RTW in "First" on AA
 

I just completed a ow RTW trip in First class and to my dismay the only airline that would not allow me to fly in First Class was AA. I flew LHR-HKG on BA in First and HKG-LAX on Cathay in First. Both experiences were wonderful. And then I had to deal with an aggressive AA agent in LAX who insisted that I am only allowed to fly in business class on my LAX-JFK flight. She explained that on a 3 class service flight my ticket "allows' me to fly only business. How strange, my BA and CX flights were 3 class, and the service and comfort of their first class far exceeds AA. So why is AA allowed to refuse me first class on a First Class oneworld RTW ticket? Can someone please explain.

What fare code were you booked in for that flight? Did they actually *remove* you from first, even with an A code?!?!?!? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

On AA, on 3 class aircraft, these is a debate as to what is First Class and what is Premium. Because of all the 3 class upgrade fiascos, agents have it in their minds that First is not First it is Premium. Business is First. On all other airlines, First is First as it should be on AA.

Depends on the agent. Generally calling in a supervisor to assist clears it all up and you should get your "Premium" seat!

The ticket was booked in A class. I was originally booked in First on the flight to EWR (2 class aircraft), but due to a delayed departure, I opted for the JFK flight. The admirals club told me that there were a number of seats available in First, and one available in business. She said it would be up to the gate agent since A class on AA is business. I got to the gate and told the agent I had just flown around the world in First, but she would not even listen and told me that in a 3 class aircraft, A is business. This seems completely out of line for a ow RTW fist ticket. How cann AA be different than the rest....By the way, First was half full.

You are right VENTURES. Your A ticket provides you to go iin First in a three class
aircraft. THE AGENT was wrong. Call AA immediately. You deserve an apology. I also fleww AA RTW in first and had AA Premium trans con NOT business.!!!!

Here is what could have happened. Without paying any attention to what fare codes actually mean, the agent may have decided on her own that you bought a seat in the second cabin of an aircraft for a different flight. Since you were sitting in the second cabin on your original flight, you should sit in the second cabin on the flight you are changing to.

A similar problem I have experienced on flights outside the US was when I booked a 2 cabin aircraft to begin with (D class), then switch to a 3 cabin plane at the airport, the agent only notices the fare code for that particular segment which is D (because I was originally booked in biz because there was no First). In your case though, the fare code for your EWR flight should have been A anyway. AA doesn't consider domestic two cabin as biz and econ. They consider it First and econ unlike foreign carriers.

I really can't understand the reasoning. From bottom up it goes D, J, A, F/P. When there is no P, there is F. A is always a front cabin seat regardless. If you have a First Class seat, you don't cabin in front of it(or above).

If they considered the front of the 3 cabin aircraft Premium and the next cabin is First, obviously coach is NOT biz. Where was biz then?. She said you were allowed to sit biz so you must have had a biz ticket. Where could biz have been? Makes no sense.

Another point is that those are the same planes that fly international. Any experienced or intelligent person working for AA SHOULD know that and A seats get First while D and J get biz. Apparently the person you spoke to was not one of the above people.

IMO, I recommend that you demand a refund of the difference between biz and first for that particular route and I am not talking the price in RTW terms. I mean full fare prices. Maybe then AA will teach people to learn fare codes. That situation should not have happened. The agent did not know his fare codes and you were not given the product you purchased. You should expect the difference in prices.

One other thing.....I would also mention in your letter that the Admiral's Club agent was also wrong. On AA, A is first. Fare codes don't change just because the aircraft does seating does.

Ventures, if you complain and AA replies, can you post what happens on this board, please? I am curious, since I am booked MIA-LAX in A class. I am going to assume that it is actual first class, as this is the 3-classer coming from SCL. Just curious as to whether I should expect problems.

I completely agree with ChrisMoss7. Although IMHO you are entitled to more than the $356 difference between Full First and the Full Business that you flew on that route. The agent should have known better. She must have gone out of her way to force the downgrade, since the computer would have booked you in Premium if she maintained the A class code. What class of service is reflected on you boarding pass? Is it D/J/C?

I would write a letter to customer service demanding compensation. AA has always been forthcoming when they are in the wrong. Also the vouchers that AA gives are valid on all 1-world carriers and can be used on a purchase of your next RTW!!!

