Mar 17, 2015, 9:24 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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:

Quote:

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

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

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Mar 18, 2015, 8:57 am

#421

18sas

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: KATL

Programs: DL DM/2MM

Posts: 2,034

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirker

This is immensely frustrating. Even at this moment Google is showing HOU-PVG RTs for $1,330, all with stops at DFW and many then going on an AA codeshare via ICN or NRT. (And 20 minutes ago it was showing that price for the ENTIRE first half of May!!) As soon as I click through on specific flights, however, the fares always go up and above $4K. Grrr...

This same thing happened with the ICN-DFW deals too.

My take on this is that Google Flights uses some cached data and isn't doing real-time fare searching. I think this is the secret to how they deliver results so quickly.

When I'm looking for specific itins or trying out different routing possibilities, I always use Matrix to ensure that I'm getting real-time pricing.

Mar 18, 2015, 8:59 am

#422

Gunner14

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: RDU

Posts: 735

I do find this little blurb funny given the circumstances.

"Did you find a good fare, but need more time? Hold your trip."

Mar 18, 2015, 9:01 am

#423

PaceLaw2012

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: DCA

Programs: AA-Gold 0.425MM), AS MVP Gold, National EE, Marriott Titanium (LT-G), UA Silver

Posts: 1,136

I had my held reservation ticketed about 5 minutes ago.

I held my DCA-ORD-PVG reservation ($720pp w/ $70 base fare) last night at appx 1030 EST. I paid for it this morning and it was ticketed on 001 stock 10 minutes later at 952am, price intact.

Anyone else going on Memorial day weekend? :-D

*this is a duplicate account for PaceLaw2012; I had login-issues at work and couldn't wait to share that HELD FARES are actually ticketing...

Mar 18, 2015, 9:01 am

#424

janetdoe

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: DFW

Programs: AS, BA, AA

Posts: 3,670

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadwarrior84

I am trying to get my head around what happens when these mistake fares show up. While I am in complete agreement we should all share the wealth and have access to a piece of the pie, I don't get why people would put several itineraries on hold knowing that, since the information is public, a lot of other people will do the same and will end up flagging the airline faster than they should.

I was actually looking at the dates and could not make it work for me, so I decided not to put three different itineraries on hold. Also, if I already knew which dates worked out better I would have just purchased the ticket right away, giving the airline a little less chance to just go ahead and cancel it out - yes I know it can still be cancelled after the fact, but at least I would have had a ticketed flight which provides me with another layer of security and a better chance to fight it later on.

All I'm trying to say is that we should all have a little more etiquette around here. Again, we should all share the information and take advantage of it, but we shouldn't really flood the system with 3 and 5 itineraries on hold, flagging airlines fast, because then we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

As you have been able to see with recent mistake fares, it is really not average folks taking advantage, but the people that are in these forums/blogs and have knowledge and an interest. So while we are not the majority, our community is certainly big enough and scrutinized daily. So IMO, we should be just a tad more careful when we take advantage of these situations and book what we need to book instead of speculate and kill good things for us and other folks. That's my 2 cents on this.

I understand why you feel that way, but my belief is that, especially once it hits the blogs, it is all over. You need to book anything you might possibly use and count on being able to cancel for free (or alternatively, fight for honoring what you really want) after the fare is pulled.

I would love to be able to have a sense of decorum and fairness about this, but there are just too many channels for distribution and rebroadcast to kid ourselves that any sense of FlyerTalk honor will prevail in the grand scheme of things.

Mar 18, 2015, 9:03 am

#425

Mrgolfer21

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: DFW

Posts: 1,145

I think AA cancelling held itin's would actually hurt them and drive business towards other OTA's. This is why a lot of airlines offer a price guarantee, they want you booking with them and not OTA's b/c it costs them. I think if AA comes back and honors booked tickets (either from their website or other OTA's) but not the held ones, I would actually have no confidence in their 24 hour hold policy ever again. It would completely contradict their own language which states:

the reservation can be held and the fare quoted will be guaranteed for 24 hours or until 11:59 p.m. Central Time the following day, whichever allows you more time to purchase your ticket.

Bolding is mine...and I see no other terms and conditions in regards to held itin's (i.e. we reserve the right to cancel holds at any time).

I think this is an interesting scenario...it's not an unbelievable fare (low, but not so insane), different places had different price points (so, could be seen as a fare war at against other hubs).

