AA Oversold Business class on our flight this week, we lost award seats
#166
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
When we purchase a premium cabin ticket, it shouldn't just be an option for the airline to exercise or not to seat us in the class of service that we chose or give some minimal refund (in miles or money of at most the difference in price at the time of purchase) or possibly even just cancel the ticket and give a refund. The customer chose premium cabin travel when presented with a menu of prices, so that customer preferred the premium cabin ticket (at the price offered) to the coac h ticket (at the price offered by the airline at the time of purchase). If the person had wanted to fly in coach, he/she would have purchased a coach ticket.
More compensation is due and should be required. While obviously courts cannot force the airline to give the person a premium cabin seat on the flights that were purchased, airlines should be punished for overbooking premium cabins and forced to solicit volunteers seriously just as there rules about VDBs and IDBs for coach passengers.
More compensation is due and should be required. While obviously courts cannot force the airline to give the person a premium cabin seat on the flights that were purchased, airlines should be punished for overbooking premium cabins and forced to solicit volunteers seriously just as there rules about VDBs and IDBs for coach passengers.
#167
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,645
In this particular case, what does the phone agent see?
I'm going to guess the agent may see flight oversold, seat to be assigned at airport.
I'm not sure on what basis the agent could have done anything other than voluntary re-ticketing, which is what it seems they were trying to do for the OP and therefore checking aaward inventory.
On a revenue ticket, the agent would have offered change fee + current price ticket, since this is not IRROPS at the point one calls.
In other words, does an oversold cabin give grounds to a free re-routing with an agent on the phone? The standard answer will be "go to the airport".
I'm going to guess the agent may see flight oversold, seat to be assigned at airport.
I'm not sure on what basis the agent could have done anything other than voluntary re-ticketing, which is what it seems they were trying to do for the OP and therefore checking aaward inventory.
On a revenue ticket, the agent would have offered change fee + current price ticket, since this is not IRROPS at the point one calls.
In other words, does an oversold cabin give grounds to a free re-routing with an agent on the phone? The standard answer will be "go to the airport".
#168
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
In this particular case, what does the phone agent see?
I'm going to guess the agent may see flight oversold, seat to be assigned at airport.
I'm not sure on what basis the agent could have done anything other than voluntary re-ticketing, which is what it seems they were trying to do for the OP and therefore checking aaward inventory.
On a revenue ticket, the agent would have offered change fee + current price ticket, since this is not IRROPS at the point one calls.
In other words, does an oversold cabin give grounds to a free re-routing with an agent on the phone? The standard answer will be "go to the airport".
I'm going to guess the agent may see flight oversold, seat to be assigned at airport.
I'm not sure on what basis the agent could have done anything other than voluntary re-ticketing, which is what it seems they were trying to do for the OP and therefore checking aaward inventory.
On a revenue ticket, the agent would have offered change fee + current price ticket, since this is not IRROPS at the point one calls.
In other words, does an oversold cabin give grounds to a free re-routing with an agent on the phone? The standard answer will be "go to the airport".
Last edited by Erasmus; May 22, 2019 at 1:35 pm
#169
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
I know people cancel for whatever reason all the time, but is it possible that any of the cancellations (in J or Y) were people contacted by AA to take a different flight (perhaps based on their actual end-destination and offering them a better route to get to their destination)? I know US back in the day would call me asking me about taking alternative options for whatever reason (usually overbooked). I could say this thread might have caused some of that behind the scenes efforts, but I don't have that insight.
It does appear the now blocked seats were mistakenly offered for inventory for this flight (whether or not the crew rest need is necessary or not, that is not my call).
I think from threads like this, we all are reminded on how much we need to proactively find options for such issues. As such, I have changed to/from airports, days of travel, etc. when I have dealt with situations where I could not travel as scheduled for whatever reason. If that is the value of this thread, not a bad deal.
It does appear the now blocked seats were mistakenly offered for inventory for this flight (whether or not the crew rest need is necessary or not, that is not my call).
