Issues with an AONE5 paper ticket
 

Yesterday I had our 20 sector AONE5 tickets issued - timed to squeak in before the 1 June deadline. Obviously it's a paper ticket. It was issued by a TA on BA stock. Pricing done by BA and the "extras", being BA, were almost 20% of the ticket price. (Just another data point for an AONE5 with one LHR stopover. But coincidentally it reinforces my - completely baseless - rule of thumb of 1% for each sector.)

But now I start to worry about some issues that puzzle/concern me. In order of concern these are:

1. I cannot see the ticket number when I call up my BA itinerary. It's just blank. From past experience I am pretty sure this will result in all sorts of inconvenience like not being able to OLCI. According to BA (via my TA) it will take some time to propagate on the system because it's a paper ticket. Does that seem right? When should I expect to see it?
2. The restrictions box says nothing on one ticket and only mentions AA AY BA and CX on the other. TA says the "line is too long so ticket wouldn't load and Galileo told me to leave it off". Will this bite me later when I want to change carriers/reissue?
3. The baggage allowance goes from 3 pieces for BA to 2 pieces for AA CX and JL and 40kg for QF and finally 2 pieces for the last leg on BA. The rules say the piece system will apply so clearly this is wrong. But how many pieces should it be?

Would appreciate views on these matters. Probably too late to do anything - once the TA goes home today, no more paper tickets! Or so they say.

It shouldn't be a problem so long as the fare basis (AONE5) and a date of ticket issue is shown. These two will indicate the applicable rules if needing a re-issue.

Regading the baggage weight, IMHO, this is an error (but others might know better). If you are crossing the Pacific (eg Nth America-SW Pacific), I understood that the Piece system was used. My current xONEx routes Asia-Europe-Nth America-SW Pacific-Asia and all sectors are PC rather than weight.

I had a VERY similar problem.. And one one of my flights the agent COULD not find my reservations in the system!!.. And yes...BA wrote the paper ticket.. I was able to talk the agent into calling BA LONDON and get it straighened out.. it was a CX flight....

I was just admiring both sets of my paper tix (:p) and just noticed that the baggage allowance columns on all of them are blank. :confused:

I've used most of the first ticket and it's not been an issue though, was allowed 2 PCs all the way.

Some systems (notably AA) cannot see an "image" of the original paper tickets in their mid-20th century computer systems. It can prove highly aggravating at re-issue time or in other circumstances.

Sadly, as of today, no longer an issue with new RTWs. RIP 20 segments.

I can relate to that. :) There's something deeply satisfying about the physical ticket - at an emotional level it beats the hell out of an e-ticket printout. Especially when it's a "big" ticket like an xONEx.

(Of course, I now have to guard them with my life... )

Oh great! :( I'll mentally prepare myself for all sorts of grief on my AA legs (in particular, and the rest in general) and pray I don't need to reissue until they are over.

Indeed. I, for one, have observed a moment's silence.

I have to reissue mine due to AA scrapping LAX-SJU and I have an open segment on that leg (it isn't till July09). :( I anticipate doing so after flying a few segments when I come back to MEL in the middle of the ticket to ensure that the old 20 segment rules stick, just in case there's still debate over whether reissuing before departure will mean going under the new rules.

As my original PNR will still be alive (ie there are active segments yet to be flown) when I want to reissue, I guess they could always pull it up and "see" the ticket that way, ie the original routing, fare, date of issue etc?

Things are made more complicated by the fact that I can only speak to the SYD CTO via the call centre in BNE (at least not indiAA these days). Will make sure the ATW desk deals with as much of the complex stuff as possible prior to calling BNE.

I wonder what my paper ticket stubs will be worth on ebay in 20 years' time...;)