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[PREM FARE GONE] AA DCA-PEK sub-$450 a/i rt in J

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Old Mar 17, 2015, 9:24 pm
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Last edit by: Server
*Update 28/10/2015*
American Airlines has sent out a batch of emails offering customers two options. None of which earns miles and does not address DOT's old guidelines.

We have yet to here from DOT.

Here is a copy of the letter:

Thank you for your patience in our responding to your complaint regarding the cancellation of a reservation for travel to China which you placed on hold earlier this year.

The reservation you placed on hold was for an extremely low fare offered by American in error, and the mistaken fare was offered for only a few hours. Because the fare was offered in error, we cancelled those reservations, such as yours, that had been made but not ticketed.

In our view, given the fact that the fares American offered for China travel in those few hours were so low that it was obvious they were offered in error (a fact widely acknowledged in the social media posts which prompted many of those who reserved the fares to do so), we were justified in cancelling those reservations that were made but not ticketed, and accordingly will not honor the fare associated with your cancelled reservation. However, we will offer to you two options for reduced rate travel to China, one for business class and one for coach class. The two options are as follows:

Option A – Business Class: We offer you a $1,500 discount on any roundtrip business cabin fare to Shanghai or Beijing.
  • Reservation must be booked by AA and operated entirely by AA (including AA’s regional partners).
  • Travel may not be upgraded, by upgrade certificate, AAdvantage status, or any other means, to a higher class of service.
  • Travel will not be eligible to earn AAdvantage miles or Elite Qualifying Miles or points, and will not count as Elite Qualifying segments in the AAdvantage program.
  • Travel may be ticketed immediately and must be completed within one year of the date of this letter.
  • Travel to PEK or PVG should originate and end in the same U.S. airport(s) as in the original PNR with the same passenger(s) (or subset of passengers) traveling as were listed in the cancelled PNR.
  • Must be ticketed within six weeks of the date of this letter.

Option B – Main Cabin: We offer you the opportunity to receive a $0 fare basis main cabin fare to Shanghai or Beijing, subject to taxes and fees of approximately $450 (varies slightly by routing)..
  • Reservation must be booked by AA for any Q or O class fare to PEK or PVG, and operated entirely by AA (including AA’s regional partners).
  • Travel may not be upgraded, by upgrade certificate, AAdvantage status, or any other means, to a higher class of service.
  • Travel will not be eligible to earn AAdvantage miles or Elite Qualifying Miles or points, and will not count as Elite Qualifying segments in the AAdvantage program.
  • This offer is subject to Q or O class inventory availability for travel outbound starting November 15, 2015.
  • Travel must be completed within one year of the date of this letter.
  • Travel to PEK or PVG should originate and end in the same U.S. airport(s) as in the original PNR with the same passenger(s) (or subset of passengers) traveling as were listed in the cancelled PNR.
  • Must be ticketed within six weeks of the date of this letter.

If you would like to accept one of these offers, please contact American Airlines at the following number to make your flight reservation.



When and where are you traveling? - edit below

March
27-March-2015 -- 30-March-2015 (NYC)-DCA-ORD-PEK heatheresq FIRST (apparently)!
30-March-2015 -- 02-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK transparent
31-March-2015 -- 03-April-2015 ICN-PEK-ORD-DFW timid_trnchcoat, Y only


April
01-April-2015 -- 05-April-2015 DCA-BOS-ORD-PEK-HKG-DFW-DCA thegrailer
02-April-2015 -- 07-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK Soddon
03-April-2015 -- 07-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK jetsarefast2
03-April-2015 -- 10-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK fly2nrt
04-April-2015 -- 07-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK cocobird
07-April-2015 -- 10-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK/PEK-ORD-DCA DiscoverCSG
07-April-2015 -- 16-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK learingtofly2015

08-April-2015 -- 12-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK IWontRegretThis
09-April-2015 -- 13-April-2015 IAD-DFW-PVG/PVG-LAX-IAD Tblack15 Confirmed 2x EQPs; had no elite status
10-April-2015 -- 13-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK andrewwm

11-April-2015 -- 19-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK thyeri
13-April-2015 -- 16-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK bchips
13-April-2015 -- 16-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK cbuckhouse
Confirmed 2x EQPs; had Platinum status

14-April-2015 -- 22-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA fijaircan
15-April-2015 -- 21-April-2015 IAD-DFW-... elliottishere
16-April-2015 -- 21-April-2015 ...-DFW-PVG elliottishere
22-April-2015 -- 27-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEKChucksterace
22-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEKtn8
26-April-2015 -- 29-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA MarkP24
26-April-2015 -- 29-April-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA FriendlySkies
26-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA miffsc
26-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA travelsavant
26-April-2015 -- 03-May-2015 IAD-DFW-ORD-PEK-ORD-MIA-IAD Fredd and Mrs. Fredd
27-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA MsSTL
27-April-2015 -- 01-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCAlakers6902
27-April-2015 -- 05-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK smikih
27-April-2015 -- 06-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA the_happiness_store
29-April-2015 -- 09-May-2015 IAD-DFW-ORD-PEK-DFW-IAD Brituchenite



