aaliz

So I booked a First Class Web Saver award on AA flights LHR-JFK-ORD for this June. I was just looking at my upcoming trips and it has been changed to a Business award on the direct LHR-ORD flight. There has not been a schedule change. It's still possible to book the award for my original flights (with a lot more miles though). I wanted to fly first class and try the JFK FFD.
I haven't called yet, but any idea why this would happen? Maybe the JFK-ORD is expected to change and I won't be able to connect, but it's still available.

cova

I would call and tell them you want it switched back to your original reservation. Was there a time change (even if minor) on the LHR-JFK?

I had a paid ticket a few months ago from DCA-LGA-DFW - reason I was meeting up with friend from NYC to match up arrival. Plus this routing was 1/2 the price of the direct flight.

There was a minor time change to the flights, but AA automatically rebooked me on a non-stop (same price).

Looks to me that AA is doing changes to non-stops when there is a slight time change in the original connecting flights.
Maybe they figure they are doing you a favor or maybe they figure if they put you on the non-stop you are freeing up one segment to sell.

When I called, the agent would switch me back, but in the end I decided to keep the non-stop and meet up on arrival at DFW.

aaliz

Yeah, I don't see a departure time change, The ETA has changed by a few minutes if that matters.

It's just weird they didn't notify me by email. I could see if they were both business class flights.
I've been debating if I should just keep the non-stop and be done with it, but I'll probably call to get my original flights

jcatman

Rumors flying that FFD is going away. Who knows? But, if you want to experience it, call and change it back.

Dave Noble

Look on the plus side - you are entitled to a 75% refund of the part of journey downgraded. If my understanding is correct, the formula is 75% of percentage of journey downgraded which would be based on
Total journey length 4191 miles
Journey length downgraded 3451 miles
Assuming milesaver Award : 85,000 miles
3/4 * 3451/4191 * 85000 = 53,127 refund due

31,872 is a good deal for a business class award. If travelling 1st class is more important, then AA should rebook on another flight

aaliz

Well, it was a Websaver or Web special (whatever they call it) award for 93000 miles. But if I could get a refund like that, I would take it!

redtop43

Then perhaps your opening salvo should be "You downgraded me from first to business; how many miles are you going to give me back?" You have a little time to untangle this, but don't count on quick response from AA. I sent them two letters through the email system about 10 days ago and I'm still waiting.

Dave Noble

Under the UK implementation of EU261, you are entitled to a 75% refund for the downgrade so based on 93,000 paid and distance, I think that you will be due if left downgraded
3/4 * 3451/4191 * 93000 = 57,434 refund due

Once you have travelled, put claim in under the UKs version of EU261 - this statutory instrument specifies that there is an entitlement to 75% refund for a downgrade - there is a big thread on the BA forum where you might be able to get advice on how to claim

BlooJoo

Does this apply to US carriers flying to the UK? My understanding of the original EU261 was that it only applied to US carriers when flying from the EU. UK's Implementation may be the same?

VegasGambler

The routing is LHR-JFK-ORD

hbtr

I had the same thing happen to me a couple weeks ago, LAX-BOS-ORD changed to LAX-ORD arriving 1 day early. This happened the day after I booked it and the original flights had only changed by a few minutes, if at all. Worst thing was that at that point, the BOS-ORD leg had one seat left in F and I was afraid it would go away before I could call in and wait 2-3 hours on hold. Cancelling and rebooking wasn’t a good option because the price had increased $500. Finally did get through and they restored the original flights.

As usual there was no notification of the change from AA. I now check my flights every day. Already experienced an additional schedule change but this time AA kept the same itinerary.

TravelerMSY

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was entirely automated, but by an algo that thinks the nonstop is better. Just call to get whatever you want.

TravelerMSY

I’ve had this very scenario happen and they were nice. I got 5000 miles from the first complaint email, then later an adjustment for F to J downgrade. This was due to a mechanical on DCA-MIA-LAX. All in miles on a web saver.

sxpsxpsxp

Yes, this drives me totally insane. I've resorted to setting up schedule alerts in EF, so even if there's a 1-minute change, I'll get the alert and know to check my reservation to see if something got messed up.

cova

AA needs to realize that in some cases people are booking connecting flights to get more segments.