A couple of weeks ago I was trying to book AA using my ANZ Visa card but on checking I found my booking was only pending. Assuming they were busy because of it being a sale I left it a few hours and then rang them. I did have to wait on hold for a long time but again there was a sale on and so be it.
When I got to an operator he was most helpful (and had a most gorgeous Indian accent...swoon). He explained that my credit card had been declined. I offered to try again but he said maybe better to use another credit card so I tried Brian's (after picking the lock on his wallet) and that worked fine. All booked thanks to Rashid.
Feeling a little puzzled I rang ANZ and they could see no reason why it was declined so I put it down to experience and wondered what my odds would be of getting Rashid if I rang back to say thank you. Not to good I decided.
OK back to the present and yesterday was booking Jetstar for the return leg of the same trip and what do you know? After finally getting all the way through to the payment page it kicked me out again so after a rather frustrating morning I tried Brian's again and through it went with no problems. I have had no problem using my card in Bali nor Perth nor online before so still puzzled I rang my daughter to boast about the cheap fare and whinge about my credit card. The same thing, she told me, had happened to her and her sister in law when booking on line for several flights across Europe, Hong Kong and Africa. On one airline only her credit card would work and on another only her sister in law's. Both worked fine with other airlines so who knows?
My point is this. If you are trying to book during a sale and manage to get through to payment and get kicked out don't waste time during which the cheap fares may go. Try another credit card. Also on AA it may seem that you have been successful but when you check your booking it may read "Pending payment" in which case ring AA and if you are lucky you may get to speak to Rashid.