Curious question about AA nonrev booking

Hi everyone,

I'm a relatively new AA employee and just started using the travel planner for booking flights, and read the travel guide on the ins and outs. But I had a question about something I noticed getting a family member a non-rev trip over this holiday weekend and I was curious and thought I would ask the experts.

Looking at the busy weekend I began studying the priority lists after checking-in my family member traveling. I noticed the available seats and eyeballed the other non-revs on the list and trying to figure out whether my pax was going to make it on. I noticed a family of 4 traveling out the same flight as my pax, and I started checking other flights later in the day to and from the same destination.

I then noticed the same non-rev family of 4 was booked and checked in on every other flight for the rest of the day, and also on every flight the next day. Probably booked and checked-in on 8 flights - definitely the same folks. When the gate started working the priority list for the original flight, the non-rev family of 4 was a no-response when the gate called them for seats and others down the priority list got on the flight.

Then, I was checking for my persons return trip and noticed the same non-rev family of 4 booked and checked-in on at least 8 of the days return flights (split between nearby departing airports and returning here).

I am puzzled why they would do this?

I am also trying to also learn how best to use my nonrev privileges, wondering if there is something they were doing that makes sense (although it escapes me at this point).

I guess they were doing this to have the pick of flights without having to show-up at the airport or having to take a flight they didn't want they didn't want? Or gaming their best option for 1st (holiday flights are so full that would never happen).

I am not understanding why you'd simultaneously book and check-in on 16 different flights? I am puzzled that AA's non-rev travel planner system would allow this as I never thought until now you could hold res/check-in on many disconnected flights at one time (I know the rev system flags and prevents this). Not that it bothers me all that much I am just puzzled why they'd do this?

I had not thought of doing it myself, but then again I have zero experience booking personal non-rev travel.

Thoughts or comments from the experts?

Hi and welcome!

Booking multiple flights on the same route is a no-no and is against policy. Generally you should book the first flight you intend to travel on. Then, if you do not get on that flight, the agent will roll you over to the next flight while retaining your original check in time. Most times the agent will verify that you are there and cancel your listing if you are not there. Occasionally, if the list is really long, the agent will roll over everyone but this is not something that cannot be counted on.