I should know better: "refundable" means read the fare rules
Jul 15, 2016, 4:12 pm
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
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I should know better: "refundable" means read the fare rules
I bought a first class fare that said "Refundable" underneath the dollar amount. Sadly, the fare rules disagree. I should have known better, it's a $200 mistake to change to an earlier flight, or cross fingers and hope for a $75 SDFC.
Last edited by iplaybass; Jul 15, 2016 at 4:15 pm Reason: Added information
Jul 15, 2016, 4:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
I bought tickets on AA from US to London, right in the middle of the Brexit confusion, and by the next day prices had fallen by $250 per person. I called to cancel (and then rebook), turns out you can cancel within 24 hours but then you also have to fill out a refund request (also within 24 hours). Two separate forms. Then the refund forms weren't recognized, I had to resubmit with additional documentation. My credit card charge still went through, it took 2 weeks of calling to get it refunded. I really think they are hoping that people won't jump through all the hoops.
Jul 15, 2016, 6:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Was this a one-way trip? If not, were both the outbound and return legs labeled as "Refundable?"
Jul 15, 2016, 6:41 pm
#4
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OP - It would be helpful if you would provide the full fare basis and the full language of the refund provision of the fare rules. It would also help to know if there was more than one segment (onward or return) and whether those segments were non-refundable.
Jul 15, 2016, 7:31 pm
#5
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AA has separated canceling a reservation and getting a refund into two entirely separate processes. Easy enough to cancel, of course. Just do it online or call. To get a refund, you fill out an online form and can expect the refund to hit your credit card in about two months.
Jul 15, 2016, 8:30 pm
#6
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AA has separated canceling a reservation and getting a refund into two entirely separate processes. Easy enough to cancel, of course. Just do it online or call. To get a refund, you fill out an online form and can expect the refund to hit your credit card in about two months.
Jul 15, 2016, 8:57 pm
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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Of course it's asinine that AA can't put change/refund fees in a simple table and have to bury them in indecipherable jargon.
Jul 16, 2016, 12:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
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What exactly is "going on?" The most restrictive rules always apply, so if one leg is nonrefundable the whole itinerary is the same. However, we don't actually know what the situation is without more details from the OP.
Jul 16, 2016, 12:43 pm
#11
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Agreed - I'm surmising he bought a ticket that was refundable, but with a penalty. They're not common, but they do certainly exist, mostly on international tickets.
Jul 16, 2016, 1:05 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
For example - a cheap LHR-JFK fare states
Originally Posted by AA fare rules
WHEN COMBINING A REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A NON-REFUNDABLE FARE
1.THE AMOUNT PAID ON THE REFUNDABLE FARE COMPONENT IS REFUNDED LESS ANY APPLICABLE PENALTY
2.THE AMOUNT PAID ON THE NON-REFUNDABLE FARE COMPONENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED
1.THE AMOUNT PAID ON THE REFUNDABLE FARE COMPONENT IS REFUNDED LESS ANY APPLICABLE PENALTY
2.THE AMOUNT PAID ON THE NON-REFUNDABLE FARE COMPONENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED
Jul 16, 2016, 1:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 12
I know this is a forum of frequent travelers who know the subtleties, but lots of people travel only once a year or less. AA has an obligation to not confuse those less frequent travelers.
Refundable should mean:
1. Fully refundable without any penalty or fee
2. Refund can be obtained quickly and easily online, at the time of the cancellation
If AA handles it any other way, we should all be outraged.
Refundable should mean:
1. Fully refundable without any penalty or fee
2. Refund can be obtained quickly and easily online, at the time of the cancellation
If AA handles it any other way, we should all be outraged.
Jul 16, 2016, 2:35 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,413
Agree with others -- I have no idea how AA thinks normal travelers would think that refundable means anything other than fully refundable.