Few Miles Unofficial Guide mentions possible fare-matching for EXP. Reality?

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Aug 4, 2004, 9:17 am

AuAAdvantage

Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Northern Virginia

Programs: AA EXP (home of the "Comfort Mileage Run")

Posts: 652

Few Miles Unofficial Guide mentions possible fare-matching for EXP. Reality?

Few Miles Unofficial Guide is valuable, though sometimes out-of-date. Does AA in fact, still fare-match for EXPs? The Guide lists it as an extra undocumented feature.

Aug 4, 2004, 9:32 am

SAT Lawyer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2002

Programs: UA Platinum MM; DL Silver; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold

Posts: 24,248

My travel agent has been able to get AA to match competitor's fares in the past regardless of status. That is about the only circumstance where I use a travel agent in this day and age.

Aug 4, 2004, 9:38 am

ynewman

Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: LAX. AA EXP, *W Gold

Posts: 585

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuAAdvantage

Few Miles Unofficial Guide is valuable, though sometimes out-of-date. Does AA in fact, still fare-match for EXPs? The Guide lists it as an extra undocumented feature.

Yes, I got it last night from a wonderful EXP AAgent. This was the first time I had asked for it.

Aug 4, 2004, 9:48 am

tegwj

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Nokesville, VA, USA

Programs: AA GLD 1MM; US PP; HH Diamond; SPG Plat; Wegmans Shoppers Club; ExxonMobil Speedpass

Posts: 221

I get fare-matched all the time through my TA. There's a dedicated desk they have to call which only operates during CST business hours but my hit rate is close to 100% on it. I recently booked SJC-LAX-IAD-LAX-SJC, AA fare came back at close to $900, fare matched down to $380, which somehow fit with a Frontier itinerary that met the criteria. Usually AmericaWest comes into the equation for me.

twj

Aug 4, 2004, 9:54 am

Val

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: Chicago, IL

Programs: AA Platinum, 2 Million Miles

Posts: 1,248

I also use my company TA to fare match.

General rule is, the competing flight must be within a 2 hour window of the AA flight, and only if they are not close to selling out the flight.

Aug 4, 2004, 11:56 am

JimLeo

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: Plano, Tx, 75093

Posts: 32

I assume they are only matching identical routings, and not matching fares with stops to the same destination as an AA non-stop?

Has anyone had success with this also?

Aug 4, 2004, 12:57 pm

inlanikai

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: LI, NY

Programs: AA PLT, AAdv since Day One

Posts: 2,682

Do they fare match international itineraries too?

Also, what details do you have to give them about the competitive route and price you are trying to get them to match? Or do you just say " ... I want to go A>B>A and please fare match it."?

Thanks.

Aug 4, 2004, 1:34 pm

Val

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: Chicago, IL

Programs: AA Platinum, 2 Million Miles

Posts: 1,248

My travel department calls their rep desk at AA, and says, "I need a fare match for these flights against Northwest."

The AA person considers the request based upon the schedule, and the flight loads. Often they say, "We cant do the 5:00pm. How about the 7:00pm?"

My agent accepts the 7:00pm, and I go standby on the 5:00pm.

And yes, they do international. Going to CPH in november for $250 less than the posted AA fare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by inlanikai

Aug 4, 2004, 5:19 pm

RChavez

Original Member

Join Date: May 1998

Location: Hellsea - NY, NY, USA

Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium

Posts: 1,994

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimLeo

I assume they are only matching identical routings, and not matching fares with stops to the same destination as an AA non-stop?

Has anyone had success with this also?

I've had mixed results with the fare matches our corp department has handled. They generally do come back with a fare match, but sometimes will tack on a premium for the non-stop if you're sending them a competing itinerary with a connections. I'm not sure what the reasoning was for the surcharge on the cases that they came back, but I'm guessing load and/or level of competitor comes into play.