AONE3 Married Segment Issue on AA
 

I'm rebooking the remaining segments of an AONE3 for September, 2021 and booking DCA-JFK-SFO. When I search EF for DCA-SFO via JFK it shows D1 on the DCA-JFK segment and A3 on the JFK-SFO segment and there is no stopover as connection time is 4 hours and 35 minutes. So all is cool... but not so fast.

I called AA RTW desk and they can't see the A3 and Rebecca explained that since there is no first class A inventory on DCA-JFK segment then the segment can't be married in A class. I smell BS, but then again we're dealing with airline logic so who knows. And yes, if I look at only a JFK-SFO without any connections in EF A inventory is 0 so a married segment is required. And as I said above when searching EF for DCA-SFO via JFK it shows D1 for DCA-JFK and A3 for JFK-SFO.

I took and booked D inventory on the JFK-SFO segment and they waitlisted me for A on the JFK-SFO segment (yesterday) and I called back today and the waitlist was denied, so I waitlisted again for A class on that segment. I'll guess I'll be calling the AA RTW desk daily over the next 300 days requesting to be waitlisted as it doesn't appear they keep you waitlisted after denial.

FWIW, I wouldn't have this problem if domestic F was still A and F inventory, but this appears to be an unintended consequence of changing domestic first to J, D, I and R inventory.

Any insight, or better yet, help would be greatly appreciated.

As long as JFK-SFO does not not have the available space it doesn't matter that DCA-(JFK)-SFO has availability. This is what AA has been doing fairly extensively for the last few years. All you can do is watch the JFK-SFO segment for availability -- you will probably have to call as AA will not automatically move you up if A class opens up, in my experience.

Thanks Jerry, and yes your assessment was my understanding too. Ever since they changed domestic first to D inventory instead of A. And while I agree US Domestic first is the same as most of the world's D class in every way and this was long overdue, AA's IT married segment algorithm is totally incapable of handling multi-class married segments. EF can see it, and while AA probably can see (since that is where EF gets its data) it can't process it as a married segment because the classes are different.

And FWIW, yesterday I checked + and - 7 days on EF for A availability for a week in every month between now and September of 2021 and all JFK-SFO flights are A0 on the 70 days I checked. And while I've played this game for a couple decades, yes I will continue to check EF for JFK-SFO non-married segment A inventory for my travel date and will call AA and waitlist repeatedly in hopes that someone in revenue management will free up A inventory.

I'll keep checking and thanks again for your feedback.

I wonder if waiting for AS to join the alliance early next year might be worthwhile. AS fly nonstop from DCA to SFO (a former VX route.) I know AS F is not the same as AA transcon F, but, well...

Thanks, that's a definite possibilty and one I had not considered. I've always liked AS and glad to see them returning to AA partenrship, and even better joining OW.

FWIW, the AA RTW desk agent said there is no charge for RTW routing changes through December 31, 2020 but didn't know if this would be extended into sometime next year. Either way I may want to make routing changes in addition to the one you suggest and probably won't pull the trigger until spring as my additional routing changes would be to accommodate a fall 2021 cruise I'm currently booked on. My flights are not routed for that cruise because my gut says I won't want to cruise with the restrictions they may still have in place then so I'm waiting until canceling right before the start of the cancelation penalty period, mid-May 2021, to get a better idea of what things may be like in fall of 2021.

I received slightly different information from the AA RTW desk today. I have a DONE4 ticketed to start May 2021 and asked what my options are and was told:

1. Wait for a flight cancellation and receive a full refund.

2. Make changes in routing for free (I assumed starting point was the same) but pay any additional taxes if required.

3. Free changes can be done through December 31, 2021

Additional information:

I have a mileage award ticket on AA to position to CMB and was advised I could have full mileage refund for no fee or free change of dates/routing for tickets issued before January 1, 2021.

Well my waitlist request worked. I was pleasantly surprised that it went through so soon. I have been busy and wasn't able to call AA RTW desk back in the past 2 days, but the Nov 17 waitlist request cleared and as of yesterday evening's confirmation from AA I'm now in A on my JFK-SFO segment.

Tkelvin69, your situation makes sense since you have not yet commenced your RTW ticket. Since mine commenced December 2019 ex-HND I would be entitled to a partial refund if I were to cancel and request a refund, this is pursuant to OneWorld Explorer fare rules.

While I didn't state it in my previous posts, yes RTW ticket expiry has been extended through December 31, 2021; as such free date and time changes (per OneWorld Explorer fare rules) are allowed.

The only thing I was adding in my previous comment was that the AA RTW agent specifically said in answer to my question, that they had not extended the free change in routing past December 31, 2020, yet. Something to consider as we approach the end of the year and anyone is considering making routing changes. In my case I'll probably call them mid to late December and ask if they've extended that policy as I won't know exactly what I'm doing until mid-May at the latest. Anyway I'm not really too concerned about the $125 for routing changes, but saving $125 is always nice too.

And yes, changes in taxes and fees may be incurred when making any changes.