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Emergency help...changes to first flight

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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 9:46 pm
  #1  
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Emergency help...changes to first flight

I have just been informed that UAL has canceled my CHC-'SYD-SFO' flight tomorrow. My UAL ticket was part of the fare error last year.

This means I am unable to get to my first segment of my DONE4 SFO-ORD ticket on time (UAL is routing us CHC-SYD-LAX-SFO).

The way I read the rules changes to the first flight are not allowed.

More info: my first international flight on the DONE4 out of the USA happens 10+ days later.

My first concern is to protect all the segments I have reserved on this handwritten DONE4. Because I had a lot of problems AA RTW might be able to do me the favor of a change...but I do not know if tariffs, etc. allow it.

Any suggestions on what to do? Multiple suggestions appreciated.

Last edited by AAaLot; Mar 25, 2008 at 9:56 pm
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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 10:06 pm
  #2  
 
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I'd say that with the rule book in hand you are up for a cancellation with penalty followed by a repriced new issue. But, some recent posts indicate AA can be persuaded to make exceptions. The only advice I can give is to talk to AA and plead your case.
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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 10:11 pm
  #3  
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I guess you checked out the xONEx rules here:
Code:
16. VOLUNTARY CHANGES/REROUTING/PENALTIES

    (a) Rebooking/Rerouting
    (1) Prior to departure
        (a) Origin TC1
            (1) Before ticket issuance - Permitted without penalty.
            (2) After ticket issuance - Changes to the first international 
                flight and preceding flights are not permitted less than 
                seven days prior to the date of the first ticketed flight. 
                Date/time changes to other flights permitted at no charge.
                Date/Time/oneworld Carrier changes are permitted without 
                reissue provided origin/destination/connecting points and 
                inventory remain the same.
                Changes other than to Date/Time/oneworld carrier permitted 
                at a charge of USD125.00 per transaction.
...

    (b) Cancellations and Refunds
        (1) Prior to departure
            (a) Origin TC1
                (1) Before ticket issuance - full refund
                (2) After ticket issuance - 10 percent of ticketed amount
...
    (c) Upgrading
           (1) An Economy oneworld Explorer fare may be upgraded to a First/
               Business class oneworld Explorer fare without penalty.
           (2) A Business oneworld Explorer fare may be upgraded to a First 
               class oneworld Explorer fare without penalty.
           (3) Upgrading by sector to Business/First class is not permitted.
           (4) At any time the oneworld Explorer fare may be used as credit 
               towards a full mileage fare or a Global Explorer fare (provided 
               the conditions of Global Explorer have been met). No penalty 
               will apply. Reissued tickets must be endorsed 
               --NON REF/XXX--//XXX equals oneworld Explorer fare basis 
               code//and the original non-refundable amount remains non-
               refundable. If the upgraded ticket is subsequently cancelled 
               the original penalty will apply.
By the rules:
  • 16.(a)(1)(a)(2) prevents changes in the OP's case as it's less than 7 days before departure if the first flight from TC1,
  • 16.(C) is probably out of the question (DONE4->AONE4 upgrade is USD3,100 more).
  • As Viajero indicated, by the rules, 16.(b)(1)(a)(2) would be your best solution incurring a 10% penalty

Note that it is not relevant that your first international flight is 10+ days away:
... Changes to the first international flight and preceding flights are not permitted less than seven days prior to the date of the first ticketed flight ...

Last edited by serfty; Mar 26, 2008 at 4:16 pm
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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 11:05 pm
  #4  
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Ok, what do you think would happen if we show up late in SFO and miss our first DONE4 flight [and I can show them it was because UAL canceled SYD-SFO].

Do you think SFO would let us go standby on the handwritten DONE4 tickets?

Do you think the rest of our DONE4 reservation would be 'safe'?

Normally I would risk this at then end of a cheap trip, but at the beginning of an expensive trip?
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 4:07 am
  #5  
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I changed my NZ tickets to arrive on time for my first DONE4 flight....however, now we are flying coach versus business class across the Pacific ):

So as long as we have 2 hours to connect in SFO, we should be all right in starting the first flight of the DONE4 flights.

Nevertheless, I do wonder if any one had any real experience changing the first segment for a RTW ticket 'for good reason'
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 10:02 am
  #6  
 
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Originally Posted by AAaLot
...Nevertheless, I do wonder if any one had any real experience changing the first segment for a RTW ticket 'for good reason'
Not with a RTW, but with normal AA tickets I have called before departure and been placed on standby, and I even used the 'flat tire' rule once. The key, however, is to call. Another 'good reason' I have had to make use of is the illness clause but that's covered in the rules.

If you still have time, now that you have a plan B in place, why not call AA? They could come through for you.
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Old Mar 30, 2008 | 10:39 pm
  #7  
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Originally Posted by AAaLot
Nevertheless, I do wonder if any one had any real experience changing the first segment for a RTW ticket 'for good reason'
I had an ex-IST DONE4 booked through BA. Arrived in IST on Thurs and picked up 20 segment ticket at airport office. First int'l departure was IST-LHR-PVG on Saturday morning. Passport was stolen Friday night.

I missed the first int'l departure. After getting a new passport I went back to the airport on Monday. I told the agent my story and he issued a new ticket with a new IST-LHR-HKG routing (China visa in stolen passport). I was never charged a cent for a reissue or for the change!

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the IST BA staff. Same goes for the US consulate staff that issued a new passport in under two hours on a Monday morning.
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Old Mar 30, 2008 | 11:00 pm
  #8  
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Originally Posted by wingzing
I had an ex-IST DONE4 booked through BA. ...
Not super relevant in this case; the rules are a lot more liberal when starting in TC2/TC3 rather than TC1.

The OP started in TC1, IST is in TC2.
Code:
16. VOLUNTARY CHANGES/REROUTING/PENALTIES
    (a) Rebooking/Rerouting
        (1) Prior to departure
            (a) Origin TC1
...
            (b) Origin TC2/3
                Unlimited changes permitted without charge.
                Date/Time/oneworld carrier changes are permitted without 
                reissue provided Origin/destination/connecting points and 
                inventory remain the same.
            -------------
            Local service fees may apply
...
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Old Mar 31, 2008 | 8:18 am
  #9  
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Originally Posted by serfty
Not super relevant in this case; the rules are a lot more liberal when starting in TC2/TC3 rather than TC1.

The OP started in TC1, IST is in TC2.
Code:
16. VOLUNTARY CHANGES/REROUTING/PENALTIES
    (a) Rebooking/Rerouting
        (1) Prior to departure
            (a) Origin TC1
...
            (b) Origin TC2/3
                Unlimited changes permitted without charge.
                Date/Time/oneworld carrier changes are permitted without 
                reissue provided Origin/destination/connecting points and 
                inventory remain the same.
            -------------
            Local service fees may apply
...
I wonder if this rule is regulatory (i.e. government) or AA (i.e. some sort of passenger abuse possible).
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