Although I have never had this problem with AA, I have had the ChrisMoss7 explained issue when a ticketed 2 class service is changed for a 3 class service flight. In all cases, CX (HKG-NRT) QF (SYD-PER) LA (SLC-EZE) my ticket was issued in D class, but I was still entitled to First. It did take a bit of "discussion" (in the QF case out and out argument) and my guess is that someone less aware would have agreed to the Business Class seat.

Let us know what happens,
rich

Here is what I think happened. The agent saw that it was booked in A class which for AA means both discounted revenue first and upgraded first using miles. Given that most upgrades within the US are on 2 class services they may have mistakenly believed that it was an upgrade from coach. Something similar happened to me on a oneworld circle pacific ticket issued in A class. Taking my flight from NRT to SJC the agent asked me if I still wanted the upgrade and if so she would deduct the miles from my account. I suggested she look a bit further into the booking and note that it was an actual revenue booking in A class not an upgrade - a few keystrokes later and she was satisified.

Nevertheless, this does not excuse AA's actions. It is appalling that airport staff are not adequately trained in the difference between revenue and non-revenue classes. Though why AA chooses the one code to mean more than one thing is beyond me.

Upon examining my boarding pass, I notice the gate agent booked me in 'R' class. The whole episode left me very unhappy considerring I showed her my boarding passes from my CX and BA flights, and my original boarding pass to EWR was issued by CX in Hong Kong on a First Class boarding pass. THe agent first asked me if I wanted to pay the difference from Biz to First and when I objected, she told me she is closing the flight, so either take the biz class seat or not get on. Great customer service!

I was wondering about this A class, too. Ihave a business class Explorer RTW (DONEW3) and the North American sectors are a mixture of D and A. A is used for AA North American sectors on both business and first class RTW?

A is First on 2 class and Premium on 3 Class. If you board a 3 Class Aircraft the agent is supposed to check the fare basis to find which class of service your ticket entitles you to. A DONEW4 Class fare basis is only valid for First on 2 Class planes and Biz on 3 Class planes. A AONEW4 fare basis is valid for Premium.

I have never had a problem with AA on these tickets, but clearly some agents are also confused and you should be prepared to fight for what you are etitled to. Or in your D Class ticket, hope that if you switch to a 3 Class plane the agent just books you in A Class by mistake!!!

rich

rich

I think R class is upgraded business class. You certainly got done on this one. As RichLond said previously, the agent must have gone out of her way to change the booking codes. I would make a copy of the boarding passes and the ticket (showing the fare basis code) then submit them with letter of complaint to AA detailing the agent's actions. If you are an AAdvantage member I would be asking for some substantial compensation in terms of miles and vouchers for future travel.

My suggestion to others out there planning to take owe's owcp's and the old Global Explorer is take a printout of the fare rules and if there is an argument ask for a supervisor to look at the rules and resolve it. I've only had to do it a couple of times but it's been worth it.

Ventures, I experienced the same thing back in September. I had a AONEW4 fare similar to yours. Your ticket is definitely a first class ticket on a 3 class service!

In September, I wanted to take an earlier flight that the one I was booked on. It was a 3 class domestic service. When I arrived, they don't me that there were no first class seats. Then I heard someone ask for an upgrade to first class and the agent processed it. Upon hearing that, I immediately went up to them telling saying that I had a PAID RTW 1st class ticket so why did you tell me there are no 1st class seats? They told me that my A class ticket is an upgrade from economy ticket. I know that AA has used 'A' class for different things: RTW 1st, discounted 1st, and upgrade from coach which is probably what the agents see the most. I told them that I had paid $X,XXX so it was no way a coach ticket. I showed them the price of the ticket and then they began to believe me.

They then called the AA international fare desk to verify that the AONEW4 fare is really a first class ticket. It was verified and everything was okay and I got my seat. I didn't even bother to ask them why they told me there were no seats in first.

My suggestion: If the agent does not agree, ask them to call the AA International Fare desk who are familiar with the RTW fare codes and rules and they will clarify it.


[This message has been edited by bagold (edited 12-15-2000).]

Thanks everyone for your help. I did ask them to call the Int'l Desk, but since it was 10:55 PM in LA the desk was already closed. I will contact customer service today and advise you of their response.