Question regarding LONE5 (AA RTW desk)
Jan 31, 2010 | 4:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Question regarding LONE5 (AA RTW desk)
A few months ago I bought a Lone5 from the AA RTW desk (the ticket was then issued by AA's scandinavian agent TAL Aviation in Stockholm, Sweden).
The ticket had the following segments:
LHR-CPT, CPT-DUR, JNB-HKG, HKG-DEL, BOM-SIN, SIN-BNE, BNE-SYD, SYD-HNL, HNL-SFO, LAS-JFK and JFK-LHR.
Since the last 4 segments were left open dated I reveiced paper tickets. Last week I called up the AA RTW desk to make reservations for the last 4 segments and to change the date of the BNE-SYD segment.
English isn't me first language but as far as I could understand the AA rep I talked to told me I needed to get the ticket reissued? and gave me the contact details for TAL Aviation (she actually told me I had to go there to get new tickets.. but that is a good 16 hour drive away..) She said something about only being able to make a reservation? and not a booking? on the BNE-SYD leg (with it being on Qantas and not AA) where i wanted to change dates and that the reservation was only being held until the May 29th. The last 4 legs wasn't a problem though as they were all open dated originally and were all on AA.
1. Is it true that I need to get the ticket reissued?
2. Do I really have to visit TAL Aviation in Sweden in person to do this?
3. Will there be a cost (date changes are supposed to be free of charge?) (I bought the ticket in the 10% discount period)?
4. The first segment (LHR-CPT) is on May 30th, would it be possible for me to get the ticket reissued at Heathrow instead (Guess I can get an eticket now that all the segments got fixed dates...)?
5. Will it be risky waiting until the May 30th to get it reissued at Heathrow (There are atleast 12 daily Qantas flights between BNE and SYD)?
6. When I log on to AA.com all 11 segments show up with the correct dates on the itinerary, does that mean everything is ok?
All help very much appreciated!
The ticket had the following segments:
LHR-CPT, CPT-DUR, JNB-HKG, HKG-DEL, BOM-SIN, SIN-BNE, BNE-SYD, SYD-HNL, HNL-SFO, LAS-JFK and JFK-LHR.
Since the last 4 segments were left open dated I reveiced paper tickets. Last week I called up the AA RTW desk to make reservations for the last 4 segments and to change the date of the BNE-SYD segment.
English isn't me first language but as far as I could understand the AA rep I talked to told me I needed to get the ticket reissued? and gave me the contact details for TAL Aviation (she actually told me I had to go there to get new tickets.. but that is a good 16 hour drive away..) She said something about only being able to make a reservation? and not a booking? on the BNE-SYD leg (with it being on Qantas and not AA) where i wanted to change dates and that the reservation was only being held until the May 29th. The last 4 legs wasn't a problem though as they were all open dated originally and were all on AA.
1. Is it true that I need to get the ticket reissued?
2. Do I really have to visit TAL Aviation in Sweden in person to do this?
3. Will there be a cost (date changes are supposed to be free of charge?) (I bought the ticket in the 10% discount period)?
4. The first segment (LHR-CPT) is on May 30th, would it be possible for me to get the ticket reissued at Heathrow instead (Guess I can get an eticket now that all the segments got fixed dates...)?
5. Will it be risky waiting until the May 30th to get it reissued at Heathrow (There are atleast 12 daily Qantas flights between BNE and SYD)?
6. When I log on to AA.com all 11 segments show up with the correct dates on the itinerary, does that mean everything is ok?
All help very much appreciated!
Jan 31, 2010 | 6:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF WP(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,857
Firstly with AA re-issuing a ticket is not the trauma / cost that some of the other OW airlines manage to create. This is routinely done when the date/time of a segment is changed. And this apparently ensures that the other airlines actually are informed of the change(s).
In your case, this is a change that adds the date/time of the segments. If they will issue an eTicket you shouldn't have to visit anyone. And this takes care of all the questions regarding waiting for LHR departures to finalize the changes. As my general rule, making ticketing changes on the day you fly is in the category of "only if you have no other alternatives".
