Flexible return date/change fees?
Aug 6, 2017, 9:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
Flexible return date/change fees?
I am going on an extended trip to NZ but am really unsure of when I intend to return. However, booking the return trip is minimally more expensive than just buying a 1way (plus I think for visa I need to have the return flight booked/purchased).
The return is probably 4-6 months after my flight in. Any way to have flexibility built in? A quick search looks like change fees on AA are rather astronomical...
How do people normally handle this sort of a situation? Just pick a date and stick to it for better or worse?
The return is probably 4-6 months after my flight in. Any way to have flexibility built in? A quick search looks like change fees on AA are rather astronomical...
How do people normally handle this sort of a situation? Just pick a date and stick to it for better or worse?
Aug 6, 2017, 10:05 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
When I look on aa.com it shows that the "Main cabin" ticket is Refundable, but I can't find details on what that actually means?
Then on their fees, it seems all of their tickets have the change fees unless I'm missing something?
Then on their fees, it seems all of their tickets have the change fees unless I'm missing something?
Aug 6, 2017, 10:11 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Yeah, unfortunately that's sometimes the case -- flexible tickets can be more than the cost of the original ticket + 2 or 3 changes. Should probably just make your best guess as to when you'll return, and definitely shop around -- other airlines might offer cheaper flexible tickets!
Aug 6, 2017, 10:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Another (somewhat riskier) option just occurred to me -- flying US to New Zealand is 40,000 AA miles each way in economy, and purchasing 80000 miles costs about $1540 at the moment. You can change the dates on award tickets at no cost as long as the origin and destination remain the same. The only risk, of course, is that the cheap award bucket won't be available on the date you want to change to.
Aug 6, 2017, 1:23 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
Another (somewhat riskier) option just occurred to me -- flying US to New Zealand is 40,000 AA miles each way in economy, and purchasing 80000 miles costs about $1540 at the moment. You can change the dates on award tickets at no cost as long as the origin and destination remain the same. The only risk, of course, is that the cheap award bucket won't be available on the date you want to change to.
Aug 6, 2017, 1:34 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Your risk tolerance might depend on how much flexibility you have on your return -- for instance, if you can come back any day within a 1-2 week window (vs. finding out that you must be back in the states on a specific day) -- and if your return will be during low season when more award tickets are likely to be available.
Aug 6, 2017, 1:41 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
Nope, at the MileSAAver level (i.e. the 40k level in this case) it's just like any other economy ticket.
Your risk tolerance might depend on how much flexibility you have on your return -- for instance, if you can come back any day within a 1-2 week window (vs. finding out that you must be back in the states on a specific day) -- and if your return will be during low season when more award tickets are likely to be available.
Your risk tolerance might depend on how much flexibility you have on your return -- for instance, if you can come back any day within a 1-2 week window (vs. finding out that you must be back in the states on a specific day) -- and if your return will be during low season when more award tickets are likely to be available.
Aug 6, 2017, 2:00 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
Just registered for an AAvantage account, and I see this:
We're sorry! You have a new account and cannot currently buy, gift or share miles. Please try again later.
Is that just a timeframe thing, or do I have to fly/earn before I can buy or something?
Also looks like it's 85k roundtrip when I look at my options, but it is a bit scary as dates seem to randomly jump up to 70 and even 90k (for one leg of the journey)
We're sorry! You have a new account and cannot currently buy, gift or share miles. Please try again later.
Is that just a timeframe thing, or do I have to fly/earn before I can buy or something?
Also looks like it's 85k roundtrip when I look at my options, but it is a bit scary as dates seem to randomly jump up to 70 and even 90k (for one leg of the journey)
Aug 6, 2017, 2:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,935
Just registered for an AAvantage account, and I see this:
We're sorry! You have a new account and cannot currently buy, gift or share miles. Please try again later.
Is that just a timeframe thing, or do I have to fly/earn before I can buy or something?
