[PREM FARE GONE] AF Business Class LAX - LHR $1515
Dec 21, 17, 9:22 am
#661
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,150
Dec 21, 17, 9:30 am
#662
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YKZ
Programs: AC SE 100K, Marriott Titanium - Lifetime Plat 2nd Class, National Executive, Avis PP
Posts: 670
Every one's ready for the show?
Arrived at SFO for the AF0083 1515 departure PST at 1240.
Went to drop of my two luggages to the counter (yes, back home with a lot of gifts for Xmas)
Agent took my passport and BP.
Time passed and still typing in her computer. Never a good thing when you're already checked in and agent type and type and type.
One good, and one bad news..
Let me start with the bad one : I do get a F ticket that IS confirmed no problem there, but those 4 seats are taken by other PAX (and more profitable one hopefully for AF).
Good news is I got two option offered : wether get DWNGRD to C with 75% refund of the outbound part of my ticket (around 550ishEUR as per agent told me) and 800EUR voucher valid on AF/DL/KL for a year if I accept not to pursue AF with EU law.
Or cancel my itinerary + 800EUR voucher if I accept not to pursue AF with EU law.
Choice has been easy for me as I need to be in Europe before Xmas, flew C.
She told me my seat, 1L, is confirmed on my return, March 10th 2018.
Result : paid 1289ishEUR less around 550EUR (will believe it when I will see it on CC statement tho) and 800EUR voucher.
And still flew C to LHR and possibly F to SFO back.
Called AF Platinum line to see if I can get something more from them for the fact that F was overbooked on my way to LHR.
They couldn't do more than add the miles lost difference between C and F plus 8000 Miles to my FB account, witch is more than what I expected (reads a "no sire you had a nice price we cannot do anything on this one).
I think you can get all of that and ask for more again, so I felt a bite bad afterward. Will probably give those miles to UNICEF or MSF when they will be posted.
Just so you know, from the ETKT I received first (the one I posted showing a fare of 7700ishEUR) and the new one I received yesterday morning, I noticed couples of differences :
Under fare :
Used to be : 7700ishEUR
Now : FORFAIT
Don't know what that means, if some one knows.
Also, look at form of payment :
Used to be : NR + CCCA
Now : CCCA + NR + CA
NR is net fare, CCCA is credit card I think but no clue for CA?
On my booking page on AF.fr site, said I need to call AF if I want to change my flights or CXX.
Was curious so I inquired at AF lounge (was not granted F lounge as I didn't flew F sadly) to change my return to let say Febuary 12-13-14th, 2018 and make GF a nice surprise!
2mins later, he was surprised for Premire ETKT but :
NOT changeable nor refundable --> basically you don't fly on March, 10th, you lost your money.
For me that's part of the "deal".
When you book an error fare, as long as you can fly, you can't really ask for more. AKA NH error fare was the same more or less.
Conditions are now stricter than they used to be, but won't complain about that.
As I flew business didn't took any pic. Will post some on my return if I am able to board F this time..!
In regards to your query into the new fare code "Forfait" - en francais ca veut dire "crime" en anglais - it may just be a coincidence that they used that word, or our friends (term used very loosely) at Air france believe you have committed a crime by being able to take advantage of the fare that they offered you on this particular journey.
Please raise a glass of the best Champagne they have onboard to all of us other FT members on your return trip and Happy Holidays.
CC
Dec 21, 17, 9:31 am
#663
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Not as simple as that... I think the primary reason he was able to make this work for him is that he called AF after booking and they manually (most likely incorrectly) reticketed his trip.
Yes, booking a flight the following day helped as that gave them very little time to catch and correct the issue.
Status had very little to do with his luck. There are plenty of other Platinums who had their tickets cancelled.
Dec 21, 17, 9:34 am
#664
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,352
I finally got an email at 5:45 PST this morning and a phone call about 90 minutes later. I didn't say much of anything to the rep, who was from France and spoke less-than-perfect English. I was in the car and nothing I was going to say was gonna change the outcome so I more or less just said OK and hung up.
I will be watching closely on the timing of a refund, if it drags out an hour beyond the 7 day mandate, they'll be dealing with a DOT complaint from me.
