Ticketing rules for DONE4
 

I got our corp TA to book me a DONE4 ex LAX instead of the LAX-LHR-LAX in F I would otherwise fly - tacking on a visit to MEL to a business trip to LHR.

All of a sudden AA is saying they will only hold the reservation for 24 hrs. I have instructed our TA to tell them to consult with the RTW desk and the star file which (according to the latest version I could find) states that ticketing can be up to 7 days before first international segment. Is that still correct ex-USA?

Yes, but the two aren't inconsistent. The rules don't say anything about how long you can hold a reservation without ticketing - that in any case is set by airline policy not ticketing rules.

But it's just more work for the TA - get them to issue the ticket since you can have unlimited free reroutes and reissues before departure without charge.

Or, if you are sure on the routing, just get the ticket issued open-dated and you can play about with the reservations to your heart's content.

Thanks christep - that does make sense in a way.

I instructed my TA to challenge them and quote star file - they now agree and are holding reservation to be ticketed by 7 dyas before travel.

New one AA threw into the mix :rolleyes: they had priced it (approx $8490). They are now saying that pricing may change due to fluctuating exchange rates. Exchange rates to what?? this is based on the published US$ fare ex-US. At most some taxes may be in another currency, but fluctuating exchange rates are going to so minimally affect the taxes that it is insignificant? What are they talking about?

I reckon it is the taxes / surcharges that will change with exchange rates. For example the USD versus AUD can move by 5% in a few days. That'd be enough to upset the calculations.

As others have said he exchange rate variation should only apply to taxes and charges. However, you don't say how far in the future this trip is so you should be cautious that there is no a fare increase between now and ticketing. Although they have agreed to hold the res until 7 days before this does not gaurentee the fare.

AA will guarantee the fare for 24 hours only. So if the off chance should there be a fare increase between now and 23 hours later, AA will honor the fare without a reprice. But if you decide to issue later.. say a week later, then your TA would have to reprice the same reservation irrespective if you have made changes or not. It's just the rules.

Any airline will always add the phrase, "Not guaranteed until ticketed". And that's exactly what it means.

Just curious. What was the cost in F you would have paid, and what was your does your held iten. look like?

That makes perfect sense. It's just weird to have heard it for the first time now - because as you say it applies in any fare you hold. The travel is in early Jan and I ma pretty sure there won't be a fare increase in DONE4 before then. I will be ticketing between Xmas and New Year.

And I think there is a vast difference betwene saying the fare is only guaranteed for 24 hrs as opposed to the reservation is only held for 24 hrs.

Well I believe it would be imprudent of me to disclose our corp discount F fare LAX-LHR ;)

But let's just say LAX-LHR-LAX in F (incl taxes etc) + US$300 = DONE4 (incl taxes etc).