On the question of cost, if I remember correctly there was some limitations to changes to tickets bought in the discount period. Whether the cost difference applies in your case - I would hope not - as this is a category of change for which AA does not normally charge a re-issue fee, ie, date/time changes. Changes of routing would have different rules / fees.
I'm certain others will add their experiences.
Happy wandering
Fred
In your case, this is a change that adds the date/time of the segments. If they will issue an eTicket you shouldn't have to visit anyone. And this takes care of all the questions regarding waiting for LHR departures to finalize the changes. As my general rule, making ticketing changes on the day you fly is in the category of "only if you have no other alternatives".
On the question of cost, if I remember correctly there was some limitations to changes to tickets bought in the discount period. Whether the cost difference applies in your case - I would hope not - as this is a category of change for which AA does not normally charge a re-issue fee, ie, date/time changes. Changes of routing would have different rules / fees.
I'm certain others will add their experiences.
Happy wandering
Fred
Jan 31, 2010 | 7:52 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,330
Certainly AA will re-issue for any changes these days.
However, this would be at no charge since you are simply wanting to re-validate (i.e. Apply/Change dates/times/flight no).
The problem is the paper ticket; before it can be re-issued (even as an e-ticket) TAL Avaition needs the paper ticket coupons in their hands.
Last year I had a similar issue ith Paper tickets issued by AA in Australia since I had 20 segments (can't do that any more). We had flown several of the flights and less than 16 segments were remaining. I had to mail the tickets/coupons to the AA Australian office in Sydney (no public access) and they created an e-ticket and sent the tickets (with the coupons removed) back to me.
However, this would be at no charge since you are simply wanting to re-validate (i.e. Apply/Change dates/times/flight no).
The problem is the paper ticket; before it can be re-issued (even as an e-ticket) TAL Avaition needs the paper ticket coupons in their hands.
Last year I had a similar issue ith Paper tickets issued by AA in Australia since I had 20 segments (can't do that any more). We had flown several of the flights and less than 16 segments were remaining. I had to mail the tickets/coupons to the AA Australian office in Sydney (no public access) and they created an e-ticket and sent the tickets (with the coupons removed) back to me.
Jan 31, 2010 | 7:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 192
Officially you might need to get your ticket reissued (or revalided), but I've never done this, and never had any problems. (reissueing a handwritten paper ticket is not easy or quick!).
As long as you have a coupon for the correct route and a reservation for the flight you want there should be no problems. If you have a eticket things are different, but a reissue is much easier in that case.
There are definitely problems between the reservation systems of the different airlines, but the reissue of a paper ticket will not solve this! (For e-tickets this is different, and can cause problems if the ticket is not properly reissued.) It is best to check with the airline you are flying with to see if there are any issues with the reservation. On my AA issued paper RTW ticket my LAN flight reservations were canceled 4 times! The first 2 times I had the reservations reinstated by AA, the last 2 times by LAN. It was only fixed when I found a competent person at LAN and I convinced him to enter the ticket number manually in the reservation! Cathay is also known to automatically cancel reservations if the ticket number is not properly entered in the reservation.
As long as you have a coupon for the correct route and a reservation for the flight you want there should be no problems. If you have a eticket things are different, but a reissue is much easier in that case.
There are definitely problems between the reservation systems of the different airlines, but the reissue of a paper ticket will not solve this! (For e-tickets this is different, and can cause problems if the ticket is not properly reissued.) It is best to check with the airline you are flying with to see if there are any issues with the reservation. On my AA issued paper RTW ticket my LAN flight reservations were canceled 4 times! The first 2 times I had the reservations reinstated by AA, the last 2 times by LAN. It was only fixed when I found a competent person at LAN and I convinced him to enter the ticket number manually in the reservation! Cathay is also known to automatically cancel reservations if the ticket number is not properly entered in the reservation.
Jan 31, 2010 | 8:48 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Yes - as nielsdc says, your other option is to speak directly to the operating airlines and make sure that they have the ticket number entered manually in the reservations. The ticket does not need reissuing, in that what you have is already valid for travel on those flights. The reason for the reissue is to deal with OW's inability to integrate their reservation & ticketing systems properly.