As I have thought about this more, I think a nice improvement to the regulations could be that if airlines are protected from error fares/post purchase price increases without any real repercussions, consumers should be offered post-purchase flight decrease protection. AS already does this in a way, allowing you to claim a best fare guarantee. Other airlines will do it too, but against a change fee.
I'd be a lot less annoyed right now if I knew that if/when the ticket to MI that I just paid over $600 on DL drops to a lower level, I could get a credit back (even if that credit was funny money).
I will be watching closely on the timing of a refund, if it drags out an hour beyond the 7 day mandate, they'll be dealing with a DOT complaint from me.
As I have thought about this more, I think a nice improvement to the regulations could be that if airlines are protected from error fares/post purchase price increases without any real repercussions, consumers should be offered post-purchase flight decrease protection. AS already does this in a way, allowing you to claim a best fare guarantee. Other airlines will do it too, but against a change fee.
I'd be a lot less annoyed right now if I knew that if/when the ticket to MI that I just paid over $600 on DL drops to a lower level, I could get a credit back (even if that credit was funny money).
Dec 21, 17, 9:54 am
#665
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,024
Well I have absolutely zero status on SkyTeam and still got personally called and advised of the cancellation. I got the same story about 4000 tickets having been issued and that if it were just a few they would have honoured them, but sadly blah blah blah. I do think it was a nice touch however and adds a human aspect to it. My only previously booked mistake fare was from BA and that was very poorly handled in comparison.
Dec 21, 17, 10:08 am
#667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,352
Glad to see that you made it through and were well taken care of here - we shall live vicariously through you on this one
In regards to your query into the new fare code "Forfait" - en francais ca veut dire "crime" en anglais - it may just be a coincidence that they used that word, or our friends (term used very loosely) at Air france believe you have committed a crime by being able to take advantage of the fare that they offered you on this particular journey.
Please raise a glass of the best Champagne they have onboard to all of us other FT members on your return trip and Happy Holidays.
CC
In regards to your query into the new fare code "Forfait" - en francais ca veut dire "crime" en anglais - it may just be a coincidence that they used that word, or our friends (term used very loosely) at Air france believe you have committed a crime by being able to take advantage of the fare that they offered you on this particular journey.
Please raise a glass of the best Champagne they have onboard to all of us other FT members on your return trip and Happy Holidays.
CC
Dec 21, 17, 10:22 am
#669
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,035
Dec 21, 17, 10:23 am
#670
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)
Programs: Former DL DM and UA 1k, now a J class free agent (UA Plat, AA Plat, DL Silver)
Posts: 2,443
Dec 21, 17, 10:24 am
#671
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,035
Was the departure within the next 14 days ? If that's the case it could be the regular EU261/2004 compensation which was applied.
Dec 21, 17, 10:45 am
#674
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,229
Just got this email:
Dear Customer,
Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Premire/First Class which was recently purchased has/have to be cancelled and will be fully refunded, consistent with DOT guidelines and policy.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
An Air France representative will attempt to contact you by phone.
If you have any questions in the meantime, Please feel free to contact Air France.com websupport at 1-800-992-3932 to help you in this matter.
We thank you for your understanding and wish you a pleasant day ahead.
Dear Customer,
Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Premire/First Class which was recently purchased has/have to be cancelled and will be fully refunded, consistent with DOT guidelines and policy.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
An Air France representative will attempt to contact you by phone.
If you have any questions in the meantime, Please feel free to contact Air France.com websupport at 1-800-992-3932 to help you in this matter.
We thank you for your understanding and wish you a pleasant day ahead.
Dec 21, 17, 10:53 am
#675
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 19,800
Just got this email:
Dear Customer,
Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Premire/First Class which was recently purchased has/have to be cancelled and will be fully refunded, consistent with DOT guidelines and policy.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
An Air France representative will attempt to contact you by phone.
If you have any questions in the meantime, Please feel free to contact Air France.com websupport at 1-800-992-3932 to help you in this matter.
We thank you for your understanding and wish you a pleasant day ahead.
Dear Customer,
Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Premire/First Class which was recently purchased has/have to be cancelled and will be fully refunded, consistent with DOT guidelines and policy.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
An Air France representative will attempt to contact you by phone.
If you have any questions in the meantime, Please feel free to contact Air France.com websupport at 1-800-992-3932 to help you in this matter.
We thank you for your understanding and wish you a pleasant day ahead.
