Update March 14 ... what is the answer to this question:

Can the first segment of a xICN DONE3 purchased through AA be changed at no cost (even after the 10% discount is gone)? It seems that the written rules say yes, but that AA 'says' no.

Can someone point to written rules that would support AA's view point.


Original post:

Changes to the first flight:

Is the FAQ correct?

Q: Can I change my mind?
A: Yes, you will find the *ONE* to be a reasonably flexible ticket. For tickets originating in North or South America, changes to the first international flight and all preceding flights must be completed no later than 7 days before departure. Date/time changes are permitted at no charge, and subject to availability you can change the oneworld carrier you want to use without charge as long as there is no change in origin/destination and intermediate points (eg. changing BA to QF for a flight SYD-LHR). Changes other than date/time (routing is the obvious change) incur a US$75 charge and the ticket is reissued, with some carriers charging you a service fee. For tickets originating elsewhere, changes to the first international flight and preceding flights are not permitted. Date/time changes are permitted at no charge, but routing changes incur a US$75 charge, and again some carriers charge you a service fee. The rules don't state that routing changes in this case are a reissue (see below about what happens if the rules change). The number of continents/extra flight segments may be increased or decreased and you will be charged/refunded accordingly. If you need to cancel before departure, tickets originating in North or South America incur a penalty of 10% of the ticket price, tickets originating elsewhere incur no penalty. If you need to cancel after departure, all tickets other than those originating in SWP (no penalty) or Japan (lower of 10% penalty or JPY50,000) incur a 10% penalty. You may get a refund of the unused portion of your ticket based on the cost of the flights used to date and the penalty due.

Versus rules

-- ORIGIN TC1 --
BEFORE TICKET ISSUANCE - PERMITTED WITHOUT
PENALTY.
AFTER TICKET ISSUANCE - CHANGES TO THE FIRST
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AND PRECEDING FLIGHTS ARE
NOT PERMITTED LESS THAN 7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE
OF THE FIRST TICKETED FLIGHT. DATE/TIME CHANGES TO
OTHER FLIGHTS PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE. DATE/TIME/ ONEWORLD CARRIER CHANGES ARE PERMITTED WITHOUT ‡
REISSUE PROVIDED ORIGIN/DESTINATION/CONNECTING
POINTS AND INVENTORY REMAIN THE SAME. CHANGES
OTHER THAN TO DATE/TIME/ONEWORLD CARRIER PERMITTED
AT A CHARGE OF USD125.00 PER TRANSACTION.

-- ORIGIN TC2/3 --
UNLIMITED CHANGES PERMITTED WITHOUT CHARGE. DATE/
TIME/ONEWORLD CARRIER CHANGES ARE PERMITTED
WITHOUT REISSUE PROVIDED ORIGIN/DESTINATION/
CONNECTING POINTS AND INVENTORY REMAIN THE SAME.