Have to cancel flight; what now? Refunds, reticketing, validity issues. [merged]
Jul 28, 2009, 8:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
Have to cancel flight; what now? Refunds, reticketing, validity issues. [merged]
Have four tickets to Maui and family matters have come up that will not allow us go. If I cancel the flight am I out the entire cost of the tickets or can I use the some of what I paid for the tickets for a future flight? These are non-refundable coach tickets that I was going to try to upgrade with miles and cash later. Thanks for any help you can give.
Jul 28, 2009, 8:12 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
What do the fare rules for your ticket say? More than likely you will lose $150/ticket, but the fare rules will know for sure. The remaining value will have to be used within 1 year.
If it is not very soon, wait. If there is a schedule change you may be able to get them to refund the full price. But make sure to do the cancellation prior to the time of the first flight, or you will lose it all.
Cheers.
If it is not very soon, wait. If there is a schedule change you may be able to get them to refund the full price. But make sure to do the cancellation prior to the time of the first flight, or you will lose it all.
Cheers.
Jul 28, 2009, 8:36 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
What do the fare rules for your ticket say? More than likely you will lose $150/ticket, but the fare rules will know for sure. The remaining value will have to be used within 1 year.
If it is not very soon, wait. If there is a schedule change you may be able to get them to refund the full price. But make sure to do the cancellation prior to the time of the first flight, or you will lose it all.
Cheers.
If it is not very soon, wait. If there is a schedule change you may be able to get them to refund the full price. But make sure to do the cancellation prior to the time of the first flight, or you will lose it all.
Cheers.
I am pretty sure it said what you said about the $150/ticket. One more question. Since I purchased all four tickets on my credit card, after I cancel the tickets I can use the remaining balance for myself or my wife or anyone else? I don't have to use the balance in the names of the people for which they were originally ticketed? That's two questions isn't it? Wait that three!
Thanks again for your help as I am out a decent chunk of change.
Jul 28, 2009, 8:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Tulsa OK USA
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 620
I would wait till the last possible day to cancel those tickets.
My husband often has to change travel plans, but he always buys the least expensive tickets. Even with the $150 change fee, he comes out ahead. But often, there is a schedule change which will allow you to get your money back. It doesn't have to be a huge change, a couple of hours usually is sufficient.
My husband often has to change travel plans, but he always buys the least expensive tickets. Even with the $150 change fee, he comes out ahead. But often, there is a schedule change which will allow you to get your money back. It doesn't have to be a huge change, a couple of hours usually is sufficient.
Jul 28, 2009, 8:51 pm
#5
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
cancel before the flight time.....keep the ticket confirm w/ the ticket numbers....the amt you paid will be available for a year to use on new tickets....the credit will be for the name on each ticket....there is a $150 fee/ticket when you buy the new tickets....if there is money left, a voucher is sent for the remainder.....my wife and i did this w/ tickets we had to cancel last xmas....we have flown on tickets bought w/the money left after the fee and also have vouchers for ~ $25 ea left....
as far as i know this policy is still the same....good luck...
as far as i know this policy is still the same....good luck...
Jul 28, 2009, 9:09 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
1) Wait till the last possible time to cancel, in hope of there may be schedule change that is long enough (I believe 90 min for domestic flights) that warrants a refund with fee waived. The refund will go back to the original form of payment, in this case, it is your credit card that paid for all 4 tickets.
But you MUST cancel BEFORE the flight (better yet, to do it the day before to avoid snafu). Else you lose all the value.
2) If you cancel the tickets - the value of EACH ticket is stored in the ticket number (Not the PNR). The value minus the ticket change fee (most likely is $150 in your case) is good towards purchasing a new ticket within 1 year from the date of Original Purchase Date. (NOT the cancellation date, NOT the original travel date.) The new itinerary does not need to be within the 1 year window, but the purchase of the new ticket MUST happen before the 1 year window is up.
The first purchase using a cancelled ticket credit, must be in the original passenger's name. i.e. you cannot use your wife's cancelled ticket to buy ticket for you or anyone else.
3) After the deduction of the $150 and the purchase of a new ticket, if there is residual value, a residual value voucher will be issued in the original passenger's name. So you will have 4 vouchers for 4 tickets in 4 names if all 4 purchases have residual value.
