PQM's on paid first class...but standby on earlier flight
May 28, 2014, 4:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,339
PQM's on paid first class...but standby on earlier flight
I've got a paid first class ticket coming up; I know I will earn 50% additional PQM's on the flights. But what if I go standby on an earlier flight on the return and there is no first class available? I'm not reticketing and I've still paid the first class fare...how will US view this flight when awarding additional PQM's / not awarding the additional PQM's?
May 28, 2014, 5:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Everywhere
Posts: 755
The system will award you miles based on class of service flown. A call / email to customer service will rectify the situation and get the bonus miles awarded.
May 29, 2014, 2:33 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
Are you sure about that? Wouldn't it be class of service paid? If it was class flown then why don't you get additional miles when buying an economy ticket but flying in first on a complimentary upgrade?
May 29, 2014, 2:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
The risk seems to be that the fare class might change if, for instance, you sit in coach on a paid F fare on a different flight where first wasn't available, which is what I believe gottigotti is referring to. In that case, the computer is likely to award miles on whatever fare class was used to seat you in the coach seat. Unfortunately I don't have a definitive answer to that. The correct answer might actually be to refund the difference between the coach and first fares rather than award additional elite-qualifying miles.
May 29, 2014, 3:30 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,339
In my original question, I said I had paid for first but flown in coach.
I went through my flights and found two different scenarios:
1. I went standby on an earlier flight and was seated in coach when I'd paid first for the original flight.
2. I paid for first, and my flight was cancelled. I was moved off US and put on AA, and was on a flight with a connection instead of a direct flight.
So the first, I made a choice. On the second, I didn't...got more miles flown, but not the class of service bonus for the fare I paid and also received no refund for flying coach vs. first.
I went through my flights and found two different scenarios:
1. I went standby on an earlier flight and was seated in coach when I'd paid first for the original flight.
2. I paid for first, and my flight was cancelled. I was moved off US and put on AA, and was on a flight with a connection instead of a direct flight.
So the first, I made a choice. On the second, I didn't...got more miles flown, but not the class of service bonus for the fare I paid and also received no refund for flying coach vs. first.