AA's 70 euro "ticketing fee"
Nov 24, 2004 | 4:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
AA's 70 euro "ticketing fee"
After my DONE5 was priced, including all taxes, fees and surcharges, etc., I was given a 'final' price by AA.
Today, when I called AA to pay and issue the tix, they came up with an additional 70 euro "ticketing fee". At no point during the last month and a half I have been dealing with AA Madrid has there been ANY mention of this fee, until now, just before payment.
Anybody else been charged this?
Where is it published? (can't find anything in aa.com)
Should I kick/scream/complain/argue... or shutup and pay?
Today, when I called AA to pay and issue the tix, they came up with an additional 70 euro "ticketing fee". At no point during the last month and a half I have been dealing with AA Madrid has there been ANY mention of this fee, until now, just before payment.
Anybody else been charged this?
Where is it published? (can't find anything in aa.com)
Should I kick/scream/complain/argue... or shutup and pay?
Last edited by Viajero; Nov 24, 2004 at 5:51 am
Nov 24, 2004 | 9:02 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: HEL, Finland
Programs: AY Plat, SK Silver, FB Gold
Posts: 604
I must say that I don't have any experience concerning the AA ticketing fee, but many European airlines are now cashing with this. However companies like AF, BA or AY usually clearly say that they charge a ticketing fee.
Last February AY charged me a 50 ticketing fee (on top of the USD100) for changing the route on my DBLOB34. As they had not mentionned about this and I complained, they refounded me the ticketing fee.
However I must say that 70 for ticketing is high...
Last February AY charged me a 50 ticketing fee (on top of the USD100) for changing the route on my DBLOB34. As they had not mentionned about this and I complained, they refounded me the ticketing fee.
However I must say that 70 for ticketing is high...
Nov 24, 2004 | 10:15 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Madrid, Spain & Santiago, Chile
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,181
Update: AA now claims the fee is on a 'new' star file (?) they say applies to this case, whereby ANY ticket issued by American Airlines for travel originating in Spain (or is it Europe?) will be subject to a ticketing fee of 70 euros for business class (50 euros coach), for ANY itinerary that includes a transatlantic segment, over and above any other fees, taxes, surcharges and the like.
I'm still fighting the issue with them, but there you are: another 70 euros to add to the budget, this time for a hidden "ticketing fee".
I'm still fighting the issue with them, but there you are: another 70 euros to add to the budget, this time for a hidden "ticketing fee".
Nov 25, 2004 | 2:01 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2002
Programs: QF Platinum (OW Emerald); QF Lifestime Silver; BD Diamond Club Gold (*A Gold)
Posts: 4,786
Oh dear , AA really are putting you through the mill. Why not ask them to send you a copy of this mysterious star file - I've challenged them on this before and when they can't come up with the goods, they tend to back down [and when they do send through a file extract, it usually proves them wrong].
I'm assuming that your itin needs to be issued on paper because it includes carriers which aren't yet geared up for e-ticketing. In such circumstances [ie you don't have an alternative to paper] you should insist on the paper issue fee being waived.
I'm assuming that your itin needs to be issued on paper because it includes carriers which aren't yet geared up for e-ticketing. In such circumstances [ie you don't have an alternative to paper] you should insist on the paper issue fee being waived.
Nov 25, 2004 | 3:48 am
#5
Original Poster
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Originally Posted by virtualtroy
...I'm assuming that your itin needs to be issued on paper because it includes carriers which aren't yet geared up for e-ticketing. In such circumstances [ie you don't have an alternative to paper] you should insist on the paper issue fee being waived.
Anyhow, if I have to pay it I've decided to take 3 hour showers at each AC and drink myself to a stupor, both on the ground and in the air. Gotta get at least part of that fee back, even if it kills me.
Nov 25, 2004 | 9:54 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
Originally Posted by virtualtroy
But surely travel agents charge the fee to recoup any losses incurred as a result of reduced / no airline commissions and / or credit card fees???
AA management obviously has an interesting approach to achieving profitability that assumes that nothing they do will have an adverse response from their customer base. Too bad. The leaders earn so much for doing such a poor job, imo.
Nov 25, 2004 | 1:04 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Posts: 4,786
Originally Posted by JohnAx
AA management obviously has an interesting approach to achieving profitability that assumes that nothing they do will have an adverse response from their customer base. Too bad. The leaders earn so much for doing such a poor job, imo.
Nov 25, 2004 | 3:47 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by JohnAx
AA management obviously has an interesting approach to achieving profitability that assumes that nothing they do will have an adverse response from their customer base. Too bad. The leaders earn so much for doing such a poor job, imo.
Nov 26, 2004 | 11:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
Originally Posted by virtualtroy
Think I got flamed on the AA board for having the audacity to hint at such a thing.
But speaking of searches, I found the thread that you started on the AA forum. Surely you aren't referring to this? Am I being unreasonable? Aug 2,2004 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=342488
Dec 3, 2004 | 5:12 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: OKC/DFW
Programs: AA EXP/2 MM
Posts: 9,999
Originally Posted by Viajero
AA has agreed to waive the fee, and indicated they will now consider dropping it altogether, as a result of my letter and others like it. Well done AA.
^^ Well done, Viajero
Dec 4, 2004 | 10:04 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,641
Originally Posted by oklAAhoma
^^ Well done, Viajero
I don't think it's a secret that AA monitors FT. Foolish airline that doesn't, between the high-value customers they can stroke when things go wrong, and nefarious schemes they can read about and abort, but I'll bet they're in a minority.