AA, RTW, e-Ticket and Open Segments: lets settle this!
 

Hi guys,

Spread over multiple topics there is the discussion whether an OneWorld Airline should be able to issue e-tickets when some segments are still open. I have been discussing this with MindPearl in CPT who have been trying to get this done for a DONE5 starting in June 2009.

The first segment is booked and confirmed, all other segments are open. Now I know the rules say a paper ticket is required ONLY if ALL segments are open. I know they are supposed to be able to issue an e-ticket. What I am looking for is the final, definitive and clinching argument to convince AA that the following reply to MindPearl is incorrect:

"You're right, AA had no E-ticket solution in place for OA open segments.
This ticket therefore needs to be issued as paper, something only the airline can do.

Regards, Diego

American Airlines / European Tariff Leads' Desk / Fenward House, Arkle Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Sandyford Dublin 18"

Alternatively you can tell me AA is correct so I can give up trying.

With apologies for the confusion I may have helped to cause, finally, having all along promised me that I would get an e-ticket for my AONE3s ex-MNL with 8 open segments, when Mrs christep went today to get them issued by AA's GSA in Manila they were produced as paper tickets. So it appears that perhaps AA doesn't have the capability to e-ticket with open segments.

I do also know that CX can issue normal round-trip e-tickets with open segments because I have had such a ticket (a couple of years ago).

Personally I see pros and cons for e-ticketing vs paper so I'm relaxed about it. On balance I perhaps prefer paper (until I find out that using paper tickets has become difficult).

What does worry me now is that BA, CX and AY are going to try to charge me money for "revalidating" the Open paper coupons when I actually come to use them, in which case I guess I'm going to have to go after AA to somehow reclaim the money, although if the contract is under Philippines law (that being where the purchase took place) then I'm not sure how easy that will be.

As CX and AA use different systems this may be trouble. Now if all Oneworld carriers went to Amadeus or a common reservation system the problem may be solved. Then all the airline computers could talk to each other 100%.

I have been guaranteed a 'migration' (for free) to an e-ticket when all my segments are booked. By using dummy dates I will get an e-ticket long before I travel. The reason I prefer e- to paper is that you cannot lose it.

Unfortunately having an e-ticket does not appear to have the benefit you can change your dates yourself online. That was a strong alterior reason for wanting one.

And one of the reasons I prefer paper to e- is that I trust myself not to lose a ticket consisting simply of 8 open segments more than I trust the airlines' computers.

Losing a paper ticket is no big deal - you just have to sign an indemnity and you can get a new one so long as you have the ticket number and details.

I just ticketed a AONE6 from JNB using mindpearl as the agent.. I COULD NOT get an eticket if ALL segments did not have date assigned to each segment....

Why would BA charge you for revalidating an AA ticket? Why would you talk to BA anyway? Your ticket is issued by AA so no need to talk to anybody else.
And even if someone wanted to charge you for revalidation, based on which rule would that be? :confused:

Because all the open segments will be on BA, AY or CX, not on AA. I fear they will insist on "revalidating" on open coupon when I attempt to check in for the flight.

It's not based on any rule of the ticket - simply that BA & CX certainly try to charge for anything they possibly can these days. I suspect CX may try to invoke this rule which they have promulgated:
Even though an open paper coupon is perfectly valid as is and does not require any changes in order to be valid on any flight for which I hold a reservation.

And QF. Fees for everything.

So, basically the conclusion is: "give up trying"

:)

How come you can't ask AA to make the booking then, are you scare that the booking in Sabre might not reflect properly in CUPID?

nnnnnnnnnnnn

The following seems to work well if booked/plated through AA.

I have found that by booking flights that you have no intention of flying and later changing the booking to flights on your actual required dates gets around the problem nicely. One thing to ensure is that each flight selected for these dummy bookings departs at least 24 hours after the arrival of the previous segment in the booking. This way all appropriate +++ for stopovers should be charged, but it alleviates any issues with turning a booked transit into a stopover with possible determination of a 're-route' and any addition collection perhaps being required.

Once you are ready to change to your actual desired flights, simply call AA to do so.

It may cost slightly more, but if done carefully and not with international UK departures, it worked OK (at least booking via AA).

I did this in February where I wanted a LHONE4 for travel in June '08, April 09 and May 09. Of course, one cannot book April/May flights for the following year in February.

I booked the desired June flights and some 'dummy' ones in November, representing the desired '09 routings, just not dates.

After doing the June segments, I contacted AA and they have re-booked to my desired April/May flights. There was no charge for this.

The issue is not rebooking the flights. The issue is that when you turn up at check-in with a paper ticket coupon which is either OPEN or is for some date other than the one on which you now have the reservation then I suspect the airline will decide that it needs to "revalidate" the ticket and hence will charge for it.

This is why I (and some others here) have problems understanding the situation. When something like this happens (using an open segment or changing dates/carriers) I call AA and let them do it. I never show up at the airport with a ticket which still needs changing and never talk to BA/CX/QF as the operating carrier.

I will only deal with AA and they don't charge me for changes or revalidation.