plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2429 times:
So under the new American Air, they advertise flights, they won't sell them at those prices.
I'm trying to book flights for 26-Nov, which are nearly totally empty. Kayak and the AA site list four flights SJU-JFK, but when you go to purchase, you get an error "The flight(s) or fare selected is no longer availble." If you re-search all flights show up as not available
Is the site bugging out? Are they trying to raise the fares? I was talking with them on Twitter, but then they stopped responding. Should I wait and try to get the fare I see?
Along those same lines, the booking engine lists the fare as $140, but not that is bookable, which seems to be in violation of the new DOT rules, no? I'm printing the info as I go.
Roseflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 7614 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2167 times:
Quoting plateman (Thread starter):
I'm trying to book flights for 26-Nov, which are nearly totally empty. Kayak and the AA site list four flights SJU-JFK, but when you go to purchase, you get an error "The flight(s) or fare selected is no longer availble." If you re-search all flights show up as not available
Being that November 26 is during a peak holiday travel period, you probably are seeing a blackout date for that advertised fare or lack of inventory. They always say subject to blackouts at the bottom of the ad or have such limited availability.
When booking this far out, all the inventory might not yet be released. Full inventory is typically not available until 2-6 months out. The fare probably exists if it is shown after booking, but inventory is still at zero. I'd try back later. However there is a good chance that the fare won't exist.
AA's booking system really shouldn't show fares that are unavaiable. It's a big complaint that customers have. You can always try another booking engine that serves as a travel agent as well.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1836 times:
Thanks for the help --- I tried the other sites like Travelocity, Orbitz, etc ... all show the cheap price, then when you go to book, it says not available.
This is not to mention that AA now charges for nearly all seats. On the outbound, if I wanted an aisle seat, it was a premium in front --- as all back aisle seats were 'taken.' AA wants to survive? At this rate, I hope they get bought
plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1554 times:
A bad joke at this point .. I call AA web desk and she takes down all the information and then goes, ok, I can book it for you at $150. She takes all my info, I confirm the date, and she goes "oh, no" I entered the wrong date. They now refuse to honor either fare ... I have a printout from AA.com showing the flight listed as $210
Ok, just escalated within the webdesk and they made good. Gave me a better rate than all quoted and waived all telephone fees. A hassle in the beginning, but AA comes through in the end again. That's why I stay loyal to them
Rookinla From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 304 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1509 times:
Plateman, you might want to check with a travel agent. It is true that AA charges for premium seats. However some large agencies can access premium seats for you at no charge. Also an agent can look at the GDS and tell you the reasons that the fare may not be available. Or it could be available and they can book the itinerary for you. That's something you simply can't do online and proves the value of a good travel agent.
plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1351 times:
Quoting Rookinla (Reply 4): Plateman, you might want to check with a travel agent. It is true that AA charges for premium seats. However some large agencies can access premium seats for you at no charge. Also an agent can look at the GDS and tell you the reasons that the fare may not be available. Or it could be available and they can book the itinerary for you. That's something you simply can't do online and proves the value of a good travel agent.
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 19519 posts, RR: 18 Reply 6, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1337 times:
Quoting plateman (Thread starter): So under the new American Air, they advertise flights, they won't sell them at those prices.
To be clear, their website has had these issues for at least 5 years. While it's unquestionably poor customer service, it is not a "new American Air" phenomenon.
plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1219 times:
Quoting cvg2lga (Reply 7): You sound just like the jerk who told me he wished Comair would go out of business but who secretly was thankful that Comair was there to put is huffy ass in a seat and get it home. If you really want to stay loyal to AA then perhaps next time you have an issue with them, you should refrain from complaining obnoxiously before the situation has had a chance to be resolved.
1. Thanks for calling me a jerk, reminder when you signed up from these boards, one of the rules is to stay cordial to each other. I have reported your post.
2. Not complaining obnoxiously but, rather asking for advice, which the other commenters all gave and helpful advice at that. My third post may be a bit obnoxious, but that was even AA admitted they missed up. Thanks for your feedback, cvg2lga
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 6): To be clear, their website has had these issues for at least 5 years. While it's unquestionably poor customer service, it is not a "new American Air" phenomenon.
cvg2lga From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 581 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1173 times:
Actually, I only compared you to an "unpleasant passenger" that I met, didn't necessarily call you a jerk. It is unfortunate that I hurt your feelings. How i see them is how i call them.
Tchau
DA-
They don't call em' emergencies anymore. They call em' Patronies.
fxramper From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 6847 posts, RR: 98 Reply 9, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1168 times:
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but US flag carriers frown heavily on 3rd party discount website fares. I've seen gate agents deny platinum members upgrades based on the purchase of their tickets from Expedia, etc.
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 19519 posts, RR: 18 Reply 10, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1163 times:
Quoting fxramper (Reply 9): I don't want to sound like a jerk, but US flag carriers frown heavily on 3rd party discount website fares.
I think he was trying to buy straight from AA (but apparently not succeeding).
N867DA From United States of America, joined May 2008, 925 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1060 times:
Quoting plateman (Thread starter):
I'm trying to book flights for 26-Nov, which are nearly totally empty. Kayak and the AA site list four flights SJU-JFK, but when you go to purchase, you get an error "The flight(s) or fare selected is no longer availble." If you re-search all flights show up as not available
This is what I gathered when booking an AA flight over Christmas last year: When someone puts a reservation on hold, that affects the prices their inventories show. It's possible that someone, somewhere put that seat on hold and the fare will not be available if it is purchased within 24 hours. If it is not purchased, then the fare should-in theory-be available again. I was booking during the Christmas rush an itinerary connecting through DFW, so maybe that is something to consider. What disappointed me greatly is that as soon as I purchased my ticket, AA.com put the same itinerary up...for $20 less. I would put AA on my list of carriers to avoid, but the inflight service made up for it enough for me to consider them again.
darksnowynight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 189 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1015 times:
Quoting plateman (Reply 7): one of the rules is to stay cordial to each other. I have reported your post.
Another rule is not to respond to someone, and then report their post.
Enmity is equal to Wrath x The Speed of Fright Squared
plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 982 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 10): I think he was trying to buy straight from AA (but apparently not succeeding).
Correct, using Kayak to compare then re-entering and attempting to book on AA.com
Quoting N867DA (Reply 11): This is what I gathered when booking an AA flight over Christmas last year: When someone puts a reservation on hold, that affects the prices their inventories show.
That could have been it .. but it was all the flights that day
Quoting darksnowynight (Reply 12): Another rule is not to respond to someone, and then report their post.
plateman From United States of America, joined exactly 5 years ago today! , 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 946 times:
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 14): Just don't fly AA. DL and B6 operate this route and probably for the same amount or less.
Sorry, Tommy you are wrong,
1. Too early to book JetBlue.
2, Delta was close to $400 more per person one way, that's $1,200 each way extra
3. Delta flight times did not work, they do not have an early flight.
4. Historic B6 'surge holiday' pricing is about the same as Delta
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