Hawaii flights: 500 mile upgrade certs only upgrading to Premium Economy?
May 11, 2021, 6:48 pm
#61
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Was told that Yes e500s are for Y -> J and not Y -> PE, and also, that Y -> PE is considered a 'Seat Upgrade, Not a Cabin Upgrade.' However, after doing some research/calling around, she was not able to find any mechanism of paying for this Seat Upgrade other than Mileage, and LFBU if it happens to be offered (which it was not for either of our DFW/OGG flights)
She did offer to refund 4 of the 8 stickers because: "After all, your companion was upgraded to PE, so we do have to charge you something."
She did offer to refund 4 of the 8 stickers because: "After all, your companion was upgraded to PE, so we do have to charge you something."
There is no way to go Y to PE, other than as a LFBU. It's not even a seat upgrade like MCE, on flights where PE is actually sold as PE.
I saw that Gary Leff did a write up on your situation... was kinda hoping you'd be back with a more promising update by now... Yikes!
May 12, 2021, 7:49 pm
#62
Join Date: Jun 2020
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You must have some terrible luck running into these agents who make up the looniest rules. Refunding 4 out of 8 stickers? What on earth even is that?
There is no way to go Y to PE, other than as a LFBU. It's not even a seat upgrade like MCE, on flights where PE is actually sold as PE.
I saw that Gary Leff did a write up on your situation... was kinda hoping you'd be back with a more promising update by now... Yikes!
There is no way to go Y to PE, other than as a LFBU. It's not even a seat upgrade like MCE, on flights where PE is actually sold as PE.
I saw that Gary Leff did a write up on your situation... was kinda hoping you'd be back with a more promising update by now... Yikes!
And I have a good update to share! Finally the crazy streak hath broken! Gary and I were in touch, and he gavd them a nudge. Many thanks to Gary Leff / View from the Wing!! Got a call today from THE NICEST person I think I have talked to at any airline. I filled him in on the whole story and counted the "WOW"s and "Holy Smokes"ses.
* Right off the bat, he told me stickers never should have been charged, and gave me all 8 back, and an extra five. Yay!
* He apologized up and down for the numerous letters containing incorrect info. He also said he's never heard of this "single point of contact" system, and that the idea that she couldn't have escalated the issue is absurd. "My department is specifically to handle escalated issues."
* He seemed very concerned when I told him about the gate issues at DFW (which he hadn't yet been briefed on.) He said he could fully understand me being furious. "This priority list looks very different when you take out the NO SPLIT" was one thing he said. He confirmed that I should have been called up and asked if we wanted to splitz and told me that when he and his wife are up for one seat in J, they always split, and that it's relatively rare that you find people that don't want to do so. Especially on a flight like that with a lieflat and a nice meal service.
He said there will be more followup about that, and fully understood that that along with the letters were my main concerns, with the stuff at OGG secondary.
*Finally, he said he couldn't believe how many different made-up things I was told: "FIRST" being printed on a boarding pass meaning "First to board the aircraft." - he actually laughed when I told him about that. The story I was fed about the D1 being a deadheading captain. "A deadheading captain would never be D1." Etc.
Overall, I really felt like I was understood in all of these issues, and aside from the subject matter it was an incredibly pleasant conversation!
Phew!!
May 12, 2021, 8:00 pm
#63
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Right?! Craziness at each turn. I can 100% confirm that the Maui agents are trained to do upgrades to PE with stickers. Had a long discussion about this with the agent who was working the bag booth on arrival. She said "oh.. it's quite a process." The procedure they're following is to clear UGs into R (which requires some kind of override as J will presumably be full), and then assign them seats in PE. Sure enough, that's what was done on our return flight. Turns out a fellow FTer was on the same flight as us, and saw us at the podium!
And I have a good update to share! Finally the crazy streak hath broken! Gary and I were in touch, and he gavd them a nudge. Many thanks to Gary Leff / View from the Wing!! Got a call today from THE NICEST person I think I have talked to at any airline. I filled him in on the whole story and counted the "WOW"s and "Holy Smokes"ses.
* Right off the bat, he told me stickers never should have been charged, and gave me all 8 back, and an extra five. Yay!
* He apologized up and down for the numerous letters containing incorrect info. He also said he's never heard of this "single point of contact" system, and that the idea that she couldn't have escalated the issue is absurd. "My department is specifically to handle escalated issues."
