AA adds $25 fee, cuts award hold time allowance
Apr 28th, 2008, 07:32 AM
#1
AA adds $25 fee, cuts award hold time allowance
American has joined the stampede for $25 fees for second checked bags. Elite level frequent flyers, full fare pax, and people on international itineraries are exempted. http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vie...omotionContent
Next, AA is reducing the length of time one can "hold" an award reservation to 5 days (currently 14.) This will make it much more difficult to book round-trips at the 330-day opening, unless your trip is five days long or less. (At present you can book the first leg and put it on hold for up to a couple of weeks while waiting for the availability window to open for the return.)
Next, AA is reducing the length of time one can "hold" an award reservation to 5 days (currently 14.) This will make it much more difficult to book round-trips at the 330-day opening, unless your trip is five days long or less. (At present you can book the first leg and put it on hold for up to a couple of weeks while waiting for the availability window to open for the return.)
Apr 28th, 2008, 08:47 AM
#3
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AA's FF program continues to go down hill, making your miles worth even less each time they make a change like this. I remember back in the days when their program was the best of all the airlines.
I have some miles expiring (not enough for a ticket) in June and I'm just going to let them expire. Future miles flown on AA (if I must) will go into my Alaska Airlines account, whose miles never expire, at least.
I have some miles expiring (not enough for a ticket) in June and I'm just going to let them expire. Future miles flown on AA (if I must) will go into my Alaska Airlines account, whose miles never expire, at least.
Apr 28th, 2008, 09:23 AM
#6
<i>Where can I find documentation on the change to holding a reservation?</i>
https://www.aa.com/aa/pubcontent/en_...ookanAward.jsp
About 3/4 of the way down. No reference to the old standard.
https://www.aa.com/aa/pubcontent/en_...ookanAward.jsp
About 3/4 of the way down. No reference to the old standard.
Apr 28th, 2008, 09:29 AM
#7
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Andrew,
AS expiration policy http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...icy-Change.asp
AS expiration policy http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...icy-Change.asp
Apr 28th, 2008, 01:14 PM
#9
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Thanks for the heads-up, Patty. Southwest (no change fees) is already my preferred domestic airline. I'm still going to let my AA miles expire (really don't want to fly AA anymore - nothing to do with this recent fee thing). For USAir, I keep some 16,000 miles by eating at Burger King once a year or and using a credit card to earn about 6 miles. I'm going to do the same for Alaska, I guess, with a different credit card.
Apr 28th, 2008, 01:27 PM
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< AA's FF program continues to go down hill, making your miles worth even less each time they make a change like this. >
I don't see how the changes that Gardyloo posted has any thing to do with AA's miles "worthing less."
The 14-day hold time for award res is very generous. I don't see how it makes a difference unless you are booking international biz awards. From speaking w/my brother, rkkwan, who knows the ins and outs of CO, AA's award seats are a lot easier to get than CO's - esp at the 25k level.
With oil prices this high, how on earth are these airlines going to survive without adding fees and/or raising fares?
BTW, I cannot even recall the last time I had 2 checked luggage on a domestic flight, if ever.
I don't see how the changes that Gardyloo posted has any thing to do with AA's miles "worthing less."
The 14-day hold time for award res is very generous. I don't see how it makes a difference unless you are booking international biz awards. From speaking w/my brother, rkkwan, who knows the ins and outs of CO, AA's award seats are a lot easier to get than CO's - esp at the 25k level.
With oil prices this high, how on earth are these airlines going to survive without adding fees and/or raising fares?
BTW, I cannot even recall the last time I had 2 checked luggage on a domestic flight, if ever.
Apr 28th, 2008, 04:27 PM
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Andrew, if you have enough spare AA miles for a ticket, I'm sure you can find some willing recipients 
rather than let them expire. Actually, the donation to charity would work well too.
I don't fly AA (because it's never been the right fare at the right time, but that could change), but none of the airlines I use have ever had such generous hold policies. So I can appreciate that AA regulars might be upset, but it's not like other airlines are better.
rather than let them expire. Actually, the donation to charity would work well too.I don't fly AA (because it's never been the right fare at the right time, but that could change), but none of the airlines I use have ever had such generous hold policies. So I can appreciate that AA regulars might be upset, but it's not like other airlines are better.
Apr 29th, 2008, 08:33 AM
#14
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Yes, Keith, reducing hold time does wind up saving AA money indirectly, as does each one of these new restrictions. Why else would they change it? By reducing the hold time, they indirectly increase revenues by making it more likely you'll book a conventional ticket, incur a change fee, etc. I guarantee you, some pencil pusher in the belly of AA has a spreadsheet showing exactly how much each one of these changes can save the company.
Like changing the mileage expiration from 3 years to 18 months, for example - why would they do that? Certainly not to benefit the customer. Again, before making the change, someone had a spreadsheet showing management how much money that would wind up saving AA.
Like changing the mileage expiration from 3 years to 18 months, for example - why would they do that? Certainly not to benefit the customer. Again, before making the change, someone had a spreadsheet showing management how much money that would wind up saving AA.
Apr 29th, 2008, 04:19 PM
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When does AA $25 extra bag fee go into affect? Is this second bag or where does it start? I just got hit by Delta -- after I bought and paid for my ticket they want to levy the extra fee. If you not economy you can check up to apparently 3 bags. Not sure this is right to make charge after purchase. Anyone know of any ATA rule that this might violate?
