Possible end to 24 hold?
Sep 14, 2022, 9:16 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
I'd have to wonder how many paxs actually take "advantage" of this (most leisure flyers wouldn't likely know it even exists) and how many actually end up booking the flight. For me 90%+ of flights I put on hold I book or at the very least book an alternative flight.
I also wonder what was the percentage of paxs that would keep holding and cancelling the same flight(s).
I also wonder what was the percentage of paxs that would keep holding and cancelling the same flight(s).
Sep 14, 2022, 9:49 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MHK
Programs: AA Exec Plat - some level of status in IHG, Marriot & HIlton
Posts: 1,516
I put every flight I book on hold first. Like others have said, it gives me time to book the hotels, etc. and make sure there aren't any issues there. I end up buying around 90% of the flights I put on hold. I still end up booking a flight on AA most of the other times as well, but may pick a different date or time if meeting a co-worker and my original flights didn't match what worked for them.
Sep 14, 2022, 9:57 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,041
Sep 14, 2022, 10:28 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Where is this problematic is when you have a flight credit or voucher to use, you can no longer put a flight itinerary on hold and then have AA apply the credit or voucher.
this will create more work for AA agents….
this will create more work for AA agents….
Sep 14, 2022, 10:54 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
IME, aa.com largely can handle flight and trip credits without incident in most cases. It completely breaks when you have a fare on hold and try to use a credit/voucher. Maybe this is their solution to bad IT systems
Sep 14, 2022, 10:59 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
How are paper vouchers (if in fact they're still a thing) going to be handle? At least the last time I used one (admittedly years back) you had to put the flight on hold and either mail the voucher in or turn it in at the airport.
Sep 14, 2022, 11:23 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 446
I just made a reservation and was able to put it on hold. It was for an international trip, so I wonder if that makes a difference between being able to get a 24-hour hold or not.
Sep 14, 2022, 11:34 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
This is why AA is taking away the hold option. You can apply flight and trip credits online when first booking a flight, but you can't if the trip is on hold. So trip on hold + flight credit = call to agent. AA doesn't like the equation. Rather than fixing the IT problem and allowing credits to be applied to trips on hold, AA is getting rid of the feature. Personally, I'm really disappointed because I use the hold function on almost all of my flights, and very rarely do I not purchase the flight. Of course we will adapt. Doesn't mean we have to be happy about it.
Sep 14, 2022, 11:59 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Sep 14, 2022, 11:59 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
I ended up with 6 paper vouchers 6 months ago and AA converted them to trip credits for me.
Sep 14, 2022, 12:22 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP, AA 3.5MM, AMEX Platinum
Posts: 8
I tried holding a reservation today and was unable to. I called the EP desk and the Agent confirmed that last night AA officially removed the ability to hold a flight from their website.
Sep 14, 2022, 1:35 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Very strange. I still have a Hold option when I go through the steps to make a reservation.