At what point do people that had held itin's call AA and get the status (no, i'm not calling).

Mar 18, 2015, 9:03 am

#426

slice

Join Date: Apr 2011

Posts: 464

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaceLaw2013

I had my held reservation ticketed about 5 minutes ago.

I held my DCA-ORD-PVG reservation ($720pp w/ $70 base fare) last night at appx 1030 EST. I paid for it this morning and it was ticketed 10 minutes later at 952am, price intact.

Anyone else going on Memorial day weekend? :-D

*this is a duplicate account for PaceLaw2012; I had login-issues at work and couldn't wait to share that HELD FARES are actually ticketing...

How did you ticket? Did you never lose the option to ticket on AA.com?

Mar 18, 2015, 9:05 am

#427

CanadaGoosey

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: New York, NY

Posts: 41

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaceLaw2013

Lucky!

Mar 18, 2015, 9:05 am

#428

iahphx

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2000

Posts: 17,427

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlytheTail

That's consistent with my two reservations. The one ticketed is still active and the one on hold was canceled by AA.

Pure speculation, but my guess is that AA went for the easy fix first: cancelling the held reservations. Unless they change their minds, they will go after the ticketed reservations next.

As I said, it is legally indefensible to honor these ticketed reservations, but not honor the held reservations. The DOT will go after them for that, because it's supposed to be the same thing: there really aren't any ifs, ands and buts. There's no principle that says the airlines must honor held reservations, unless they feel they've charged too little.

At the same time, we've seen a disinclination on the part of the DOT to actually enforce their "mistake fares must be honored" rule. So AA is very likely to go one way or the other: everything honored or everything dishonored. Based on what we know so far, my bet is on "dishonored."

Mar 18, 2015, 9:06 am

#429

PaceLaw2012

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: DCA

Programs: AA-Gold 0.425MM), AS MVP Gold, National EE, Marriott Titanium (LT-G), UA Silver

Posts: 1,136

Quote:

Originally Posted by slice

How did you ticket? Did you never lose the option to ticket on AA.com?

No, I never lost the option.

I ticketed it through AA.com; reservation was searched for, and booked on, AA.com

To ticket, I just entered the PNR in the website and hit the "purchase" button on the bottom of the reservation summary page, just like normal.

Mar 18, 2015, 9:06 am

#430

SkyTeam777

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2002

Location: NC

Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 11,982

If someone has one on hold, can you change the name? If so and someone has one for this weekend and can't go, I'll be glad to take it.

Mar 18, 2015, 9:07 am

#431

Tblack15

Join Date: Apr 2014

Location: BWI<MCI< PHL<DEN<SCL<EZE<CHO<PHL<ABE

Programs: UA Silver / FA

Posts: 939

Quote:

Originally Posted by citsfo

Do peoples holds actually have the status cancelled? Mine still have a status "on hold" but with no flights listed.

Hmmmm this sounds eerily familiar to an F ticket I booked.. not so long ago..

Mar 18, 2015, 9:11 am

#432

cmd320

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyTeam777

If someone has one on hold, can you change the name? If so and someone has one for this weekend and can't go, I'll be glad to take it.

Name changes are not permitted.

Mar 18, 2015, 9:14 am

#433

FlytheTail

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Anywhere but home

Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,

Posts: 4,553

Quote:

Originally Posted by iahphx

Pure speculation, but my guess is that AA went for the easy fix first: cancelling the held reservations. Unless they change their minds, they will go after the ticketed reservations next.

Completely agree and so that's why I'll be watching my ticketed itinerary very closely, and if it is canceled, will promptly file a DoT complaint.

Mar 18, 2015, 9:16 am

#434

citsfo

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: madam's organ

Posts: 269

So... I have a few on hold that overlap and only one with my AA #. I just logged in and I am able to purchase exactly 1 of them

Mar 18, 2015, 9:18 am

#435

luckypierre

Join Date: Apr 2000

Location: san antonio, texas

Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt

Posts: 1,586

Quote:

Originally Posted by iahphx

Given the increasing over-capacity, a $450 coach ticket to Asia might NOT be a mistake fare next year! But I don't think you'll be getting into biz class for that price "legitimately."

I suspect that is the more likely origin of this fare. I do think that USA to China will have some highly competitive fares over the next 18 months from all the added capacity.