May
01-May-2015 -- 14-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PVG-ORD-DCA Novemurr+2
06-May-2015 -- 10-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK edbyu +1
07-May-2015 -- 10-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PVG iadp
08-May-2015 -- 11-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK Golfingboy washeelers747 +2
08-May-2015 -- 11-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD a330300
08-May-2015 -- 12-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA smoneyxc
08-May-2015 -- 12-May-2015 IAD-DFW-... eap
09-May-2015 -- 12-May-2015 ...-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD eap
09-May-2015 -- 13-May-2015 ...DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA Bonaventure
10-May-2015 -- 16-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK Kidorki
11-May-2015 -- 14-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK medichill
12-May-2015 -- 19-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK party_boy
12-May-2015 -- 23-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA rexid
13-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-DCA hoosiereph+3
13-May-2015 -- 20-May-2015 IAD-DFW-... travisair
13-May-2015 -- 16-May-2015 IAD-ORD-PEK Long Train Runnin
14-May-2015 -- 17 May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK Bigguyinpasadena
14-May-2015 -- 20-May-2015 ...-DFW-PEK travisair
14-May-2015 -- 17-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK roastpuff
14-May-2015 -- 17-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK Robert
14-May-2015 -- 18-May-2018 DCA-DFW-PEK Cachris69
14-May-2015 -- 17-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PVG iadp
14-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA AJollyLife (Birthday on the 23rd! )
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2015 DCA-DFW-HKG-PEK-HKG-DFW-DCA Bonaventure
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK alexj7
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK andrewwm
15-May-2015 -- 18-May-2105 DCA-ORD-PEK-DFW Madone59
16-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA davidyyz
16-May-2015 -- 19-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK schwimmair
16-May-2015 -- 24-May 2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-DCA keepssmile
17-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK tzvilev
17-May-2015 -- 23-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA tommya
17-May-2015 -- 27-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD krazieman
18-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA ben1979
18-May-2015 -- 21-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA DS
18-May-2015 -- 22-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA miffsc
19-May-2015 -- 22-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA Bonaventure
19-May-2015 -- 30-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-DFW-DCA transparent
20-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 IAD-DFW-... elliottishere
20-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK thepla
20-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK cvg-aa
21-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 ...-DFW-PVG elliottishere
21-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK/PEK-ORD-DCA awaite01
21-May-2015 -- 24-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK/PEK-ORD-DCA smitty06 and shynate
21-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA Tobypie
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK tsz
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PVG PaceLaw2012
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK alexj7
22-May-2015 -- 25-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK onfo
22-May-2015 -- 27-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD ghzhammer
23-May-2015 -- 26-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK jetsarefast2
23-May-2015 -- 31-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA bqkali
23-May-2015 -- 31-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA blootch
23-May-2015 -- 31-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD FlyingChuck
24-May-2015 -- 27-May-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK northshorepa
24-May-2015 -- 27-May-2018 DCA-DFW-PEK Cachris69 +1
24-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK Bikeguy+1
24-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-DFW-... Server
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ICN-DFW-DCA Bonaventure
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 ...-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA Server
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA ben1979
25-May-2015 -- 28-May-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-IAD bartmas777
26-May-2015 -- 29-May-2015 CMH-DCA-ORD-PEK paramenace
27-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-DFW-DCA platinumTA
28-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 IAD-DFW-PEK anchor79
28-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-DFW-PEK-ORD-DCA flying for gold elite
28-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-DFW-DCA cfegeley
29-May-2015 -- 01-Jun-2015 DCA-ORD-PEK-ORD-DCA Mrp Alert
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[PREM FARE GONE] AA DCA-PEK sub-$450 a/i rt in J

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Old Oct 27, 2015, 10:16 am
  #1891  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BWI<MCI< PHL<DEN<SCL<EZE<CHO<PHL<ABE
Programs: UA Silver / FA
Posts: 939
Throwing it back to my main man ncrwlr on Page 18 when I asked:

Originally Posted by Tblack15
Hold off until the dust settles tomorrow morning?
Originally Posted by ncrwlr
I would not...
So happy I did it. Sorry to everyone who is having issues. Good luck getting something out of this.
Tblack15 is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 10:37 am
  #1892  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Originally Posted by Mauibaby2008
AA specifically says in the "offer" email that it won't earn.
That is brutal!
Madone59 is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 11:03 am
  #1893  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 54
Originally Posted by topcat_dcx
Now i wonder what will happen if AA has a WAS-PEK/PVG J sale in the next 6 weeks for ~$1500..
I will bet anyone $500 there are no significant fare sales on these routes in the next six weeks :P

