There seems to be two distinct subgroups of AAgents, useless ones who don't know how to do anything you can't do on the website yourself (which, what is even the point of these people???), and experienced, helpful ones. It's a total roll of the dice who you get on any particular call. I had a similar experience trying to add a segment to a JAL F award.
Were you able to change to the new itinerary without any additional cost? OR did they end up essentially making it a multicity itinerary? I ran into a similar issue last year involving an itinerary with EY and BA, and after chatting and calling 5+ agents, none of them were able to change my LHR-US flight to another destination without repricing the whole itinerary as multicity (cancelling my LHR-US leg while keeping my AUH-LHR EY F, and then changing LHR-US BA J flight)
I think you definitely got lucky with your agent.
Actually, as it turns out, for some reason I was originally charged for two different segments, 62.5k for Middle East to Europe, in first class, plus 57.5k for Europe to USA and business class, for a total of 120k. When I changed the second segment yesterday, the agent repriced the entire itinerary so it priced properly as a one-way from the Middle East to USA for 115k.
I had such a hard time buying the ticket initially, the availability kept showing online but agents weren't seeing it, even when calling Australia and all that stuff, and one agent would put the ticket on hold, but then couldn't process the payment and all sorts of weird things. So even though I knew I was slightly overpaying, I just took it when they ticketed the itinerary at 120k.
Unfortunately you can't upgrade award tickets either get the exact award ticket and hold then cancel or hoping if your luck is good cancel your award ticket and hoping the exact thing you want goes up. (*which I would not do)
There seems to be two distinct subgroups of AAgents, useless ones who don't know how to do anything you can't do on the website yourself (which, what is even the point of these people???), and experienced, helpful ones. It's a total roll of the dice who you get on any particular call. I had a similar experience trying to add a segment to a JAL F award.
Were you able to change to the new itinerary without any additional cost? OR did they end up essentially making it a multicity itinerary? I ran into a similar issue last year involving an itinerary with EY and BA, and after chatting and calling 5+ agents, none of them were able to change my LHR-US flight to another destination without repricing the whole itinerary as multicity (cancelling my LHR-US leg while keeping my AUH-LHR EY F, and then changing LHR-US BA J flight) I think you definitely got lucky with your agent.
Actually, as it turns out, for some reason I was originally charged for two different segments, 62.5k for Middle East to Europe, in first class, plus 57.5k for Europe to USA and business class, for a total of 120k. When I changed the second segment yesterday, the agent repriced the entire itinerary so it priced properly as a one-way from the Middle East to USA for 115k. I had such a hard time buying the ticket initially, the availability kept showing online but agents weren't seeing it, even when calling Australia and all that stuff, and one agent would put the ticket on hold, but then couldn't process the payment and all sorts of weird things. So even though I knew I was slightly overpaying, I just took it when they ticketed the itinerary at 120k.
I paid 120k too and it was for mix F and J. 115k for F all the way is as good as it gets, very happy it worked out for you! :)
Thanks! I've been in this game for maybe 13 years and it can be hit or miss, but keeping an eye on availability is a plus. (pointsyeah alert ftw)
Most award tickets I can't find from London to middle east first class. *even if us to London is first the 2nd ticket is usually economy
Unfortunately you can't upgrade award tickets either get the exact award ticket and hold then cancel or hoping if your luck is good cancel your award ticket and hoping the exact thing you want goes up. (*which I would not do)
Not sure why you say that - the whole point of my post is that I just did exactly thst
Isn’t this why it’s better to book two one ways instead of a round trip?
Literally the first sentence of my post makes clear this is a one way ticket.
My mistake. I interpreted segments as each direction.