Award ticket rebooking after route suspension
Jul 2, 2015, 3:25 pm
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,552
AA has no ability to open award seats on BA - it is entirely up to BA. If BA does not have award space open then I seriously doubt that they would open seats because of an AA schedule change. Lately it seems that AA will only reschedule you on flights that have award space currently available.
If AA/US is the operating carrier of a cancelled flight , it is required by law to provide rebooking in line with EC261. If AA has to purchase a revenue ticket from another airline, that's its problem. It cannot just fob the passenger off
Jul 2, 2015, 3:29 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
EC 261/2004 definitely applies (unless Grexit really happens faster than one would have thought). While there is no compensation due, AA does owe OP's in-laws a reroute.
I would do the research and propose the alternative which suits (likely ATH-LHR-SEA) and then call AA and ask for that, expressly pointing out that this is covered by EC 261/2004. Will likely take a second-tier supervisor to make it happen. Just be politely persistent.
Bottom line is that they can't require your in-laws to pay the $111 extra, whatever makes it up, but it is unclear that they can't force the routing they have offered. Equally unclear that they must provide a hotel.
I would do the research and propose the alternative which suits (likely ATH-LHR-SEA) and then call AA and ask for that, expressly pointing out that this is covered by EC 261/2004. Will likely take a second-tier supervisor to make it happen. Just be politely persistent.
Bottom line is that they can't require your in-laws to pay the $111 extra, whatever makes it up, but it is unclear that they can't force the routing they have offered. Equally unclear that they must provide a hotel.
Last edited by Often1; Jul 2, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Jul 2, 2015, 3:57 pm
#18
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,552
The OP states that an overnight at LHR will be necessary - the duty of care will apply in that situation
Jul 9, 2015, 2:11 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 33
Thanks to all for your advice. I've coached them pretty thoroughly on how to handle this and what to cite (EC 261/2004), so we'll see how it turns out. They're very polite midwesterners and I'm afraid they might not stick to their guns when pressured.
I assume I probably can't call on their behalf? I've booked plenty of travel online for them with my own miles before, but haven't talked to an agent before re: a reservation for them.
I assume I probably can't call on their behalf? I've booked plenty of travel online for them with my own miles before, but haven't talked to an agent before re: a reservation for them.
Last edited by SeatacRefugee; Jul 9, 2015 at 2:12 pm Reason: clarity
Jul 9, 2015, 2:34 pm
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,552
Thanks to all for your advice. I've coached them pretty thoroughly on how to handle this and what to cite (EC 261/2004), so we'll see how it turns out. They're very polite midwesterners and I'm afraid they might not stick to their guns when pressured.
I assume I probably can't call on their behalf? I've booked plenty of travel online for them with my own miles before, but haven't talked to an agent before re: a reservation for them.
I assume I probably can't call on their behalf? I've booked plenty of travel online for them with my own miles before, but haven't talked to an agent before re: a reservation for them.
AA is paticularly bad at any form of data protection and verification that the person calling is authorised to act
Jul 9, 2015, 4:06 pm
#21
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,727
I always call on my mother's behalf. I always identify myself, saying I'm calling on behalf of my mother, and they never question talking to me.