American Airlines booking engine for international flights

JohnK · #1 (**permalink**) 14th July 2008, 06:13 PM

I have been slack again and have not booked the returning flight to Thailand just before Christmas and availability is now poor. I have been looking at Amex Class Availability and trying to get a travel agent in Bangkok to book these flights but they are having problems getting confirmed seats on the dates I want even though I can see availability.

I have been able to find some suitable itineraries on the AA website BKK-SYD return via HKG and/or SIN for around 600 pounds return and I want to book these if the travel agent is not able to book my flights in the next few days.

Has anyone had experience booking international itineraries on the AA website that do not involve an AA flight? Is is possible that the AA website is showing availability that is really not available and I find that the itinerary I select cannot be booked? I have noticed that the AA website does mention that the itineraries for other airlines are on request basis only.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I am trying very hard to avoid including any LCCs in this itinerary.

Mal · #2 (**permalink**) 14th July 2008, 06:16 PM

Booked through the AA website a couple of years ago a simple BNE-SYD-HNL return ticket on Qantas. Saved a few hundred $ on the cheapest price I saw elsewhere.

Believe the discount was from the fuel fines benefit they used to give on Qantas Itins.

So it's definately possible. If the AA website is showing availability, then I suggest you can book it. I agree it's request only, but if they didn't see the availability, then they shouldn't show the flights. I think that clause is only there to protect themselves if it's a mistake fare, or the other airline pulls the availability before they can ticket the fare.

JohnK · #3 (**permalink**) 14th July 2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Believe the discount was from the fuel fines benefit they used to give on Qantas Itins.

I don't think they are offering discounts on fuel surcharges anymore but AA website price is much better than what is being quoted on Zuji and Expedia and is roughly the same as price quoted by the BKK travel agent but she is having problems seeing the same availbility as the AA website.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

So it's definately possible. If the AA website is showing availability, then I suggest you can book it. I agree it's request only, but if they didn't see the availability, then they shouldn't show the flights.

That sounds encouraging. I will try to book via the AA website if the travel agent is still having problems tomorrow.

JohnK · #4 (**permalink**) 28th July 2008, 06:19 PM

Booked the flights I wanted from the AA website today. It is now showing as ticketed and I have a record locator which I can use to view the itinerary on the AA website but the CX flight does not appear on the itinerary, only the 2 QF flights, even though I selected that option and it appeared throughout the booking process. Should I be worried? Is this a known issue?

How do I get the Amadeus booking reference to view on check my trip? Do I call the AA call centre in Australia or India? Does anyone have the number handy?

Mal · #5 (**permalink**) 28th July 2008, 06:27 PM

You could call Qantas and ask for their reference.

In Australia, I believe AA's number is 1 800 673 486 , but it's been about a year since I last called them.

Not seeing the CX flights would worry me a little, but others might have reasonable explanations.

JohnK · #6 (**permalink**) 28th July 2008, 06:46 PM

The situation appears to be actually more complex than I originally thought. The reason the CX flight does not appear is that it is waitlisted. The dilemma is how can AA show availability on their website, accept the booking and then display it as ticketed? But I am sure there is a simple explanation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

You could call Qantas and ask for their reference.

Thanks got the Amadeus reference from Qantas and also put in a request for exit row aisle as the original seats allocated, no FF#s in booking, were 49B and 66B.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

In Australia, I believe AA's number is 1 800 673 486 , but it's been about a year since I last called them.

This is the right number but they have closed for business today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Not seeing the CX flights would worry me a little, but others might have reasonable explanations.

As I mentioned earlier I am waitlisted on this flight in L class but I can see plenty of availability through Amex Class Availability

Cabin class: F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I5 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9

Can someone check Expert Flyer for CX750 BKK-HKG on 9 October and confirm the availability I am seeing above.

So much for trying to cut corners....

Mal · #7 (**permalink**) 28th July 2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnK

The situation appears to be actually more complex than I originally thought. The reason the CX flight does not appear is that it is waitlisted. The dilemma is how can AA show availability on their website, accept the booking and then display it as ticketed? But I am sure there is a simple explanation.

Make sure your FF number (and status) ends up in the AA Booking. Then perhaps call CX Reservations and advise your plight and ask if they can get the waitlist cleared. It might clear automatically if your status is known to CX.

Not sure if CX will actually do anything with a ticket owned by someone else, but worth a shot.

EF are showing: F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M4 L0 V8 S1 N0 Q0 O0
Seatcounter.com is showing:
A B C D F H I J K L M N O Q S V Y
3 9 9 9 3 9 9 9 9 0 4 0 0 0 1 8 9

Evan · #8 (**permalink**) 28th July 2008, 07:43 PM

John, What date,time,flight etc ? or have i just looked and missed that ? (can check EF)

I notice a lot of my CX flights recently waitlisting into L and yet they all have cleared, have a trip to hopefully book tomorrow where 4 segments are waitlisted... just showing lots of availability... odd. But it looks like maybe an Amadeus bug ? they can't all be waitlisted or how owuld they ticket... very strange.

E

JohnK · #9 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 12:14 PM

Thanks Evan the waitlisting has now cleared. As I posted earlier the flight is wide open in all classes and confirmed by CX call centre. I called the AA call centre in Sydney again this morning and I have been assured that the itinerary is ticketed and just awaiting e-ticket to be issued, hopefully within 24 hours.

And I have also managed to request changes to the original seat allocations. After a few phone calls this I now have 30H, I guess bulkhead, BKK-HKG on CX 747, and 46C for HKG-SYD and SYD-BKK on QF 747.

Intereresting that the booking is showing up on the Qantas website under my bookings and the CX flight is also showing on the itinerary.

serfty · #10 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Intereresting that the booking is showing up on the Qantas website under my bookings and the CX flight is also showing on the itinerary.

This is normal. My remaining AA booked RTW segments:

MEL-(QF)xSYD-(QF)JFK-(AA)xORD-(AA)SEA-(AA)xDFW-(AA)xORD-(BA)LHR,LGW-(BA)DBV-(BA)LGW,LHR-(QF)SIN-(CX)HKG-(CX)BKK-(CX)HKG-(CX)NRT-(QF)SYD-(QF)CNS-(QF)MEL

show on Qantas.com com as:

MEL-(QF)xSYD-(QF)JFK,DFW-(AA)xORD-(BA)LHR,LGW-(BA)DBV-(BA)LGW,LHR-(QF)SIN,HKG-(CX)NRT-(QF)SYD-(QF)CNS-(QF)MEL

i.e. the connecting flights on CX and AA show on Amadeus but that's it.