Week seven, however...
ninegoodthings is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 1:03 pm
  #1894  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: DC Metro
Programs: AA Plat, Etihad Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 54
Originally Posted by Tblack15
Throwing it back to my main man ncrwlr on Page 18 when I asked:


So happy I did it. Sorry to everyone who is having issues. Good luck getting something out of this.
^ Always buy now, ask questions later.
ncrwlr is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 1:57 pm
  #1895  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
Just bear in mind that if there is (and I think there is) a class action suit, if you choose to accept this, it will nullify any chance of receiving any other settlement. AND if a large number of people accept this, it will serve to diminish the arbitration outcome of the class action suit.

I have no dog in this hunt, but personally think this is a terrible offer.
miffSC is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 2:25 pm
  #1896  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium
Posts: 1,334
Originally Posted by miffSC
Just bear in mind that if there is (and I think there is) a class action suit, if you choose to accept this, it will nullify any chance of receiving any other settlement. AND if a large number of people accept this, it will serve to diminish the arbitration outcome of the class action suit.

I have no dog in this hunt, but personally think this is a terrible offer.
Most of the time on a class action suit, the consumers get almost nothing after the lawyers fees
fedechat is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 2:43 pm
  #1897  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
Originally Posted by Xyzzy
Did only people who complained to DOT get this offer? If so, it seems that AA is actually encouraging people to file with the DOT if and when they make a mistake in the future.
I didn't complain in any way and just got the email today. I placed a hold or two in March during the bonanza, that's all.
frudd38 is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 2:44 pm
  #1898  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Loud, dark, warm, lots of ethernet cables, and in some rack space.
Programs: AA:EXP
Posts: 369
Originally Posted by fedechat
Most of the time on a class action suit, the consumers get almost nothing after the lawyers fees
Any laws students here who want some senior project(s) to take up ?

I like the way this is all going. People are rejecting the offers by American Airlines and standing ground on the rules outlined by DoT. Hold them for enforcement of guidelines and keep fighting everyone!
Server is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2015, 3:57 pm
  #1899  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Marriott Plat
Posts: 946
FWIW, I got this offer even though I didn't file complaints with anyone.
amejr999 is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2015, 6:52 am
  #1900  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 14
I don't hold much hope for a positive intervention by the DOT regarding the 24hr holds. However, there are two classes of people in this situation, those with DOT complaints and those without. I wouldn't be surprised if AA had this calculated before the email was sent.
PITgetawayflyer is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2015, 2:00 pm
  #1901  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 54
I don't have the means myself, but if anyone is considering a class action, I have AA.com's 24-hour hold guarantee legal language from 3/18/15.

I may also have documentation of their definition of mistake fares as "$0 fares", but I can't find it at the moment, which is unfortunate.

EDIT:

Here is the 24-hour hold guarantee language from 3/16/15

http://web.archive.org/web/201503161...icePlan.jsp#gf

And the "misfiled" fares language from 2/15/15 (search misfiled)

http://web.archive.org/web/201502170...riffs/AA1.html

It clearly states that "AA will not honor fares of zero (exclusive of any surcharge)". I'm not sure if this helps everyone, but in my case the fare was $20.

As far as I can tell both of these terms are unchanged on the current AA.com (at the same URLs).

EDIT:

Just doing research now.

Here are some historical examples of business class fares plummeting several thousands of dollars for a very short time before returning to normal price, including AA

http://passportpremiere.com/graphs/

Last edited by ninegoodthings; Oct 28, 2015 at 3:14 pm
ninegoodthings is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2015, 5:15 pm
  #1902  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by ncrwlr
^ Always buy now, ask questions later.
Agreed, I purchased and decided not to travel. AA refunded me in full after a quick conversation with a supervisor.
himomer is offline  
Old Oct 28, 2015, 7:39 pm
  #1903  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
[PREM FARE GONE] AA DCA-PEK sub-$450 a/i rt in J

I reached out to my contact at the DOT. Genuinely asking where we proceed from here. The concessions made by AA are not acceptable and they Need to come up with a better solution.
Mauibaby2008 is offline  
Old Nov 4, 2015, 3:16 pm
  #1904  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Minnetonka, MN, USA
Programs: DL Diamond 2MM, AA ExPlt
Posts: 936
Anyone see the 'consent agreement' referenced?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-04/the-airfare-to-china-is-0-do-you-take-it-or-leave-it-
cliburn is offline  
Old Nov 4, 2015, 5:53 pm
  #1905  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Originally Posted by cliburn
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-04/the-airfare-to-china-is-0-do-you-take-it-or-leave-it-
Your link is missing some information.
cmd320 is offline  


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