Malev booking class problem with AA & OneWorld
Mar 29, 2009 | 2:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 141
Malev booking class problem with AA & OneWorld
I am an AA FF member and have twice in a row had a problem where I booked a ticket on Malev in one class, but my boarding passes then showed a lesser class, and I only got credited the lesser amount of EQP's and FF miles.
For example, just today I arrived CLJ->Bud->ZRH->JFK booked on Malev in B class. My boarding passes for CLJ->Bud and Bud->ZRH both show B. However the main flight, ZRH->JFK shows as H. Thus I get 100% EQPs instead of 150% EQPs. And no option to upgrade to business class for 15K miles.
In January I had the exact same itinerary and exact same problem, except I bought V and somehow got bumped down to S, thus receiving just 50% miles and 50% EQPs when I should have gotten 100%/100%.
What is going on here? How is it that I pay Malev for a higher booking class, but American treats it as if it is a lower booking class? How can I get this rectified? Is this going to be an ongoing problem? Should I just switch to Lufthansa, which has a CLJ->MUC->JFK itinerary?
For example, just today I arrived CLJ->Bud->ZRH->JFK booked on Malev in B class. My boarding passes for CLJ->Bud and Bud->ZRH both show B. However the main flight, ZRH->JFK shows as H. Thus I get 100% EQPs instead of 150% EQPs. And no option to upgrade to business class for 15K miles.
In January I had the exact same itinerary and exact same problem, except I bought V and somehow got bumped down to S, thus receiving just 50% miles and 50% EQPs when I should have gotten 100%/100%.
What is going on here? How is it that I pay Malev for a higher booking class, but American treats it as if it is a lower booking class? How can I get this rectified? Is this going to be an ongoing problem? Should I just switch to Lufthansa, which has a CLJ->MUC->JFK itinerary?
Mar 29, 2009 | 7:25 pm
#2
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
Hi and welcome back to Flyer Talk mhaines94108 
This isn't really a problem for oneworld4u so I've split your post off that thread.
Kiwi Flyer
OW moderator
[mod hat off]
Was this booked as a codeshare by any chance? If it was AA flight number but MA metal then the AA booking class gets translated into whatever the equivalent is with MA. Earning is then based on that code. Same applies in reverse (MA flight number on AA metal).
Also multi-sector fares may have some legs in a different booking class than other legs (it is specified in detailed fare rules how this works - depending on which site you used to book summary fare rules may not spell this out), particularly where there is a mixture of longhaul and shorthaul.
This isn't really a problem for oneworld4u so I've split your post off that thread.
Kiwi Flyer
OW moderator
[mod hat off]
Was this booked as a codeshare by any chance? If it was AA flight number but MA metal then the AA booking class gets translated into whatever the equivalent is with MA. Earning is then based on that code. Same applies in reverse (MA flight number on AA metal).
Also multi-sector fares may have some legs in a different booking class than other legs (it is specified in detailed fare rules how this works - depending on which site you used to book summary fare rules may not spell this out), particularly where there is a mixture of longhaul and shorthaul.
Apr 2, 2009 | 6:12 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 141
Booked as codeshare
Yes, it was booked as a codeshare. Specifically, Malev sold the ticket, and thus the ZRJ-JFK leg was listed as MA 4008 and not AA 65. It's AA metal. Malev sold me B and that's what my itinerary (booked through a travel agent) shows. But the boarding passes issued by Malev and then reissued by AA both show H for that leg.
The problem is that I'm originating from CLJ. My travel agent says that there is no way for AA to sell a ticket that includes CLJ -- either Malev sells the entire itinerary CLJ-BUD-ZRH-JFK, or I split it into two tickets.
My goal is to upgrade on the TATL leg. I used to collect all my points in Duna Club, but that was worthless because (1) Malev will only upgrade you on Malev metal on a Malev flight, and (2) Malev won't upgrade individual legs -- you have to upgrade end-to-end. CLJ is served by a propeller plan, and there are never upgrades available. I racked up 250K miles and they are seemingly worthless.
So I switched to AAdvantage thinking I'd be on AA metal and be able to upgrade with AA points on a B class ticket. But Malev passes it through as H, and that seemingly is not upgradeable with 15K miles.
The problem is that I'm originating from CLJ. My travel agent says that there is no way for AA to sell a ticket that includes CLJ -- either Malev sells the entire itinerary CLJ-BUD-ZRH-JFK, or I split it into two tickets.
My goal is to upgrade on the TATL leg. I used to collect all my points in Duna Club, but that was worthless because (1) Malev will only upgrade you on Malev metal on a Malev flight, and (2) Malev won't upgrade individual legs -- you have to upgrade end-to-end. CLJ is served by a propeller plan, and there are never upgrades available. I racked up 250K miles and they are seemingly worthless.
So I switched to AAdvantage thinking I'd be on AA metal and be able to upgrade with AA points on a B class ticket. But Malev passes it through as H, and that seemingly is not upgradeable with 15K miles.