LONE4 Upgrade Issue... please help!

rooboy68 · #1 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 08:28 AM

Hi All

I have recently booked my 1st LONE4 using the AA RTW desk.

All has gone reasonably smoothly until today. When originally making the reservation with the agent, she told me I had to fly my final leg back home (LAX-BNE) on AA codeshare flight AA7298/QF176.

I thought nothing of it until I attempted to request a points upgrade to business today. When trying to do this on the QF website, it says "Total points required to upgrade is 72,000"... then "Please contact your travel advisor" (I have a paper ticket, so this is normal I think).

When I called QF, they said that because the booking had been made with AA and using an AA codeshare flight they can't request the upgrade.

When I called AA, they said that I must use AA for at least one long haul flight?? (Even though it is still QF metal I'm actually flying on??)

Has anyone had a similar experience? Suggestions welcome!

NM · #2 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 08:34 AM

You certainly cannot upgrade the AA flight number.

AA often try to enforce this "policy" of one inter-continental flight on AA flight number. Its not a fare rule, but a policy imposed by AA in order to ensure they receive a portion of the fare revenue for their effort involved in booking and issuing the ticket. You may be able to get it changed, but it could be a struggle to convince them to actually do it.

Travel Guru · #3 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 09:38 AM

It's not a LONE4 fare rule, but it is an airline rule, and you can't plate the taxes to AA unless you have at least one long haul on their flight number.

In AA's defence, I don't have a problem with it, why should you win at both ends by getting cheap taxes with little benefit to AA and be able to upgrade your seat....it would seem you either pay QF's high fuel fines and have the luxury of upgrading what would otherwise be an AA codeshare sector, or you save on taxes and enjoy cattle.

TG

v8Statesman · #4 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rooboy68

When I called AA, they said that I must use AA for at least one long haul flight?? (Even though it is still QF metal I'm actually flying on??)

How are you getting from Europe-USA? Use an AA code on that flight to keep AA happy then ask them to change you to te QF flight home.