DONE4 rebooking fee
Mar 4, 2010 | 6:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 57
DONE4 rebooking fee
Hi,
I need to do a rebooking of routes on a current DONE4 ticket. Is it correct that the issuing carrier who's doing the rebooking (AY) shall charge for the new taxes (for new flights) and also that the tax/surcharges for the old routes/flights segements already paid for when purchasing ticket, is non-refundable?
(Cannot recall that I have had to pay around 350 Euro to change a couple of routes on a CRWSTAR ticket, but I might be wrong of course).
Thanks,
Andy
I need to do a rebooking of routes on a current DONE4 ticket. Is it correct that the issuing carrier who's doing the rebooking (AY) shall charge for the new taxes (for new flights) and also that the tax/surcharges for the old routes/flights segements already paid for when purchasing ticket, is non-refundable?
(Cannot recall that I have had to pay around 350 Euro to change a couple of routes on a CRWSTAR ticket, but I might be wrong of course).
Thanks,
Andy
Mar 4, 2010 | 7:37 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
Programs: QF, UA, DL, AB
Posts: 401
Hi,
I need to do a rebooking of routes on a current DONE4 ticket. Is it correct that the issuing carrier who's doing the rebooking (AY) shall charge for the new taxes (for new flights) and also that the tax/surcharges for the old routes/flights segements already paid for when purchasing ticket, is non-refundable?
(Cannot recall that I have had to pay around 350 Euro to change a couple of routes on a CRWSTAR ticket, but I might be wrong of course).
Thanks,
Andy
I need to do a rebooking of routes on a current DONE4 ticket. Is it correct that the issuing carrier who's doing the rebooking (AY) shall charge for the new taxes (for new flights) and also that the tax/surcharges for the old routes/flights segements already paid for when purchasing ticket, is non-refundable?
(Cannot recall that I have had to pay around 350 Euro to change a couple of routes on a CRWSTAR ticket, but I might be wrong of course).
Thanks,
Andy
If you're only changing dates or times w/o touching the routing, then nothing should change pricewise and no change fee has to be paid (although some carriers will require a service fee).
Current rules for changing itineraries:
(a) Rebooking/Rerouting
(1) Prior to departure
(a) Changes to date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes are permitted provided ticketed points remain the same. If the first flight coupon is being changed, and the fare level has increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.
Exception: For fares originating in TC1, changes to the first international flight and preceeding flights are not permitted less than seven days prior to the date of the first ticketed flight.
(b) Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a charge of USD125.00 per transaction. If the fare level has increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will also be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.
(2) After Departure
(a) Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes are permitted provided ticketed points remain the same.
(b) Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a charge of USD125.00 per transaction.
(c) No Show requires rebooking at a charge of USD125
(d) If the rerouting results in an increase to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, the ticket shall be recalculated. Tickets may be reissued to a higher fare, eg. from A –ONE3 type to A -ONE4 type fare and the increase in fare will be collected. When flight segments are added above the free allowance, those charges will be collected. When the rerouting results in a reduction to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, no refund will apply.
(1) Prior to departure
(a) Changes to date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes are permitted provided ticketed points remain the same. If the first flight coupon is being changed, and the fare level has increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.
Exception: For fares originating in TC1, changes to the first international flight and preceeding flights are not permitted less than seven days prior to the date of the first ticketed flight.
(b) Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a charge of USD125.00 per transaction. If the fare level has increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will also be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.
(2) After Departure
(a) Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes are permitted provided ticketed points remain the same.
(b) Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a charge of USD125.00 per transaction.
(c) No Show requires rebooking at a charge of USD125
(d) If the rerouting results in an increase to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, the ticket shall be recalculated. Tickets may be reissued to a higher fare, eg. from A –ONE3 type to A -ONE4 type fare and the increase in fare will be collected. When flight segments are added above the free allowance, those charges will be collected. When the rerouting results in a reduction to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, no refund will apply.