I think from threads like this, we all are reminded on how much we need to proactively find options for such issues. As such, I have changed to/from airports, days of travel, etc. when I have dealt with situations where I could not travel as scheduled for whatever reason. If that is the value of this thread, not a bad deal.
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,668
Nobody forced me, but just reading 12 pages of AA shenanigans and their unnecessary drama forced upon this innocent guy, who could have been any of us, I feel I am owed some miles for pain and suffering...just for witnessing this...
Also, for the tame and lame ending, lol
Also, for the tame and lame ending, lol
#176
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,400
There was a wealth of information in this thread. Thank you to the experts for suggestions and recommendation to help these folks. I feel for this couple and what they went through and am happy for their miracle ending.
But as many others have said -- it begs the question how many people does this happen to that don't come to FF --- probably lots --- and how would AA resolve this situation if there's not a fortuitous cancellation or mixed connection? If push had come to shove came at the counter.
Unfortunately we'll never know for sure. Like the ending to The Sopranos.
But as many others have said -- it begs the question how many people does this happen to that don't come to FF --- probably lots --- and how would AA resolve this situation if there's not a fortuitous cancellation or mixed connection? If push had come to shove came at the counter.
Unfortunately we'll never know for sure. Like the ending to The Sopranos.
#177
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,668
All I am saying is that if they were competent and/or cared to fix their own mistakes, we wouldn't have to learn anything here...
#178
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
Just to clear up one thing that is still unclear for me...
It seems that each time OP called AA he was told this needed to be sorted at the airport. It also seems that OP's plans really needed him to get directly to EDI. Let's say that this was me and I'm on business and I'm flexible. That means I can fly to an alternate destination (MAN was suggested) and my employer would pay for whatever route needed to get me from MAN to EDI (perhaps by train).
Would AA have made that change over the phone to MAN given this situation? I guess I'm asking is if I'm booked in J and it's oversold will AA make the change for me in advance rather than me showing up to the airport early to see if they would make the change?
It seems that each time OP called AA he was told this needed to be sorted at the airport. It also seems that OP's plans really needed him to get directly to EDI. Let's say that this was me and I'm on business and I'm flexible. That means I can fly to an alternate destination (MAN was suggested) and my employer would pay for whatever route needed to get me from MAN to EDI (perhaps by train).
Would AA have made that change over the phone to MAN given this situation? I guess I'm asking is if I'm booked in J and it's oversold will AA make the change for me in advance rather than me showing up to the airport early to see if they would make the change?
#179
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Thailand
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 1,150
I was usually re-qualifying for Chairman Preferred so would pick some interesting segments.
Those were the good old days for sure
#180
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 10
Can't thank JonNYC enough. His notification that the seats were open and that we had been assigned to them couldnt have came at a better time as we were most likely going to end up being rerouted with multiple layovers and a significantly delayed arrival time.
AA gate agents confirmed our names are assigned to the seats and they now show up in the app. They even showed me the screen they see (but wouldn't let me take a picture as it had other passenger names on it). However, DTW for some reason cannot print BPs with seats on them, said it has to be done at PHL. My PHL - EDI BP says a seat will be assigned at the gate... Hopefully this isnt AA playing games and we'll have a smooth process in PH. Will update once we have final BPs.
I sincerely apologize I wasn't able to be a better test subject . 36 hours of stress but I learned a ton from all of you!
AA gate agents confirmed our names are assigned to the seats and they now show up in the app. They even showed me the screen they see (but wouldn't let me take a picture as it had other passenger names on it). However, DTW for some reason cannot print BPs with seats on them, said it has to be done at PHL. My PHL - EDI BP says a seat will be assigned at the gate... Hopefully this isnt AA playing games and we'll have a smooth process in PH. Will update once we have final BPs.
I sincerely apologize I wasn't able to be a better test subject . 36 hours of stress but I learned a ton from all of you!