For at least three days, an impossible airfare to book will not disappear. How is this acceptable?
Impossible Airfare To Book Will Not Disappear. How Is This Acceptable?
American Airlines has advertised an airfare of approximately $685.00 round trip between Atlanta and Brisbane in its Main Cabin — but every time I tried to book this airfare, I get to this point…
…and I wait at least a minute until I finally get to the following error message, which is not all that helpful:
Choose a different flight or fare
We’re sorry but at least one of the flights or fares you chose is no longer available.
This airfare — which was still being advertised as a bookable fare by American Airlines at the time this article was written — is available multiple times each day over multiple days…
…but no matter how diligent and conscientious I am, I cannot book this airfare. I keep getting the same error message — even when trying to book fares that are slightly more expensive.
Google Flights also advertises that this fare is available…
…and that it is available over multiple days as well.
I contacted American Airlines through their social media channels, via their own chat, and over the telephone with both customer service and web support. I spent hours communicating with them; but as helpful as they tried to be, no one was able to book this fare. Two of them told me that Qantas Airways will not release American Airlines flight 7263 from Los Angeles to Sydney — which is operated by Qantas Airways — but I still get the aforementioned error even if I avoid including that flight.
One agent suggested that I book the entire itinerary without Flight 7263 and contact Qantas Airways to round out the itinerary. I immediately thought of two problems with that suggestion: the itinerary will definitely cost significantly more than $685.00 if I followed that suggestion — and even if I were successful, that flight would not be on the same itinerary, which could potentially be a problem if any delays or cancellations occur.
Of course, American Airlines has no issue trying to upsell me to a business class ticket for $20,596.11. I am almost certain that fare could be booked with no problem.
Final Boarding Call
The mantra for a “mistake fare” is to not call the airline, because the fare will disappear quickly after employees of the airline are informed of the error…
…but this unbookable fare has been advertised on the official Internet web site of American Airlines for at least three days now at the time this article was written — and I believe this is actually a legitimate airfare and not a “mistake fare”. Anyone who is interested in this fare is unable to book it. This wastes time for the potential customer.
I can understand an error in technology or the person who input the information — but why is this airfare still being advertised? How is this acceptable?
I have not given up — yet, anyway…
Photograph ©2021 by Brian Cohen.