Last edited by SwissexLUG; Mar 4, 2010 at 8:02 am
Mar 4, 2010 | 10:13 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,032
Same experience here.
Change fee, difference in taxes (not sure if you get a refund if taxes are less after the change) plus (only on some carriers) a service fee the carrier charges for rebookings. Same when you book thru a TA, some TAs charge a fee for rebooking, some don't.
Change fee, difference in taxes (not sure if you get a refund if taxes are less after the change) plus (only on some carriers) a service fee the carrier charges for rebookings. Same when you book thru a TA, some TAs charge a fee for rebooking, some don't.
Mar 4, 2010 | 11:28 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
When I went to make some routing changes on a DONE5 with the AA RTW desk, the initial change quote was exceedingly high (something like +$600 per ticket). I then called back with a changed routing request, and the change quote was now $42, which included the $125 change fee (i.e. the new itinerary resulted in lower fees/taxes than the original booking, and these were apparently refunded to me in the net calculation).
N.B. Routing changes that include new stopovers in the U.K are very, very expensive....
N.B. Routing changes that include new stopovers in the U.K are very, very expensive....
Mar 4, 2010 | 11:34 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Yes - my experience with AA RTW desk is that they are good at refunding the differences in taxes. Last time I did one (a year ago, regrettably) I also made changes with them that cost less than the change fee.
Mar 4, 2010 | 5:58 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 57
Thanks for your replies.
Is there a Oneworld document that stipulates handling of taxes specifically, in terms of rebooking xONEx (I could not find anything specific on the Oneworld Explorer PDF on the website) or is this actually up to the issuing carrier/TA to determine?
I've only done *A RTW's before (first DONE4) and I can't recall taxes for unused flight segments not beeing offset with new flight segment taxes. So I was interested in hearing if this is a OW xONEx thing, but from the responses so far, it seems not.
I would not have a problem with service fees etc as this is mentioned in the rules (and of course if the taxes were actually higher for the new flight segments). But when I asked about the charge AY tells me taxes for previously charged flights are non-refundable/void and will not be taken into account when calculating taxes for the new flight segments.
Cheers,
Andy
Is there a Oneworld document that stipulates handling of taxes specifically, in terms of rebooking xONEx (I could not find anything specific on the Oneworld Explorer PDF on the website) or is this actually up to the issuing carrier/TA to determine?
I've only done *A RTW's before (first DONE4) and I can't recall taxes for unused flight segments not beeing offset with new flight segment taxes. So I was interested in hearing if this is a OW xONEx thing, but from the responses so far, it seems not.
I would not have a problem with service fees etc as this is mentioned in the rules (and of course if the taxes were actually higher for the new flight segments). But when I asked about the charge AY tells me taxes for previously charged flights are non-refundable/void and will not be taken into account when calculating taxes for the new flight segments.
Cheers,
Andy
Mar 4, 2010 | 8:36 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
If you previously were routed to Brazil but are now ticketeting to fly to Argentina instead, it's absolutely crazy that AY would assert that your prepaid Brazilian embarkation tax is non-refundable, and that they are somehow entitled to pocket that prepaid government tax, while now charging you fully (extra) for the Argentina customs and immigration tax. I suggest calling back in hopes of speaking to someone in the fares department who can clarify exactly how the actual calculations are being performed, as opposed to someone who may have been referring to flights already flown, or speaking theoretically (and incorrectly) about the process. Another alternative, if your itinerary includes any AA flights at all, is to initiate contact with the AA RTW desk.
Mar 5, 2010 | 4:41 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 57
Serfty,
Yes, I've currently done 10 (of 16) segments. Rebooked to fly through North America instead of South America out of SYD (to Europe). Changes are to the final 6 segments of the RTW.
I've requested the AY customer service agent confirm with someone else that their claim taxes for flights not flown, really are non-refundable with a breakdown.
Thanks,
Andy
Yes, I've currently done 10 (of 16) segments. Rebooked to fly through North America instead of South America out of SYD (to Europe). Changes are to the final 6 segments of the RTW.
