Other Credit Card Programs - TYN did not actually purchase the ticket

Just over a month ago I purchased a ticket for my bro using my TY points - while I was given an AA confirmation number and itn etc.; however, it appears that TYN/Expedia did not purchase the ticket. Turned out my bro cannot make the trip and called AA to cancel, only to by told that he did not have a purchased ticket and therefore his res was cancelled.

This may all work out for us in the end (I will have to call TYN tomorrow as they close at 9:00 pm). I like TYN but cant understand how this happened - this time no harm was done as long as they credit the points back to my account, but can imagine a multitude of scenarios where I showed up at the airport only to be told I do not have a ticket.

I have had quite a few tickets via TYN for myself but first time doing it for someone else so I am not sure if this played into it.

In the future, I will confirm with the airline directly any tickets issued via TYN/Expedia.

Just over a month ago I purchased a ticket for my bro using my TY points - while I was given an AA confirmation number and itn etc.; however, it appears that TYN/Expedia did not purchase the ticket. Turned out my bro cannot make the trip and called AA to cancel, only to by told that he did not have a purchased ticket and therefore his res was cancelled.

This may all work out for us in the end (I will have to call TYN tomorrow as they close at 9:00 pm). I like TYN but cant understand how this happened - this time no harm was done as long as they credit the points back to my account, but can imagine a multitude of scenarios where I showed up at the airport only to be told I do not have a ticket.

I have had quite a few tickets via TYN for myself but first time doing it for someone else so I am not sure if this played into it.

In the future, I will confirm with the airline directly any tickets issued via TYN/Expedia.
If you go to aa.com, and enter the locator code, your itn should appear--if it doesn't then the ticket doesn't exist.:)
[If you or your brother have aa frequent flyer numbers and you link any ticket (no matter where it was purchased) to a ff number, you or your brother will get mileage credit (which never hurts.:))

I did as you suggested and sure enough no ticket. As long as I get the points back then it's all good. This could have turned out real messy if he was still going on the trip.


Edit to add: Bro is an flying newb.... he gave me the wrong record locater for a flight he had booked earlier the same day just to check out the fares. The flight I booked for via TYN was was indeed valid so no screw up on TYN end.

Was it a refundable fare? I seem to remember when people were booking TY tickets to get the credit they always wanted to make sure the fare was not refundable as it would go back to TY and not be issued as a credit to be used later. I am pretty sure TYN does purchase the tickets.

...The flight I booked for via TYN was was indeed valid so no screw up on TYN end.

If I cancel my flight, will I lose my ThankYou Points?
Once an airline ticket reservation has been booked, cancellation is not permitted and the points will not be returned. Only one change to the travel booking may be allowed and the ticket value will be applied to a future purchase with the same airline, less the airline change fee and the possibility of a fare difference.

https://www.thankyou.com/helpTopic.jspx?itemId=10012&topic=Travel%2BRewards#10278

If I cancel my flight, will I lose my ThankYou Points?
Once an airline ticket reservation has been booked, cancellation is not permitted and the points will not be returned. Only one change to the travel booking may be allowed and the ticket value will be applied to a future purchase with the same airline, less the airline change fee and the possibility of a fare difference.

https://www.thankyou.com/helpTopic.jspx?itemId=10012&topic=Travel%2BRewards#10278

OP has a valid ticket. If he still wants to cancel, he can either call TYN or call airline to do it, and will pay the appropriate change fee when he rebooks.

AA does not seem to charge "taking ownership" fee, versus CO, DL which charge $25 to "take ownership" from Expedia when the airlines handle the rebooking.

...
AA does not seem to charge "taking ownership" fee, versus CO, DL which charge $25 to "take ownership" from Expedia when the airlines handle the rebooking.

I had been charged $20 external ticketing fee this year, for having AA handle TYN tickets.

The fee is not consistently charged, however.

If I cancel my flight, will I lose my ThankYou Points?
Once an airline ticket reservation has been booked, cancellation is not permitted and the points will not be returned. Only one change to the travel booking may be allowed and the ticket value will be applied to a future purchase with the same airline, less the airline change fee and the possibility of a fare difference.

https://www.thankyou.com/helpTopic.jspx?itemId=10012&topic=Travel%2BRewards#10278

Understood.