Author Topic: Weird Advantage issue (not hahaha) (Read 10087 times)

SuperFlyer · « **on:** March 13, 2011, 09:21:41 AM »

I booked on Friday using AA miles a return within Russia flying S7 (siberian airways) in Business class.

I decided to ticket it, but got after shabbes an email of AA to contact them.

I did, at which point they notified me that this particular routing they are not allowed to issue using miles (and they cannot even sell it).

I told them (truthfully) that based upon the fact that they said that it will be ticketed (on aa.com it says ticketed) lots of other tickets as well as other arrangements have been made.

The only thing they could say is - apologize/i'm sorry and speaking to a supervisor the only thing they were willing to do is credit 5k aa points.

I told them that its pretty lousy and only 1/15th of points you get when applying for a cc, for such a grave mistake is not acceptable. (Besides for the fact that they would be credited to the nice acc holder who doesn't want to take the miles back).

Anyone any idea/suggestion/solution?

PS: the funny part is that the tix had zero tax, just $100 expedite fee.

Dan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2011, 10:26:49 AM »

What was the routing?

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:06:04 AM »

DME-YKS-DME with S7 in Biz.

Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:07:58 AM »

Quote from: SuperFlyer on March 13, 2011, 11:06:04 AM

DME-YKS-DME with S7 in Biz.

Why is that invalid?

aussiebochur · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:14:29 AM »

AA only allows S7 redemptions to Western Russia. All cities west of the Uruls (including Yakutsk) can only be redeemed using One World award.

Seems AA is yet to figure out how to price Western Russia...

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:17:47 AM »

So I can call and make a OW award?

The supervisors wouldn't know what.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:21:00 AM »

Quote from: SuperFlyer on March 13, 2011, 11:17:47 AM

So I can call and make a OW award?

The supervisors wouldn't know what.

Should work, but its going to cost you...

Dan · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:21:03 AM »

Quote from: SuperFlyer on March 13, 2011, 11:17:47 AM

So I can call and make a OW award?

You can, but you'll need to add another airline besides S7.

aussiebochur · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:25:51 AM »

Quote from: Dan on March 13, 2011, 11:21:03 AM

You can, but you'll need to add another airline besides S7.

DME-YKS-DME is already in Zone 3 for OW award so it really isn't an issue to add another airline. Maybe a few dollars tax.
The issue is zone 3 is 80k in business...

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:29:45 AM »

Can you think of another airline to add?

Any specifics, please?

Dan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:39:02 AM »

Quote from: SuperFlyer on March 13, 2011, 11:29:45 AM

Can you think of another airline to add?

Any specifics, please?

Any number of flights that total less than 2,893 miles would qualify.

Doing research on this, I found this thread fascinating!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/1177586-siberian-s7-joins-oneworld-but-excludes-siberian-routes-all-partner-awards.html
ADK-PKC anyone?

aussiebochur · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:40:30 AM »

IB to Madrid. Obviously as the last leg.

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:42:44 AM »

I guess using malev would be smarter or finnair.

I need to rush, its for tomorrow...

Dan · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:43:47 AM »

The last leg can be open-jaw. It can be MEL-SYD if you'd like.

YOSEF · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:44:15 AM »

What about RJ? Is AMM too far away?

aussiebochur · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:45:51 AM »

Quote from: Dan on March 13, 2011, 11:43:47 AM

The last leg can be open-jaw. It can be MEL-SYD if you'd like.

Don't they count the over land miles? Or is it only the segment?

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:48:39 AM »

So I leave the booking intact, and add somewhere a leg, a week after finalizing the flights that are really flown?

What's the cheapest country for flights + miles?

Dan · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:51:14 AM »

Quote from: aussiebochur on March 13, 2011, 11:45:51 AM

Don't they count the over land miles? Or is it only the segment?

It only counts as a segment.
The system may automatically count the land miles, but the rules clearly say they do not count.
They wanted to charge me zone 9 instead of zone 8 as I had DPO-HBA as an open jaw and the computer was counting the land segment as miles traveled, but a quick check with the rates dept. changed it back to a zone 8.

Dan · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2011, 11:51:56 AM »

Quote from: SuperFlyer on March 13, 2011, 11:48:39 AM

So I leave the booking intact, and add somewhere a leg, a week after finalizing the flights that are really flown?

What's the cheapest country for flights + miles?

Correct.
I would try somewhere intra-Chile or Argentina on LAN.

Is the pax not going to be traveling anywhere else in the next year? You've nearly 3K miles of free travel from anywhere to anywhere on OW and date changes are free...

SuperFlyer · « **Reply #19 on:** March 13, 2011, 12:00:04 PM »

That's not the issue, its kind of a nebech case, give a last throw with his bits of money to try some business deal.

He needs to pay the expert a biz tix otherwise the guy doesn't travel.

I already closed the deal for way cheaper using miles, and now, he will have to cough up another $1200 which he doesn't really have...

So what's THE cheapest route, Dan, with your latino experience you should know that.

Ps: I just add a segment, and it will automatically fall in the OW award, or I need to illuminate the path for those reps?