AA Oversold Business class on our flight this week, we lost award seats
May 22, 2019, 2:53 pm
#181
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
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?
If there were Saver award space on PHL-MAN, then it'd be just a matter of waiving the change fee. That would be a non-issue for an EP and something that I'd say is pretty easy to accomplish otherwise.
If there weren't Saver space, AA can definitely open up award space on its own flights. But that depends on several things: (1) Is the supervisor on the phone generally the type of person who wants to find a solution or simply wants to get you off the phone as quickly as possible? (2) Is the supervisor experienced enough to understand the entirety of the situation (i.e., the much lower likelihood of seats in J opening up in an oversell situation)? (3) Is the supervisor willing to go to RM to open up award space? (4) What is the passenger's elite status?
In my view, what made this situation interesting is that there wasn't a clear or definite solution. On one hand, AA justifiably didn't want to do anything because OP was confirmed in business and inventory is always fluid (and ultimately, it can't be denied that this situation turned out exactly as AA predicted, or at least hoped, even though I agree it was a minor miracle). On the other hand, I think those with a lot of experience could see the situation easily turning out very poorly and justifiably thought that as much as possible should be done to avoid that outcome.
May 22, 2019, 2:58 pm
#183
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
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!Thanks for at least providing (some of) us with a couple days of entertainment, and hopefully you have a great flight and great trip!
May 22, 2019, 3:01 pm
#185
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, CM Presidential / *A Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,648
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!
May 22, 2019, 4:05 pm
#187
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,646
I have the same question as WiscAZ.
For me the issue is not aaward space but what the agents can really do in an oversold cabin situation.
When cabin is oversold and one knows it the day before, can one call and have the agents do a free re-routing?
May 22, 2019, 4:12 pm
#188
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I think for the most part, by and large, the answer is no on that-- has to be AA-initiated.
May 22, 2019, 4:26 pm
#189
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
What if it was a revenue ticket and J is oversold and one has no seat assignments?
I have the same question as WiscAZ.
For me the issue is not aaward space but what the agents can really do in an oversold cabin situation.
When cabin is oversold and one knows it the day before, can one call and have the agents do a free re-routing?
I have the same question as WiscAZ.
For me the issue is not aaward space but what the agents can really do in an oversold cabin situation.
When cabin is oversold and one knows it the day before, can one call and have the agents do a free re-routing?
When push comes to shove, if there are more pax at the gate than seats on a plane, somebody isn't going. And, in these cases, possession (of a BP with an assigned seat) is 9/10ths of the law, as they say. The OP was not in a good negotiating position.
May 22, 2019, 4:27 pm
#190
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
So the flight is 14/14 in J and 157/157 in Y ....
There are two D1;s listed.
Since we're now at post 189 ... any over/under on whether the two D1;s get on and, if so, whether in J or Y?
There are two D1;s listed.
Since we're now at post 189 ... any over/under on whether the two D1;s get on and, if so, whether in J or Y?
May 22, 2019, 4:34 pm
#191
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
What if it was a revenue ticket and J is oversold and one has no seat assignments?
I have the same question as WiscAZ.
For me the issue is not aaward space but what the agents can really do in an oversold cabin situation.
When cabin is oversold and one knows it the day before, can one call and have the agents do a free re-routing?
I have the same question as WiscAZ.
For me the issue is not aaward space but what the agents can really do in an oversold cabin situation.
When cabin is oversold and one knows it the day before, can one call and have the agents do a free re-routing?
I would note, though, that I find it hard to imagine your hypothetical situation being as common or serious a problem. First, as far as I know, AA does not generally oversell the J cabin. Second, revenue J tickets (at least in my experience) are booked relatively close to departure, meaning they are less likely to be affected by unanticipated schedule changes, as occurred in this case. Third, if there is a schedule or aircraft change, I imagine (although am not sure) that those holding revenue tickets in J are given priority in seat assignments. Fourth, if I'm buying a J ticket at the last minute without a seat assignment and the flight happens to be oversold, chances are I'm (or the company) is buying a relatively flexible/full-fare ticket, making it easier to re-route.
May 22, 2019, 4:43 pm
#193
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Accepting your hypothetical as is, I agree with/defer to JonNYC response above.
I would note, though, that I find it hard to imagine your hypothetical situation being as common or serious a problem. First, as far as I know, AA does not generally oversell the J cabin. Second, revenue J tickets (at least in my experience) are booked relatively close to departure, meaning they are less likely to be affected by unanticipated schedule changes, as occurred in this case. Third, if there is a schedule or aircraft change, I imagine (although am not sure) that those holding revenue tickets in J are given priority in seat assignments. Fourth, if I'm buying a J ticket at the last minute without a seat assignment and the flight happens to be oversold, chances are I'm (or the company) is buying a relatively flexible/full-fare ticket, making it easier to re-route.
I would note, though, that I find it hard to imagine your hypothetical situation being as common or serious a problem. First, as far as I know, AA does not generally oversell the J cabin. Second, revenue J tickets (at least in my experience) are booked relatively close to departure, meaning they are less likely to be affected by unanticipated schedule changes, as occurred in this case. Third, if there is a schedule or aircraft change, I imagine (although am not sure) that those holding revenue tickets in J are given priority in seat assignments. Fourth, if I'm buying a J ticket at the last minute without a seat assignment and the flight happens to be oversold, chances are I'm (or the company) is buying a relatively flexible/full-fare ticket, making it easier to re-route.
What unanticipated schedule changes happened in the OP's case? Did I miss something?
May 22, 2019, 4:44 pm
#194
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,848
No you can't. For the exact same reasons that this was resolved for the OP - other pax may cancel, no-show, misconnect. Just because a flight is oversold it doesn't mean that pax will have to be rebooked at the end of the day. What happened here today is a fine example of that
May 22, 2019, 4:45 pm
#195
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: LON, between FAB and EGTD
Programs: OWS - AA Lifetime Platinum, BA nobody (blue)
Posts: 864
Moving on now from the happy ending, and having seen mention of hiking gear, the weather forecast in southern Scotland is fine (until Sunday...)
Have a great trip, curranch90
Have a great trip, curranch90