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Aircraft Change
I bought a pair of nonstop American First Class Super Saver tickets FCO to ORD for May 2017 for 80,000 advantage miles each. Last week AA changed equipment from 777 to 767 on the route. Seats are the same, except there is no First Class on the AA 767. Business Super Saver not available on the flight now, only Anytime Award for 110,000 miles. I know that these things happen, but without sounding crass, should I expect AA to acknowledge the situation in any way other than the notice of flight schedule change? Thank you.
Maybe your seat number is the same but the 767 is in business class with the vantage seat and no monitor versus a first class seat on a 777. At a minimum you should be refunded the difference in points. This is a huge equipment downgrade. You should be able to cancel this without the $150 redeposit fee. Sorry.
Yep, you should be able to get the difference in points back, or cancel with no fee. They likely won’t be proactive about it.
What I would do, however, is (kindly, gently, lovingly) insist on being accommodated in First. This would require a connection in London, and might even require them to work with the alliance liaison to see if British Airways will open space for you. This should be an even exchange, with no additional miles or fees due — it’s their fault, not yours.
If that doesn’t work, you can at least get the points refunded, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
If you do change your routing to business, you shouldn’t take the nonstop flight, you should fly via DFW or JFK and hope that one of the flights gets the new seats before next May. If the surcharges are waved on BA, then just fly them, preferably on a 787-9 (they fly to BWI and AUS)
If he changes to business class I doubt they would allow a new route unless it had saver space open. The BA 787 could be great, but only in first class, and getting them to route through Austin would be a chore as well. If he gets first on BA it would be direct. I’d rather downgrade to business and save the points than take the 747 with 14 stuffed in the nose. Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t see them being overly accommodative.
A side note: AA has changed all LHR-ORD to 787s so no first there. To save first I’d try for BA to London then AA first to either Miami or DFW then first on AA to Chicago.
I don’t think you folks get the point. No way I’m going to ORD from FCO through LHR just to ride First Class. This will be the end of a 2 week sightseeing tour/cruise and we just want to get home. Business is ok as long as it’s a direct, nonstop flight. I’ve flown AA International business class in the 767 and I know how, “inadequate” it really is. My point is this…..I paid 80,000 miles for First Class which has been eliminated and now Business Class costs 110,000 for the same flight. If I bring it to AA’s attention they’ll just say I got a great deal on Business Class. I don’t think there is anything that is owed to me, is there? Thanks again for your comments.
Business class on that flight is 57,500 for a saver ticket. You have a saver ticket. Yes you deserve a refund.
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