Celestar,

I wish I could clarify "consolidator", but unfortunately the representative didn't clarify it for me and I didn't ask. Sorry. However, you know that you can get a different answer everytime you call so, who knows?

Also, please note that I put a post in the British Airways area that makes mention of the fares they find acceptable for US members. Basically, that is all fares except for H,G, and Z. She also mentioned that this would all change on October 31 as the OneWorld partners try to align their fare codes.

Most OneWorld airlines changed their fare alignment codes 1st October, and the remaing two (AY and IB) will come on line after 31st October.

This is where the problems will come in. Most airlines have NOT updated their CRS pages and they are as confused as us.

I have a CP tciket which was issued ions ago under V class - which at one point was the 'normal' excursion ticket between Canada and Asia. Then October 1st came and I couldn't even get on a waitlist for the remaining part of my ticket -which honestly is the pits because even my Exec Plat status couldn't convince payload control to release the seat to me) The experience with my CX ticket in V class taught me a lesson. Check until someone says no? I called around to 4 different CP agents and they all told me yes that you can accrue CP miles on CX "V" fare. (I'm sorry I didn't listen to Gabriel). Only after I sent a letter to CPlus, did the agent there tell me that I can't accrue miles under that fare type. But because I stated that I had asked 4 of their CP agents (including one a CPlus agent) who checked against their CRS info -which incidentally had not been updated since 31August99- and basically gave me the incorrect answer, CPlus might just give me the miles for the oneway sector of the trip. I have not seen the miles credited yet but I was told to check back in 2 weeks while they 'review' my case.

I have a discounted Business Class ticket on Finnair issued in Z class which I have not used. Z class according to some can accrue miles. After 31st October, Z class disappears to be replaced by either D or I. And then Gabriel says above that D class cannot accrue miles on CP. I only hope that the Z class is to be replaced by I as noted below. D, incidenatlly, is going to be the 'standard' discounted Business Class fare code all 1w airline is adpoting. So maybe the CP agent is misinformed (again?).

Effective 1st November, OneWorld is standardising its booking codes so that it would be quite clearcut across the board.

F - Full fare First Class
A - Discounted First Class (ie 1w RTW fares)
J - Full fare Business Class
D - Discounted Business Class (ie RTW fares)
I - Deeper Discount Biz Class (CX & maybe AY)
Y - Full fare Economy Class (for all excp BA)
S - Full fare Economy Class on BA
B - Full fare Economy on some CX fares
B - Discounted economy on some 1w fares
M - Discounted Economy Class (ie 1w RTW fare)

There's more, but I can't really list them all or else this post should read : 1W Booking Codes.




[This message has been edited by Celestar340 (edited 10-22-1999).]

Thanks tfjim!

Celestar340 - My understanding is that a consolidator fare is one that is unpublished (not on any of the major reservation systems - Sabre, Worldspan, Apollo, etc.) and would not have a fare code.

With all of the turmoil in the fare codes, it makes planning very difficult. The airlines are obviously not clearly spelling out the rules, which, in effect, could change daily. I wish they would clarify the rules and list the acceptable fare codes on their websites or summarize on the Oneworld website (Oneworld airlines are you reading?). I may wait until after Nov. 1 for the fare code situation to stabilize so I don't get stuck with a nonrefundable ticket that doesn't qualify.

Ionman: Thanks for the encouragement but alas I've already ticketed all my flights. But I will definitely keep TLL in mind for a future trip - maybe with my 100K miles! I enjoy going to "undiscovered" places, especially when it's cheap! Thanks for the tip - enjoyed reading your mini trip report! BTW ... I wonder how the TLL airport compares to New Delhis? Now that was a freaky place to go through, especially arriving on a flight that arrives in the early morning - surreal!

Celestar340: That really is the pits about your V class fare on CX. And it is really too bad that CP for one can't get their story straight. It was the same thing when I was trying to find out if they were participating in the 100K promotion. I spoke with two CPlus agents who both said that they weren't. But I didn't find them convincing so I sent an e-mail (while wondering if it would be one of the two agents who were going to answer it and think that I was an idiot) and sure enough the response was yes. The good thing about an e-mail is that I can fall back on it if there are problems later. So perhaps your question about "checking until someone says no" is valid. I think CPlus should give you the miles and I'd keep on them until they do (elevate it if you have to!). And you might also consider writing a letter to a senior person at CP relating your story. I'm sure CP is not happy about their agents giving out different and wrong information to customers and would like to know about this. I'd write it but your EP status will have more weight.

The information I got about AY's D class fare being ineligible for points accumulation also came from CPlus (in an e-mail!). And from your description of this fare (as discounted business) I now wonder about this. I'd expect any business class fare to be eligible so yes, maybe the C Plus agent could have been misinformed. That would come as no surprise! Try e-mailing them and see what they say! Hope it all works out for you!

So maybe ffhound wasn't so crazy to join all those programs after all. At least you would have a jump start on a few of the airlines in the 100K oneworld promo and not have to worry about your membership card arriving 3 months later.