4) The residual value voucher derived from 3), can be used to purchase ticket in anyone's name, PROVIDED the owner of the voucher, i.e. the person whose name is on the voucher, is PRESENT in person at ticketing.
It is not clear whether you can combine the residual value vouchers to purchase 1 ticket.
As recent as in March, the reticketing does not incur counter ticketing fee - you only pay the $150 ticket change fee which is directly deducted from the cancelled ticket value.
Subsequent reticketing from residual value voucher also does not incur counter ticketing fee.
Of course the last 2 statements can become invalid if and when AA changes its policy.
Hope the above outlines help you.
But you MUST cancel BEFORE the flight (better yet, to do it the day before to avoid snafu). Else you lose all the value.
2) If you cancel the tickets - the value of EACH ticket is stored in the ticket number (Not the PNR). The value minus the ticket change fee (most likely is $150 in your case) is good towards purchasing a new ticket within 1 year from the date of Original Purchase Date. (NOT the cancellation date, NOT the original travel date.) The new itinerary does not need to be within the 1 year window, but the purchase of the new ticket MUST happen before the 1 year window is up.
The first purchase using a cancelled ticket credit, must be in the original passenger's name. i.e. you cannot use your wife's cancelled ticket to buy ticket for you or anyone else.
3) After the deduction of the $150 and the purchase of a new ticket, if there is residual value, a residual value voucher will be issued in the original passenger's name. So you will have 4 vouchers for 4 tickets in 4 names if all 4 purchases have residual value.
4) The residual value voucher derived from 3), can be used to purchase ticket in anyone's name, PROVIDED the owner of the voucher, i.e. the person whose name is on the voucher, is PRESENT in person at ticketing.
It is not clear whether you can combine the residual value vouchers to purchase 1 ticket.
As recent as in March, the reticketing does not incur counter ticketing fee - you only pay the $150 ticket change fee which is directly deducted from the cancelled ticket value.
Subsequent reticketing from residual value voucher also does not incur counter ticketing fee.
Of course the last 2 statements can become invalid if and when AA changes its policy.
Hope the above outlines help you.
Last edited by Happy; Jul 28, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Jul 28, 2009, 9:26 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
1) Wait till the last possible time to cancel, in hope of there may be schedule change that is long enough (I believe 90 min for domestic flights) that warrants a refund with fee waived. The refund will go back to the original form of payment, in this case, it is your credit card that paid for all 4 tickets.
But you MUST cancel BEFORE the flight (better yet, to do it the day before to avoid snafu). Else you lose all the value.
2) If you cancel the tickets - the value of EACH ticket is stored in the ticket number (Not the PNR). The value minus the ticket change fee (most likely is $150 in your case) is good towards purchasing a new ticket within 1 year from the date of Original Purchase Date. (NOT the cancellation date, NOT the original travel date.) The new itinerary does not need to be within the 1 year window, but the purchase of the new ticket MUST happen before the 1 year window is up.
The first purchase using a cancelled ticket credit, must be in the original passenger's name. i.e. you cannot use your wife's cancelled ticket to buy ticket for you or anyone else.
3) After the deduction of the $150 and the purchase of a new ticket, if there is residual value, a residual value voucher will be issued in the original passenger's name. So you will have 4 vouchers for 4 tickets in 4 names if all 4 purchases have residual value.
4) The residual value voucher derived from 3), can be used to purchase ticket in anyone's name, PROVIDED the owner of the voucher, i.e. the person whose name is on the voucher, is PRESENT in person at ticketing.
It is not clear whether you can combine the residual value vouchers to purchase 1 ticket.
As recent as in March, the reticketing does not incur counter ticketing fee - you only pay the $150 ticket change fee which is directly deducted from the cancelled ticket value.
Subsequent reticketing from residual value voucher also does not incur counter ticketing fee.
Of course the last 2 statements can become invalid if and when AA changes its policy.
Hope the above outlines help you.
But you MUST cancel BEFORE the flight (better yet, to do it the day before to avoid snafu). Else you lose all the value.