* He seemed very concerned when I told him about the gate issues at DFW (which he hadn't yet been briefed on.) He said he could fully understand me being furious. "This priority list looks very different when you take out the NO SPLIT" was one thing he said. He confirmed that I should have been called up and asked if we wanted to splitz and told me that when he and his wife are up for one seat in J, they always split, and that it's relatively rare that you find people that don't want to do so. Especially on a flight like that with a lieflat and a nice meal service.
He said there will be more followup about that, and fully understood that that along with the letters were my main concerns, with the stuff at OGG secondary.
*Finally, he said he couldn't believe how many different made-up things I was told: "FIRST" being printed on a boarding pass meaning "First to board the aircraft." - he actually laughed when I told him about that. The story I was fed about the D1 being a deadheading captain. "A deadheading captain would never be D1." Etc.
Overall, I really felt like I was understood in all of these issues, and aside from the subject matter it was an incredibly pleasant conversation!
Phew!!
And I have a good update to share! Finally the crazy streak hath broken! Gary and I were in touch, and he gavd them a nudge. Many thanks to Gary Leff / View from the Wing!! Got a call today from THE NICEST person I think I have talked to at any airline. I filled him in on the whole story and counted the "WOW"s and "Holy Smokes"ses.
* Right off the bat, he told me stickers never should have been charged, and gave me all 8 back, and an extra five. Yay!
* He apologized up and down for the numerous letters containing incorrect info. He also said he's never heard of this "single point of contact" system, and that the idea that she couldn't have escalated the issue is absurd. "My department is specifically to handle escalated issues."
* He seemed very concerned when I told him about the gate issues at DFW (which he hadn't yet been briefed on.) He said he could fully understand me being furious. "This priority list looks very different when you take out the NO SPLIT" was one thing he said. He confirmed that I should have been called up and asked if we wanted to splitz and told me that when he and his wife are up for one seat in J, they always split, and that it's relatively rare that you find people that don't want to do so. Especially on a flight like that with a lieflat and a nice meal service.
He said there will be more followup about that, and fully understood that that along with the letters were my main concerns, with the stuff at OGG secondary.
*Finally, he said he couldn't believe how many different made-up things I was told: "FIRST" being printed on a boarding pass meaning "First to board the aircraft." - he actually laughed when I told him about that. The story I was fed about the D1 being a deadheading captain. "A deadheading captain would never be D1." Etc.
Overall, I really felt like I was understood in all of these issues, and aside from the subject matter it was an incredibly pleasant conversation!
Phew!!
May 13, 2021, 3:35 am
#64
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I am so curious about all of this too! Mine isn't a data point on what the computer said though, since if they had removed NO SPLIT from the reservation like I had asked, it would have presumably told them to give me that last seat in J.
Here's some more minutia: Called the AAdvantage number yesterday. Was told that Yes e500s are for Y -> J and not Y -> PE, and also, that Y -> PE is considered a 'Seat Upgrade, Not a Cabin Upgrade.' However, after doing some research/calling around, she was not able to find any mechanism of paying for this Seat Upgrade other than Mileage, and LFBU if it happens to be offered (which it was not for either of our DFW/OGG flights)
She did offer to refund 4 of the 8 stickers because: "After all, your companion was upgraded to PE, so we do have to charge you something."
They clearly run a tight ship!!
Here's some more minutia: Called the AAdvantage number yesterday. Was told that Yes e500s are for Y -> J and not Y -> PE, and also, that Y -> PE is considered a 'Seat Upgrade, Not a Cabin Upgrade.' However, after doing some research/calling around, she was not able to find any mechanism of paying for this Seat Upgrade other than Mileage, and LFBU if it happens to be offered (which it was not for either of our DFW/OGG flights)
She did offer to refund 4 of the 8 stickers because: "After all, your companion was upgraded to PE, so we do have to charge you something."
They clearly run a tight ship!!
Given that, I think 1/2 of the sticker upgrade would be a reasonable price. Maybe agents have some info they have been instructed to follow regarding this.
Maybe this issue should be resolve or AA should stop upgrades from Y to PE. I would not expect free upgrades from Y > PE, since PE is a sold as a separate class on this flight.
May 13, 2021, 11:19 am
#65
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He seemed very concerned when I told him about the gate issues at DFW (which he hadn't yet been briefed on.) He said he could fully understand me being furious. "This priority list looks very different when you take out the NO SPLIT" was one thing he said. He confirmed that I should have been called up and asked if we wanted to splitz and told me that when he and his wife are up for one seat in J, they always split, and that it's relatively rare that you find people that don't want to do so. Especially on a flight like that with a lieflat and a nice meal service.
