Mahan From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 53 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 3931 times:
Hoping someone would offer some tips in getting a change in Aadvanatge Award International travel.. I have a family member travelling between DFW-BLR(India)-DFW on AAdvantage Economy. She has already travelled on the outbound and due to a death in the family wants to postpone the return. I need to rebook the return BLR-LHR-BOS-DFW ( on BA/AA) to around July 28 or later ..
I have called Aadvantage travel desk several times and having a hard time in getting the date. I am prepared to pay extra change fees. I feel the agents are not looking for all options are just checking the main option between BLR-DFW via LHR.
Also, after travel commenced, AA changed the award rules to allow one way, and rountdtrip in economy and biz on same itinerary. I have enough miles to upgrade the return portion to biz class and seats are available, but the agents say it is not possible.
Any tips or options available ? Between AA, 9W, BA, CX, Finnair and JAL, I am prettu sure, there must be 1 award seat available between BLR-DFW arounf July 28-Aug7. Trouble is AA agents are not looking hard enough.
Can any of the A netters offer any advice/tips on options ?
Airlines I have flown - IC, 9W, KF, AI, LH, BA, LX, CO, DL, UA, SQ, MH, AA
Willyj From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 467 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3905 times:
Have you tried routing out of other Indian cities - DEL, BOM, etc to see if there is availbaility there? I'm not sure about AA's rules - can you change the routing/cities once travel has commenced. If you find something, you could just purchase a domestic ticket from BLR.
If you can't switch cities then you are basically limited to BA's service from BLR to LHR as I don't think there are other options back to DFW. If they don't have availbaility on the BA flight during that period, then you are out of luck.
DLMD90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 257 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3905 times:
Hmmm, I guess I'd first wonder what One World partners were involved in this, if any at all, that can play a huge role. I was trying to change an award ticket recently, and the AA flight I wanted was not available in first class for the award level I had booked it in, and the agent keyed in a request to inventory management, and requested they free up a seat for me, I called back the next day, and they had! I was VERY shocked by this and didn't even know they offered this service? Perhaps you could ask them to do that? If one agent isn't being very helpful, I usually call back until I get what I want
Mahan From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 53 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3881 times:
Thanks Willyj. I dont think the AA rules allow changing the origin of travel. Besides, there are many many flights on 9W between BLR and DEL/BLR. That is not the issue.
I think it is the transatlanlantic segment that is the problem. And I have called several times and dont intend to give up.
DLMD90 - I am also very shocked but delighted .. I'll definitely ask.
Airlines I have flown - IC, 9W, KF, AI, LH, BA, LX, CO, DL, UA, SQ, MH, AA
OP3000 From United States of America, joined Jun 2009, 1678 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 3782 times:
Just checked thru the BA website trying to redeem miles on that route (theyd have the same inventory as AA). Unlike AA.com, BA.com lets you check rewards availability for partners.
There are a bunch of dates in that range available for BLR-LHR on BA. The problem there is LON-DFW, where nothing is available crossing the pond (direct or indirect to DFW) on either AA or BA. They dont offer IB or FI as options to cross the pond, so that would be something to explore. BA is not a 9W partner, so youd have to check with AA to see if you could use them on BRU-NYC. Keep in mind its the peak of peak season for transatlantic, so chances are slim.
The other thing that it didnt let me check was BLR-HKG on CX, which could then get you to the states too.
DLD9S From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3773 times:
Quoting Mahan (Thread starter): there must be 1 award seat available between BLR-DFW arounf July 28-Aug7
Actually, the period around the first week of August is considered to be one of the busiest westbound transatlantic crossing times of the year outside of holidays. Besides the large number of Europeans that start US holidays that week, there are many Americans who are returning home from a European summer vacation.
Space might open up much closer to departure if AA does not see the loads they expect.
Mahan From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 53 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 11 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 3710 times:
Thanks OP3000 & DLD9S - Very helpful to know. I even asked AA folks if they can make any exception because it is a family death situation and upgrade to biz class by using difference miles. But they wont budge..
I guess I have to keep on trying.
BTW, flying on CX or JAL is not an option since the original travel is transatlantic and cannot be changed to transpacific. Rather silly argument, I would think.
Airlines I have flown - IC, 9W, KF, AI, LH, BA, LX, CO, DL, UA, SQ, MH, AA
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