Downgraded flight, can't check in, airport / help line useless, what to do?
Feb 25, 2017, 6:48 am
#1
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Downgraded flight, can't check in, airport / help line useless, what to do?
Have a PVG-HKG-US trip coming up. Tried to check in at 48, "Sorry, there seems to be a problem. Go to the airport." At the airport, nobody at the check-in counter is of any help. Go to the ticketing counter, first they say the ticket isn't confirmed. I say "The hell it isn't." They then determine there's been an equipment change, no PE. Come back to the airport day of, we might upgrade you if there are seats, otherwise, we'll give you downgrade comp. "Can I buy up to J this leg?" No answer. "I can't even check in," I say. "There's nothing that can be done?" Not here.
So I call Cathay. After 10 minutes on hold, someone comes on. I explain my situation. Initially get told to go to the airport. "I'm AT the airport. They've been absolutely no help." She tries to see if there are any other flights that day with PE, only one, when I'm in a meeting across town from the airport. So we're back to this flight. "I would like to at least be able to check in, can we figure out what's going on with my ticket?" After a few minutes on hold she says give it a try here in about 15 minutes. "Will they still know that I was downgraded?" Yes, the staff at the airport will see you've been downgraded.
Check 30 minutes later. Still can't check in. Any chance of a low boarding number for the TPAC leg is now blown. Thanks Cathay. What now? Just SOL until day of?
So I call Cathay. After 10 minutes on hold, someone comes on. I explain my situation. Initially get told to go to the airport. "I'm AT the airport. They've been absolutely no help." She tries to see if there are any other flights that day with PE, only one, when I'm in a meeting across town from the airport. So we're back to this flight. "I would like to at least be able to check in, can we figure out what's going on with my ticket?" After a few minutes on hold she says give it a try here in about 15 minutes. "Will they still know that I was downgraded?" Yes, the staff at the airport will see you've been downgraded.
Check 30 minutes later. Still can't check in. Any chance of a low boarding number for the TPAC leg is now blown. Thanks Cathay. What now? Just SOL until day of?
Feb 25, 2017, 7:31 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
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You said you are at the airport, but are you traveling today? You cannot check in at PVG until the day of travel.
I have not been able to do OLCI for PEK-HKG for a while already (and therefore not for my connecting HKG-SFO flight as well). I understand your point, but don't worry about low boarding number. Op-up doesn't happen often even for DM and GO.
I have not been able to do OLCI for PEK-HKG for a while already (and therefore not for my connecting HKG-SFO flight as well). I understand your point, but don't worry about low boarding number. Op-up doesn't happen often even for DM and GO.
Feb 25, 2017, 3:37 pm
#4
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Location: Shanghai
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They told you to go to the airport the day before your flight? If so, that's spectacularly bad advice. FYI, there are lots of flights between Shanghai and HK, and getting on them usually isn't especially challenging.
Feb 25, 2017, 5:46 pm
#5
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If OP is transiting in HKG, the ticket is probably PVG-xHKG-... and he cannot board a flight violating the transit rule. If he is checking in at the airport a day earlier, I don't think it can be done in PVG.
Feb 25, 2017, 9:30 pm
#8
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I'm always looking for the op-up. Who isn't? Got the bump up on all 4 of my previous legs (and 6 of last 9) and I know a low BN helps with that.
Anyway, yes, they told me to go to the airport even though I said I was flying the following day. I thought it was stupid, too, but I went because I was close by (got there in 10 minutes on the maglev train, that was fun!)
Called back a third time last night and finally got someone to confirm me in J for the PVG-HKG leg. Still can't check in online, but at least that part is sorted. If the TPAC op-up happens, it happens.
Anyway, yes, they told me to go to the airport even though I said I was flying the following day. I thought it was stupid, too, but I went because I was close by (got there in 10 minutes on the maglev train, that was fun!)
Called back a third time last night and finally got someone to confirm me in J for the PVG-HKG leg. Still can't check in online, but at least that part is sorted. If the TPAC op-up happens, it happens.
Feb 26, 2017, 12:11 am
#11
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Feb 26, 2017, 6:33 am
#12
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Feb 26, 2017, 11:21 am
#14
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My wife had a similar issue flying KA. Booked in J (award ticket), then schedule change to an all Y A320. MPC says everything is fine, and she is confirmed in Y, mileage difference will be redeposited after flight.
Day before Can't check-in online..
Day of flight, the plane actually has J and the KA staff at the airport (outstation airport in China) can't figure out what to do with the res because the ticket is booked in J (no seat reserved now) with just comments about the downgrade. They can't figure out how to give her a Y seat or a J seat.
Finally, after much discussion and phone calls, at the deadline for check-in they just issued a J boarding pass. In the end it worked out but it was quite a hassle for an hour at the check-in desk because it wasn't clear they would give my wife a seat in either J or Y.
Day before Can't check-in online..
Day of flight, the plane actually has J and the KA staff at the airport (outstation airport in China) can't figure out what to do with the res because the ticket is booked in J (no seat reserved now) with just comments about the downgrade. They can't figure out how to give her a Y seat or a J seat.
Finally, after much discussion and phone calls, at the deadline for check-in they just issued a J boarding pass. In the end it worked out but it was quite a hassle for an hour at the check-in desk because it wasn't clear they would give my wife a seat in either J or Y.
Last edited by TWAforever; Feb 26, 2017 at 11:34 am
Feb 26, 2017, 3:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
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My wife had a similar issue flying KA. Booked in J (award ticket), then schedule change to an all Y A320. MPC says everything is fine, and she is confirmed in Y, mileage difference will be redeposited after flight.
Day before Can't check-in online..
Day of flight, the plane actually has J and the KA staff at the airport (outstation airport in China) can't figure out what to do with the res because the ticket is booked in J (no seat reserved now) with just comments about the downgrade. They can't figure out how to give her a Y seat or a J seat.
Finally, after much discussion and phone calls, at the deadline for check-in they just issued a J boarding pass. In the end it worked out but it was quite a hassle for an hour at the check-in desk because it wasn't clear they would give my wife a seat in either J or Y.
Day before Can't check-in online..
Day of flight, the plane actually has J and the KA staff at the airport (outstation airport in China) can't figure out what to do with the res because the ticket is booked in J (no seat reserved now) with just comments about the downgrade. They can't figure out how to give her a Y seat or a J seat.
Finally, after much discussion and phone calls, at the deadline for check-in they just issued a J boarding pass. In the end it worked out but it was quite a hassle for an hour at the check-in desk because it wasn't clear they would give my wife a seat in either J or Y.
In any event, they probably know what to do when KA swaps in an all Y flight, or to swap an all Y flight out. In this case, they swapped twice and got themselves confused. Even if the flight is 2-class sold as 1, they are supposed to issue Y-only BP.
Was she on an AA award ticket?