He said there will be more followup about that, and fully understood that that along with the letters were my main concerns, with the stuff at OGG secondary.
[snip]
Overall, I really felt like I was understood in all of these issues, and aside from the subject matter it was an incredibly pleasant conversation!
He said there will be more followup about that, and fully understood that that along with the letters were my main concerns, with the stuff at OGG secondary.
[snip]
Overall, I really felt like I was understood in all of these issues, and aside from the subject matter it was an incredibly pleasant conversation!
Hopefully there will be some additional training for GAs.
May 13, 2021, 2:00 pm
#66
Join Date: Feb 2007
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...and I am glad to read that it was finally made right, even if it took a bit of help from Gary pleading your case. Hope to see you in the skies again and hopefully to a great destination like OGG!
May 13, 2021, 8:00 pm
#67
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Nov 11, 2021, 1:37 am
#68
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SBA
Programs: UA & AA 1 million miler
Posts: 1,134
I am looking at the flights HNL-DFW and HNL-PHX.
Both flights are B789, but the HNL-DFW offers (main cabin, premium economy (P), flagship business(C) and the HNL-PHX offers main cabin, premium economy (P), first (R) to sell.
I am still confused about the complementary (sticker) upgrades for EXP...
If I buy a MC ticket, will I be l listed for
1. HNL-DFW: MC-> PE or MC->Flagship Business upgrade?
2. HNL-PHX: MC->PE or MC->First upgrade?
3. What if I buy a BXP1 eligible MC ticket and apply it to the ticket?
Both flights are B789, but the HNL-DFW offers (main cabin, premium economy (P), flagship business(C) and the HNL-PHX offers main cabin, premium economy (P), first (R) to sell.
I am still confused about the complementary (sticker) upgrades for EXP...
If I buy a MC ticket, will I be l listed for
1. HNL-DFW: MC-> PE or MC->Flagship Business upgrade?
2. HNL-PHX: MC->PE or MC->First upgrade?
3. What if I buy a BXP1 eligible MC ticket and apply it to the ticket?
Nov 11, 2021, 2:39 am
#69
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hawaii & Texas
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I am looking at the flights HNL-DFW and HNL-PHX.
Both flights are B789, but the HNL-DFW offers (main cabin, premium economy (P), flagship business(C) and the HNL-PHX offers main cabin, premium economy (P), first (R) to sell.
I am still confused about the complementary (sticker) upgrades for EXP...
If I buy a MC ticket, will I be l listed for
1. HNL-DFW: MC-> PE or MC->Flagship Business upgrade?
2. HNL-PHX: MC->PE or MC->First upgrade?
3. What if I buy a BXP1 eligible MC ticket and apply it to the ticket?
Both flights are B789, but the HNL-DFW offers (main cabin, premium economy (P), flagship business(C) and the HNL-PHX offers main cabin, premium economy (P), first (R) to sell.
I am still confused about the complementary (sticker) upgrades for EXP...
If I buy a MC ticket, will I be l listed for
1. HNL-DFW: MC-> PE or MC->Flagship Business upgrade?
2. HNL-PHX: MC->PE or MC->First upgrade?
3. What if I buy a BXP1 eligible MC ticket and apply it to the ticket?
I don’t know why they call things flagship. No better amenities/service to Hawaii on flights they call Flagship vs. ones where they do not.
Nov 11, 2021, 3:14 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
Though some PHX-Hawaii flights are on widebodies with lie-flats, this is like any other "random" domestic widebody that could be subbed with a narrowbody. And even if you do have a lucky lie-flat, such a non-Flagship flight is still different, in that there has been no hot meal (for most of 2021), and there is no lounge access. Flagship Hawaii flights do have hot meals and lounge access.
Nov 11, 2021, 7:31 am
#71
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Nov 11, 2021, 11:53 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2007
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What if First or Flagship Business is full and PE is available? Does AA still clear upgrade and move me to PE?
Nov 11, 2021, 12:10 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SBA
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Though some PHX-Hawaii flights are on widebodies with lie-flats, this is like any other "random" domestic widebody that could be subbed with a narrowbody. And even if you do have a lucky lie-flat, such a non-Flagship flight is still different, in that there has been no hot meal (for most of 2021), and there is no lounge access. Flagship Hawaii flights do have hot meals and lounge access.
Nov 11, 2021, 12:17 pm
#74
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Nov 11, 2021, 2:48 pm
#75
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I think AA should offer one, but I suspect if they do that, they will increase the upgrade to business