2) If you cancel the tickets - the value of EACH ticket is stored in the ticket number (Not the PNR). The value minus the ticket change fee (most likely is $150 in your case) is good towards purchasing a new ticket within 1 year from the date of Original Purchase Date. (NOT the cancellation date, NOT the original travel date.) The new itinerary does not need to be within the 1 year window, but the purchase of the new ticket MUST happen before the 1 year window is up.
The first purchase using a cancelled ticket credit, must be in the original passenger's name. i.e. you cannot use your wife's cancelled ticket to buy ticket for you or anyone else.
3) After the deduction of the $150 and the purchase of a new ticket, if there is residual value, a residual value voucher will be issued in the original passenger's name. So you will have 4 vouchers for 4 tickets in 4 names if all 4 purchases have residual value.
4) The residual value voucher derived from 3), can be used to purchase ticket in anyone's name, PROVIDED the owner of the voucher, i.e. the person whose name is on the voucher, is PRESENT in person at ticketing.
It is not clear whether you can combine the residual value vouchers to purchase 1 ticket.
As recent as in March, the reticketing does not incur counter ticketing fee - you only pay the $150 ticket change fee which is directly deducted from the cancelled ticket value.
Subsequent reticketing from residual value voucher also does not incur counter ticketing fee.
Of course the last 2 statements can become invalid if and when AA changes its policy.
Hope the above outlines help you.
Jul 29, 2009, 10:26 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 325
1) . . . 2) If you cancel the tickets - the value of EACH ticket is stored in the ticket number (Not the PNR). The value minus the ticket change fee (most likely is $150 in your case) is good towards purchasing a new ticket within 1 year from the date of Original Purchase Date. (NOT the cancellation date, NOT the original travel date.) The new itinerary does not need to be within the 1 year window, but the purchase of the new ticket MUST happen before the 1 year window is up. . . .
Of course, AA may not enforce this limitation, but it is better to be prepared with replacement itinerary that meets the stated requirements. -- Suzanne
Jul 29, 2009, 12:25 pm
#9
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Thanks to all for the info - I've added it and a link to this thread to the FAQ entry on:
• How do I change or cancel my reservation?
I'll continue to follow this thread for a resolution of the timing issue, but the AA Refund FAQ (already linked from our FAQ entry) does, indeed, indicate that travel must commence within one year of the original issue date.
• How do I change or cancel my reservation?
I'll continue to follow this thread for a resolution of the timing issue, but the AA Refund FAQ (already linked from our FAQ entry) does, indeed, indicate that travel must commence within one year of the original issue date.
Jul 29, 2009, 12:46 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
I think the timing may be more limited than you stated. According to the AA website: "Travel on such reissued tickets [i.e., those issued with the credit from the cancelled nonrefundable ticket] (or subsequently reissued tickets) must commence no later than one year from the date of issue of the original ticket. . . . All travel on such reissued tickets (or subsequently reissued tickets) must be completed no more than one year from the first date of travel on the original ticket or sooner if required by the tickets' fare rules."
Of course, AA may not enforce this limitation, but it is better to be prepared with replacement itinerary that meets the stated requirements. -- Suzanne
Of course, AA may not enforce this limitation, but it is better to be prepared with replacement itinerary that meets the stated requirements. -- Suzanne
Jul 29, 2009, 2:02 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
I think the timing may be more limited than you stated. According to the AA website: "Travel on such reissued tickets [i.e., those issued with the credit from the cancelled nonrefundable ticket] (or subsequently reissued tickets) must commence no later than one year from the date of issue of the original ticket. . . . All travel on such reissued tickets (or subsequently reissued tickets) must be completed no more than one year from the first date of travel on the original ticket or sooner if required by the tickets' fare rules."
Of course, AA may not enforce this limitation, but it is better to be prepared with replacement itinerary that meets the stated requirements. -- Suzanne
Of course, AA may not enforce this limitation, but it is better to be prepared with replacement itinerary that meets the stated requirements. -- Suzanne
Last edited by Happy; Jul 29, 2009 at 2:42 pm Reason: correct typo
Jul 29, 2009, 2:07 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 536
In this case, there might be a change of policy since my last booking in this way. A few months I booked a ticket to travel 2 months AFTER my voucher expired and was ticketed without any issue. Got a new residual voucher with a new expiration date 1 year out as well. Travel has since finished w/o any hint about invalid.
