friends. AA lets you store companions in your AA profile, so you dont have to enter their details every time. When you go to make a reservation, theres no drop down to select which companions will be traveling with you. AA.com defaults to entering your first companions details and if youre booking for 3, it will do companions 1 and 2, but otherwise theres no real way to pick which one.
Am I missing something?
I book a lot of AA trips for myself, people that work for me, as well as family and friends. AA lets you store companions in your AA profile, so you dont have to enter their details every time. When you go to make a reservation, theres no drop down to select which companions will be traveling with you. AA.com defaults to entering your first companions details and if youre booking for 3, it will do companions 1 and 2, but otherwise theres no real way to pick which one.
Am I missing something?
Apr 11, 2019, 11:01 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,040
Just another failure in AA IT. I booked a flight on Alaska a few weeks ago, and it was so seamless to choose a companion for my flight.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:05 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,227
I've also noticed that it saves name, date of birth and known traveler information, but can't seem to keep track of companion's country and state...I'm not even sure why it needs country and state for domestic tickets, but it adds several seconds to each booking, and sometimes I'm making dozens of bookings at once, particularly for work trips with 3 or 4 colleagues.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:36 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
I've also noticed that it saves name, date of birth and known traveler information, but can't seem to keep track of companion's country and state...I'm not even sure why it needs country and state for domestic tickets, but it adds several seconds to each booking, and sometimes I'm making dozens of bookings at once, particularly for work trips with 3 or 4 colleagues.
The whole state of residence thing is absurd (and relatively new as I recall). I have no idea why they are collecting this information as part of the passenger info; it's completely unnecessary.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:54 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,299
I've also noticed that it saves name, date of birth and known traveler information, but can't seem to keep track of companion's country and state...I'm not even sure why it needs country and state for domestic tickets, but it adds several seconds to each booking, and sometimes I'm making dozens of bookings at once, particularly for work trips with 3 or 4 colleagues.
My address is on file, so unsure why it cannot parse that.
Apr 11, 2019, 2:59 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
AA customer service is horrible
I have a better one for you. I flew to Nassau had 5 seats booked. Upon departure our flight was delayed. It happens I understand the plane came in early we got to Charlotte and had tickets in hand 45 prior to our next flight and we go scan to board and they tell us your ticket isnt valid we gave your seats away we didnt think you would make it!! I ask the manager how did you give my seats away 45 minutes prior to departure? I was told sorry call our 800 number talk to them. You have to go online submit a complaint they dont call you back they gave me $49 per ticket refund after giving away my seats.. has this happened to anyone else? You cant get anyone to call you back!
Apr 11, 2019, 3:02 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,227
I have a better one for you. I flew to Nassau had 5 seats booked. Upon departure our flight was delayed. It happens I understand the plane came in early we got to Charlotte and had tickets in hand 45 prior to our next flight and we go scan to board and they tell us your ticket isnt valid we gave your seats away we didnt think you would make it!! I ask the manager how did you give my seats away 45 minutes prior to departure? I was told sorry call our 800 number talk to them. You have to go online submit a complaint they dont call you back they gave me $49 per ticket refund after giving away my seats.. has this happened to anyone else? You cant get anyone to call you back!
Apr 11, 2019, 4:18 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,299
Apr 11, 2019, 5:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
The companion issue is a pain. Except for automatically populating the first person listed, it doesn't do anything with the rest. The only thing I can see of value is that it has their frequent flyer numbers so I can cut and paste.
As for the state, its related to the Real ID issues.
As for the state, its related to the Real ID issues.
Apr 11, 2019, 5:39 pm
#11
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,035
My guess is that they collect this state of residence for the Allianz insurance. Different terms apply for different states, and if you buy the insurance, it feeds this information to Allianz, not the address on your AA profile.
Apr 11, 2019, 5:45 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,299
Wouldn't it be super rare for this state of residence to be different from your profile and billing address? Why not just use that?
Apr 12, 2019, 5:42 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: AA lifetime plat 2.5 million
Posts: 298
Sounds like a good idea at a time of changing requirements.
Apr 12, 2019, 8:54 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 330
This has always frustrated me. The best workaround I've figured out is remembering the AAdvantage numbers of my family. After clearing out the pre-populated passenger info, which AA just draws from in the order you have it in your preferences, I can put the first, last name and AAdvantage number, then it will fill in the rest on its own. I've had issues in the past with the country and state not filling in, but lately it's worked fine for my kids. (But my kids also recently got real IDs, so maybe it is tied to that?)