I've requested the AY customer service agent confirm with someone else that their claim taxes for flights not flown, really are non-refundable with a breakdown.
Thanks,
Andy
Mar 5, 2010 | 4:01 pm
#10
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
If you previously were routed to Brazil but are now ticketeting to fly to Argentina instead, it's absolutely crazy that AY would assert that your prepaid Brazilian embarkation tax is non-refundable, and that they are somehow entitled to pocket that prepaid government tax, while now charging you fully (extra) for the Argentina customs and immigration tax.
Mar 5, 2010 | 5:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
Unfortunately I don't think that there's any way to in fact link two separate tickets together to avoid the APD. If the two flights are on separate PNRs I don't think that there's any way to accomplish this. On two recent occasions I have approached BA regarding this issue, and on neither occasion were they the slightest bit helpful in regard to avoiding the APD. One AA RTW desk customer service agent did some investigation for me regarding this, and after a very long offline discussion with his Fares desk, he asserted that if both tickets were issued by AA, and the departure one had not yet been issued, that he could figure out a way to accomplish not charging the APD on the yet-to-be issued departure ticket. [I never took DeWayne up on his offer...in part because I was pretty certain that his assertion was only theoretical, and that I would probably end up spending a fruitless hour on the phone with him and his Fares desk....].
Mar 5, 2010 | 8:34 pm
#12
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...505#P272_15506
4.4 Tickets
In addition to the time related criteria, the agreement for carriage must be evidenced by a ticket which must show the:
■airport from which the passenger intends to depart
■date and time of his intended departure, and
■airport at which he intends to arrive.
The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets can only be regarded as conjunction tickets if:
a. they are in one booklet, or
b. where they are in separate booklets:
■each refers to the other and states that they are to be read in conjunction, or
■there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question.
c. where the tickets are purchased online, they are purchased at the same time through the same portal.
Although the flights may meet all the other criteria for determining whether two flights are connected, they will only qualify for the exemption if the connection is evidenced on the ticket or a flight summary.
'Scheduled time' means the time indicated in the operators timetable for the flight at the time of issue.
'Scheduled day of arrival/departure' means the day of arrival/departure indicated in the operators timetable when the ticket was issued.
In addition to the time related criteria, the agreement for carriage must be evidenced by a ticket which must show the:
■airport from which the passenger intends to depart
■date and time of his intended departure, and
■airport at which he intends to arrive.
The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets can only be regarded as conjunction tickets if:
a. they are in one booklet, or
b. where they are in separate booklets:
■each refers to the other and states that they are to be read in conjunction, or
■there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question.
c. where the tickets are purchased online, they are purchased at the same time through the same portal.
Although the flights may meet all the other criteria for determining whether two flights are connected, they will only qualify for the exemption if the connection is evidenced on the ticket or a flight summary.
'Scheduled time' means the time indicated in the operators timetable for the flight at the time of issue.
'Scheduled day of arrival/departure' means the day of arrival/departure indicated in the operators timetable when the ticket was issued.
Mar 5, 2010 | 10:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS Platinum, AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,668
Actually there should be a way. Rule 4.4 deals with separate tickets which are read in conjunction and then qualify as a transit and don't attract APD.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...505#P272_15506
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...505#P272_15506
Mar 6, 2010 | 5:21 am
#14
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
I think the problem is not the rule but the airlines. The amount of work they need to do in order to verify all of this is substantial. And as a reward for doing it they get nothing at all because all the tax would be passed back to us.
Mar 6, 2010 | 10:56 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 192
When I went to make some routing changes on a DONE5 with the AA RTW desk, the initial change quote was exceedingly high (something like +$600 per ticket). I then called back with a changed routing request, and the change quote was now $42, which included the $125 change fee (i.e. the new itinerary resulted in lower fees/taxes than the original booking, and these were apparently refunded to me in the net calculation).