Also looks like it's 85k roundtrip when I look at my options, but it is a bit scary as dates seem to randomly jump up to 70 and even 90k (for one leg of the journey)
We're sorry! You have a new account and cannot currently buy, gift or share miles. Please try again later.
Is that just a timeframe thing, or do I have to fly/earn before I can buy or something?
Also looks like it's 85k roundtrip when I look at my options, but it is a bit scary as dates seem to randomly jump up to 70 and even 90k (for one leg of the journey)
AAdvantage accounts less than 30 days old are not permitted to Buy or Gift Miles
so this pushes you out of the current sale (though there may be another along soon). If you make a dummy booking then before purchasing you can read all the fare rules. Usually the return can be changed, after the outbound has been flown, without a fare change as long as there are seats in that fare code. You must still pay the change fee but, if you are flexible enough, that is all.
Edit: my last comments apply to purchased fares.
Aug 6, 2017, 2:27 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
When I go through their booking after selecting both flights, the left side says:
Flight changes allowed (fee may apply)
FOR EXAMPLE, if I booked a return in early Feb 2018 now, but then in late jan I am "actually it needs to be end of feb", wouldn't the price of that be more, simply because I am closer to the date?
If I do the "fully flexible" it's many thousands $ but states:
No change fee (fare difference applies)
Aug 6, 2017, 2:30 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,723
I am going on an extended trip to NZ but am really unsure of when I intend to return. However, booking the return trip is minimally more expensive than just buying a 1way (plus I think for visa I need to have the return flight booked/purchased).
The return is probably 4-6 months after my flight in. Any way to have flexibility built in? A quick search looks like change fees on AA are rather astronomical...
How do people normally handle this sort of a situation? Just pick a date and stick to it for better or worse?
The return is probably 4-6 months after my flight in. Any way to have flexibility built in? A quick search looks like change fees on AA are rather astronomical...
How do people normally handle this sort of a situation? Just pick a date and stick to it for better or worse?
The cheapest fare showing on Expert Flyer ( for February ) shows a change fee of $100 and a $200 cancellation penalty
That fare does have a 6 month maximum stay
The biggest price jump seems to be if you choose to stay > 6 months where the cheapest 12 month stay fare is about $800 more than the cheapest 6 month stay
With a $100 change fee, just book a date that may be ok and then pay the $100 ( and fare difference ) if you need to change the date later
Just make sure to make the change before the date of the flight that is booked, since there is a $500 no-show fee
Last edited by Dave Noble; Aug 6, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Aug 6, 2017, 2:34 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
The fare rules associated with your ticket will specify the exact amount of the change; the only reason it says "may apply" and "up to $750" is just to cover all their possible bases. Once you actually have a ticket, whether or not fees apply, and the amount of the fees, are locked in.
Aug 6, 2017, 2:37 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,935
Wait sorry this confuses me. Are you talking about bought tickets for $$$?
When I go through their booking after selecting both flights, the left side says:
How would I know what that flight would be? And what about price difference between the one I booked and an alternative?
FOR EXAMPLE, if I booked a return in early Feb 2018 now, but then in late jan I am "actually it needs to be end of feb", wouldn't the price of that be more, simply because I am closer to the date?
If I do the "fully flexible" it's many thousands $ but states:
It sucks not knowing what sort of fees you might be looking at... "fee may apply" just sucks! Especially the "may" part
When I go through their booking after selecting both flights, the left side says:
How would I know what that flight would be? And what about price difference between the one I booked and an alternative?
FOR EXAMPLE, if I booked a return in early Feb 2018 now, but then in late jan I am "actually it needs to be end of feb", wouldn't the price of that be more, simply because I am closer to the date?
If I do the "fully flexible" it's many thousands $ but states:
It sucks not knowing what sort of fees you might be looking at... "fee may apply" just sucks! Especially the "may" part
The bit about no fare increase if the same fare class is available is what matters. You might have to have flexibility and you should check the fare conditions to make sure the words are in there.