Avios reward booking cancellation fees on AA/US
Jul 27, 2014, 8:00 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
Avios reward booking cancellation fees on AA/US
Hi there,
Question 1: I was wondering what the situation is regarding the cancellation fees for lowly OWS on AA or US domestics.
I have a flight booked with Avios (more than 24 hours out) and I need to cancel it. I only paid $2.50 in fees for the booking. According to this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...me-change.html and this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-avios.html I think I would not incur additional charges, but want to check this with you, the more experienced flyers.
Also, how fast will the Avios get redeposited to my account?
Question 2: What is the official BA policy on cancellation due to time changes? I had a time change of 15 minutes and they told me that I could not cancel for free, and on different occasion I experienced a 4 hour change of flight time and they rebooked me for free. What is the policy (eg how many minutes/hours must the change be in order to be able to freely cancel the booking)?
Thanks for your help
Question 1: I was wondering what the situation is regarding the cancellation fees for lowly OWS on AA or US domestics.
I have a flight booked with Avios (more than 24 hours out) and I need to cancel it. I only paid $2.50 in fees for the booking. According to this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...me-change.html and this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-avios.html I think I would not incur additional charges, but want to check this with you, the more experienced flyers.
Also, how fast will the Avios get redeposited to my account?
Question 2: What is the official BA policy on cancellation due to time changes? I had a time change of 15 minutes and they told me that I could not cancel for free, and on different occasion I experienced a 4 hour change of flight time and they rebooked me for free. What is the policy (eg how many minutes/hours must the change be in order to be able to freely cancel the booking)?
Thanks for your help
Sep 18, 2014, 3:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: RZE, EWR
Programs: UA, IHG Platinum, BW Diamond, Carlson Gold, Accor Platinum,
Posts: 232
Hi there,
Question 1: I was wondering what the situation is regarding the cancellation fees for lowly OWS on AA or US domestics.
I have a flight booked with Avios (more than 24 hours out) and I need to cancel it. I only paid $2.50 in fees for the booking. According to this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...me-change.html and this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-avios.html I think I would not incur additional charges, but want to check this with you, the more experienced flyers.
Also, how fast will the Avios get redeposited to my account?
Question 2: What is the official BA policy on cancellation due to time changes? I had a time change of 15 minutes and they told me that I could not cancel for free, and on different occasion I experienced a 4 hour change of flight time and they rebooked me for free. What is the policy (eg how many minutes/hours must the change be in order to be able to freely cancel the booking)?
Thanks for your help
Question 1: I was wondering what the situation is regarding the cancellation fees for lowly OWS on AA or US domestics.
I have a flight booked with Avios (more than 24 hours out) and I need to cancel it. I only paid $2.50 in fees for the booking. According to this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...me-change.html and this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-avios.html I think I would not incur additional charges, but want to check this with you, the more experienced flyers.
Also, how fast will the Avios get redeposited to my account?
Question 2: What is the official BA policy on cancellation due to time changes? I had a time change of 15 minutes and they told me that I could not cancel for free, and on different occasion I experienced a 4 hour change of flight time and they rebooked me for free. What is the policy (eg how many minutes/hours must the change be in order to be able to freely cancel the booking)?
Thanks for your help
Sep 27, 2014, 8:31 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: RZE, EWR
Programs: UA, IHG Platinum, BW Diamond, Carlson Gold, Accor Platinum,
Posts: 232
I just totally screwed myself thinking that I can cancel avios flight any time even few hours before departure if I forfeit taxes and fees. It's 5 hours left before the flight
, agent won't refund avios over the phine, also can't do it online. I'm so sad. I have a returning flight as a separate reservation if I combine it would I somehow be able to cancel both and refund avios altogether. I'm sure the anewer will be no but looking for some options here.
, agent won't refund avios over the phine, also can't do it online. I'm so sad. I have a returning flight as a separate reservation if I combine it would I somehow be able to cancel both and refund avios altogether. I'm sure the anewer will be no but looking for some options here.
Oct 3, 2014, 2:42 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
Just called BA and was told fee applies to get Avios back - ie. not just forfeiture of taxes. Is the tax forfeiture an informal procedure or is it written down somewhere?
Oct 3, 2014, 3:54 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
When you cancel, the Avios are refunded minus the lower of the service charge or the taxes/cash paid.
Nov 19, 2014, 1:39 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
Has anyone noticed this change recently? Note this was never a rule, just an anomaly of the system. But I think I am now seeing a $40 charge and a refund of the lower taxes when I cancel online.
Nov 19, 2014, 4:25 pm
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
Nov 19, 2014, 4:29 pm
#13
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
If you cancel online there is no mechanism to take a payment so I don't know how they would levy a $40 charge unless they completely change the cancellation proces.
Nov 19, 2014, 5:03 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
I have noticed they seem to be charging the credit card that was originally used for the booking. It's a little hard for me to tell as I have made a lot of recent bookings and canceled a lot of others so have a ton of charges. But as best I can tell those I have canceled I have been hit with $40 automatic charges for
Dec 3, 2014, 4:43 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC *P
Posts: 1,812
Sorry to resurrect an old thread.
For a cancellation of an AA booking with Avios points outside the 24-hour window, is the thinking that we can cancel without a penalty and have the Avios redeposited?
Thanks a lot.
For a cancellation of an AA booking with Avios points outside the 24-hour window, is the thinking that we can cancel without a penalty and have the Avios redeposited?
Thanks a lot.