Jul 29, 2009, 2:20 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,754
The timeline was, E-ticket was issued in July. Rebooking for a new trip was made in June next year, for travel in Sept - that was 2 months AFTER the ticketing date of the original E-Ticket. Note: the rebooking was made PRIOR the 1 year mark, but the actual travel did not commence until 2 months AFTER the 1 year mark. A voucher was then issued on the residual value.
Subsequently, the voucher was used again to book another trip. That also generated a new voucher with new expiration date 1 year out.
The above does not match with what AA website languages said, that ANY subsequent tickets from a cancelled e-ticket, must finish travels within the 1 year mark from the original e-ticket date.
Is that still Apple to Orange to you?
Last edited by Happy; Jul 29, 2009 at 2:40 pm Reason: adding more precise information
Jul 29, 2009, 2:35 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 536
In this case, there might be a change of policy since my last booking done in this way. A few months I booked a ticket to travel 2 months AFTER my voucher expired and was ticketed without any issue. Got a new residual voucher with a new expiration date 1 year out as well. Travel has since finished w/o any hint about invalid.
Nope. I am saying my FIRST rebooking against a cancelled E-Ticket, was made for a trip AFTER the original e-ticket's ticketing date.
The timeline was, E-ticket was issued in July. Rebooking for a new trip was made in June next year, for travel in Sept - that was 2 months AFTER the ticketing date of the original E-Ticket. Note: the rebooking was made PRIOR the 1 year mark, but the actual travel did not commence until 2 months AFTER the 1 year mark. A voucher was then issued on the residual value.
Subsequently, the voucher was used again to book another trip. That also generated a new voucher with new expiration date 1 year out.
The above does not match with what AA website languages said, that ANY subsequent tickets from a cancelled e-ticket, must finish travels within the 1 year mark from the original e-ticket date.
Is that still Apple to Orange to you?
The timeline was, E-ticket was issued in July. Rebooking for a new trip was made in June next year, for travel in Sept - that was 2 months AFTER the ticketing date of the original E-Ticket. Note: the rebooking was made PRIOR the 1 year mark, but the actual travel did not commence until 2 months AFTER the 1 year mark. A voucher was then issued on the residual value.
Subsequently, the voucher was used again to book another trip. That also generated a new voucher with new expiration date 1 year out.
The above does not match with what AA website languages said, that ANY subsequent tickets from a cancelled e-ticket, must finish travels within the 1 year mark from the original e-ticket date.
Is that still Apple to Orange to you?
Jan 23, 2010, 2:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
Newbie refund question (canceling a non-ref ticket)
Dear wise AA folk, may I ask for your indulgence to help a newbie from the UK! (I have checked the FAQ)
I am about to book a pair of tickets MIA-SJO in July of this year. It's an extension of a LHR-MIA redemption on BA (the BA Amex 2-4-1 rules won't allow me to add the MIA-SJO sector).
There is an outside chance that work will mean I have to cancel the trip.
In Europe, I would have two choice, buy a flexible ticket and get a refund if necessary or buy a non-refundable ticket and live with the loss.
From what I can see, AA are a little more sensible and will allow me to buy a non-refundable ticket and cancel the reservation which in turn will create a travel credit. My questions are these:
i) Do I need a particular reason to cancel?
ii) If I cancel, I will end up with two credits which are valid for a year that are non transferable
iii) I can use the credits for a UK-US ticket instead, I am not tied to a particular route or region?
Thanks in advance.
I am about to book a pair of tickets MIA-SJO in July of this year. It's an extension of a LHR-MIA redemption on BA (the BA Amex 2-4-1 rules won't allow me to add the MIA-SJO sector).
There is an outside chance that work will mean I have to cancel the trip.
In Europe, I would have two choice, buy a flexible ticket and get a refund if necessary or buy a non-refundable ticket and live with the loss.
From what I can see, AA are a little more sensible and will allow me to buy a non-refundable ticket and cancel the reservation which in turn will create a travel credit. My questions are these:
i) Do I need a particular reason to cancel?
ii) If I cancel, I will end up with two credits which are valid for a year that are non transferable
iii) I can use the credits for a UK-US ticket instead, I am not tied to a particular route or region?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by baggageinhall; Jan 23, 2010 at 5:01 pm Reason: Added the word 'reason' to sub i) above