Concierge fly earlier than planned benefit fore reward flight
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: EI Concierge
Posts: 385
Concierge fly earlier than planned benefit fore reward flight
Has anyone successfully used the Concierge "Fly Earlier Than Planned" benefit for a reward flight via the Concierge line?
Can't see any exclusion for it (or any other flight type), but thought I'd check to be safe.
Can't see any exclusion for it (or any other flight type), but thought I'd check to be safe.
#2




Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards VIP, BW Diamond, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,876
Yes, called in no problems
Works if the ticket was sold by Aer Lingus directly (either online, website or via a travel portal using NDC/TF)
Works if the ticket was sold by Aer Lingus directly (either online, website or via a travel portal using NDC/TF)
#3




Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 41
On rewards booking, the concierge desk does not allow me to take earlier fight (both via email and phone confirmed). This benefit needs to be arranged by the concierge desk according to the T&Cs. On a recent booking, I went to the airport and they did it for me anyway after some back-and-forth between different people. I'm currently escalating this because I don't agree with it. Terms and conditions of AerClub/concierge don't exclude rewards bookings from this benefit.
#4




Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards VIP, BW Diamond, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,876
Been through this argument before with EI
The terms do not restrict based on ticket type or issuer.
Ive been refused on a TA issued ticket, yet the crew in LHR happily changed my flight on a BA TA issued ticket.
The terms do not restrict based on ticket type or issuer.
Ive been refused on a TA issued ticket, yet the crew in LHR happily changed my flight on a BA TA issued ticket.
#5
Original Poster


Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: EI Concierge
Posts: 385
Thanks for the feedback on your experiences with this.
I've noticed the last year that Aer Lingus has started really pressing hard on rigidly enforcing fake unpublished extra terms they've invented for so many of the AerClub benefits, and not budging an inch when it's pointed out that the fake term actually contradicts the published terms. It used to be the opposite - they'd invent a term but then just do what they were supposed to do anyway after it was pointed out they were wrong. I'll report back how I get on with this.
Someone really needs to compile what is now becoming a dossier of invented new (and unpublished) AerClub terms and conditions in the last year and bring it to the CCPC. It's got completely out of hand and has annihilated most of the value in Concierge status while enabling them to directly mislead customers on their website about what the benefits of their frequent flyer programme are.
I've noticed the last year that Aer Lingus has started really pressing hard on rigidly enforcing fake unpublished extra terms they've invented for so many of the AerClub benefits, and not budging an inch when it's pointed out that the fake term actually contradicts the published terms. It used to be the opposite - they'd invent a term but then just do what they were supposed to do anyway after it was pointed out they were wrong. I'll report back how I get on with this.
Someone really needs to compile what is now becoming a dossier of invented new (and unpublished) AerClub terms and conditions in the last year and bring it to the CCPC. It's got completely out of hand and has annihilated most of the value in Concierge status while enabling them to directly mislead customers on their website about what the benefits of their frequent flyer programme are.
#6




Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 41
Fully agree.
This was my answer and waiting for them to get back tot his:
This was my answer and waiting for them to get back tot his:
The published Concierge benefit states that a Concierge member can request to travel earlier than scheduled on the same route and date of the original booking within 24 hours of travel, free of charge, subject to availability. It also states that the request should be made through the Concierge help desk or Aer Lingus ticket desk.
That wording does not state that reward bookings are excluded. It does not say “cash bookings only”, “excluding Avios bookings”, “excluding reward bookings”, or “excluding specific booking classes”. The condition disclosed to the consumer is availability, not booking structure.
If Aer Lingus’ position is that section F.5.13 overrides the Concierge travel-earlier benefit, please identify the exact published term that makes this clear to Concierge members before they book or redeem Avios. In particular, please explain where Aer Lingus discloses that the Concierge travel-earlier benefit cannot be used on reward bookings.
I am also concerned that the explanation relies on an internal systems limitation. An internal ticketing or booking-structure limitation is not the same as a clearly disclosed contractual exclusion. If Aer Lingus advertises a Concierge benefit without clearly disclosing that reward bookings are excluded, I believe that raises a legitimate consumer-law concern.
Under Irish consumer law, services must conform with the service contract and with relevant public statements made by or on behalf of the trader, including statements in advertising or published benefit descriptions. Consumers must also not be misled about the nature, availability, benefits, or conditions of a service. If a material limitation applies to a loyalty benefit, it should be clearly disclosed.
That wording does not state that reward bookings are excluded. It does not say “cash bookings only”, “excluding Avios bookings”, “excluding reward bookings”, or “excluding specific booking classes”. The condition disclosed to the consumer is availability, not booking structure.
If Aer Lingus’ position is that section F.5.13 overrides the Concierge travel-earlier benefit, please identify the exact published term that makes this clear to Concierge members before they book or redeem Avios. In particular, please explain where Aer Lingus discloses that the Concierge travel-earlier benefit cannot be used on reward bookings.
I am also concerned that the explanation relies on an internal systems limitation. An internal ticketing or booking-structure limitation is not the same as a clearly disclosed contractual exclusion. If Aer Lingus advertises a Concierge benefit without clearly disclosing that reward bookings are excluded, I believe that raises a legitimate consumer-law concern.
Under Irish consumer law, services must conform with the service contract and with relevant public statements made by or on behalf of the trader, including statements in advertising or published benefit descriptions. Consumers must also not be misled about the nature, availability, benefits, or conditions of a service. If a material limitation applies to a loyalty benefit, it should be clearly disclosed.
#7




Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: A3*G, EI Silver, BA Bronze, SK Gold, Mucci
Posts: 2,769
You should be able to do it on any booking, as long as you're requesting it the same day as the flights or the day prior.
Be curious to see what you hear back.
Be curious to see what you hear back.
#8


Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EI Concierge
Posts: 302
On rewards booking, the concierge desk does not allow me to take earlier fight (both via email and phone confirmed). This benefit needs to be arranged by the concierge desk according to the T&Cs. On a recent booking, I went to the airport and they did it for me anyway after some back-and-forth between different people. I'm currently escalating this because I don't agree with it. Terms and conditions of AerClub/concierge don't exclude rewards bookings from this benefit.


#10


Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EI Concierge
Posts: 302
The booking is easily amendable once in the DCS, which happens at around T-24 hours (or T-30 hours). Assuming you made the request within T-24 hours of your existing flight (not the one you wish to change to), there should be no issue at all. It's an easy process for the agent and there should be no "restrictions" to speak of.
I'd wager that the agent in this instance may have a very limited understanding of Astral.
I'd wager that the agent in this instance may have a very limited understanding of Astral.
#11




Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards VIP, BW Diamond, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,876
If you are an Astral outstation ie IE, UK ,NL, US, CA
No excuses it can be done, at other locations you need to call in and get it done at least before the published online check in off off for that airport
happy to share my case ID if someone wants to formally go to CPCC
No excuses it can be done, at other locations you need to call in and get it done at least before the published online check in off off for that airport
happy to share my case ID if someone wants to formally go to CPCC
#12



Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: bmi DC, BAEC
Posts: 1,985
Someone really needs to compile what is now becoming a dossier of invented new (and unpublished) AerClub terms and conditions in the last year and bring it to the CCPC. It's got completely out of hand and has annihilated most of the value in Concierge status while enabling them to directly mislead customers on their website about what the benefits of their frequent flyer programme are.
can they include the way Aer Lingus operate reward blackout deadlines, without ever declaring them.
or even making them obvious on the website - so you can spend hours looking for a reward flight that will never be available.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37155733-post55.html
#13


Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EI Concierge
Posts: 302
Agree there should be full transparency on the blackout period. The current approach is underhanded at best.The website declares seats to be sold out during the blackout period which is absolutely not the case when the seats have simply been removed from sale.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2023
Programs: EI Conc, RR VIP, HH Diamond, *A Gold, STE+, OWE
Posts: 183
#15




Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 840
I agree that limitations on benefits and reward flight availability should certainly be more clearly stated but I do understand the rationale for denying the same day change perk for reward flights.
Only a certain number of seats are released for reward flights, allowing free same day change on certain routes is potentially opening up circumventing this from EIs perspective (e.g. the earlier flight I want has no reward availability so I'll just book the later one and change on the day). One could argue that there is no availability for a same day switch ever on a reward booking as there is never an option to book a reward flight for a same day departure so therefore no availability to move flights but as i said the easiest option is just to make clear that this perk is not available for reward flights.
Only a certain number of seats are released for reward flights, allowing free same day change on certain routes is potentially opening up circumventing this from EIs perspective (e.g. the earlier flight I want has no reward availability so I'll just book the later one and change on the day). One could argue that there is no availability for a same day switch ever on a reward booking as there is never an option to book a reward flight for a same day departure so therefore no availability to move flights but as i said the easiest option is just to make clear that this perk is not available for reward flights.

