Are the Unions or weather or non rev pax causing problems
Jun 23, 19, 9:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,644
Are the Unions or weather or non rev pax causing problems
I recently flew a CA > PHX route that had some very odd issues. The desired Sunday flight showed just a few seats available until day of departure. So I booked a Monday flight that was cheaper. Then the day of Sunday departure over a dozen seats open and the price drops.. I call ex plat desk and wait time is over 2 hours. Is this Union slowdown? Is this weather ? Both? Are non revs making phantom bookings so they have space get home? Is this rev management trying extract max money from pax? Just curious. I am leaving out the California city on purpose.
Last edited by Centurion; Jun 24, 19 at 12:09 pm
Jun 23, 19, 10:05 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2016
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The seat map is not a likely indicator of the load factor, seats may be blocked for a variety of reasons. It's also possible that people change flights or do SDC to another flight. The union slow down has to do with maintenance personal not reservations and ticketing agents. Any weather throughout the country can affect operations, therefore affecting phone wait times. Lastly, it's not non revs if an AA employee was to be found doing this they would be seriously reprimanded or likely terminated.
Jun 23, 19, 11:35 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
I am having an issue understanding is the thought union members are making phantom bookings? The mechanics have hacked the reservations system? How are they accomplishing this and to what end? Non Revs have found a way to make confirmed bookings and not fly stand by?
Or could it be something within the realm of normal like a family cancelling a trip because grandma is sick? Or a Monday morning meeting or court date got cancelled?
Or could it be something within the realm of normal like a family cancelling a trip because grandma is sick? Or a Monday morning meeting or court date got cancelled?
Jun 24, 19, 10:09 am
#11
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OTOH, there are a lot of folks flying on corporate contracts who have fares that allow them to change without penalty which changes availability a lot.
Jun 24, 19, 10:32 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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Posts: 3,543
Non-rev's CAN'T make phantom bookings as non-rev travel is typically standby travel, i.e. non-revs are given seats after all revenue pax have seats and all upgrades have been processed at the gate.
As far as plain phantom booking by anybody, how is that done? Is it someone buying a fully refundable ticket in order to artificially decrease seat inventory and then cancelling the ticketing at a convenient time? I think that's prohibited by AA and if caught there can be severe consequences for anyone attempting that?
Also, as pointed out above, what do you mean by "a dozen seats open up"? I assume it is from the seat map and seat map is not indicative of real inventory as already mentioned above.
Conspiracies aside, your question and thread should probably be rephrased "Why do prices decrease last minute? Bought ticket for $$$X N days in advance and ticket decreased to $Y (Z% decrease) the day of departure".
(More accurate hypothesis could be given if you indicate flight number, travel date, how much you paid and how much was it day of departure)
As far as plain phantom booking by anybody, how is that done? Is it someone buying a fully refundable ticket in order to artificially decrease seat inventory and then cancelling the ticketing at a convenient time? I think that's prohibited by AA and if caught there can be severe consequences for anyone attempting that?
Also, as pointed out above, what do you mean by "a dozen seats open up"? I assume it is from the seat map and seat map is not indicative of real inventory as already mentioned above.
Conspiracies aside, your question and thread should probably be rephrased "Why do prices decrease last minute? Bought ticket for $$$X N days in advance and ticket decreased to $Y (Z% decrease) the day of departure".
(More accurate hypothesis could be given if you indicate flight number, travel date, how much you paid and how much was it day of departure)
Jun 24, 19, 11:04 am
#13
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Jun 24, 19, 11:13 am
#14
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AA seems to have been zeroing out certain fare buckets as a contingency for IRROPS. Friday LAX-IAH was J0 but 5 of 8 open seats. I cleared easily. Some others pax were flying LAX-IAH-DFW as all hell broke loose in DFW.
AA easily could have held inventory for cancellation and, realizing they didn't need them, release them
AA easily could have held inventory for cancellation and, realizing they didn't need them, release them
Jun 24, 19, 11:37 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2013
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If OP wasn't an established poster I would be calling afoul as some of this reads like a subversive post, trying to cast blame on unions when they have nothing to do with inventory (they certainly can impact schedules though). And since when do nonrevs have confirmed seats in advance?
