Sorry if the subject is wrong here, i didnt know exactly how to word it.
Being a hard-core CX traveller, am fairly new to the AA system of what's allowed and what's not in terms of flights and changes etc.
I recently booked and ticketed my wife on aa flight 397 from mia-lax on August 1st. Our original time at the booking (and ticket) is dept at 6.55pm arrval 9.10pm into LAX.
When i was on the site now, i saw that flight 397 has been changed to 7.55pm dept (arrival LAX 10.10pm). Which is too late for me. So I'm trying to change to the earlier flight (which is 6.20pm departure arrival 8.34pm). Since they changed the flight time.
When I called AA reservations Hong Kong(whom i purchased the ticket from). they told me that I CANNOT CHANGE for free as the flight number hasnt changed, so if i'm ticketed on 397, if i change, there is a charge. else i must stick on 397 regardless of the change.
According to the Frequent traveller's out there, is this right ? I'm residing in hong kong, bought ticket in hong kong, and my wife hold's no status on OW.
Do you think if i called U.S. reservations, would that make a difference ?
Should i keep insisting to the change to the earlier flight for free, since AA changed the schedule after I had ticketed ?
Thanks for the help.....
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MODERATOR'S NOTE
Passengers whose flights are changed due to an AA schedule change may rebook on a different flight(s) or receive a full refund (even on non-refundable tickets) under the conditions outlined here:
AA: Schedule Change - Rule 240/80
These policies have been revised as of Feb 7, 2011:
Reissue for Schedule Change
* Agency may reissue the ticket provided there is no change to the dates, origination and destination cities, inventory, fare, or fare basis. The new ticket must be annotated “AA SKED CHG” in the endorsement box. This is the only annotated verbiage required on the new ticket and supersedes the required verbiage for the fare ticketed.
* Agency may reissue if American Airlines has reaccommodated for the same dates, origination and destination cities, same inventory, fare or fare basis. The new ticket must be annotated “AA SKED CHG” in the endorsement box. This is the only annotated verbiage required on the new ticket and supersedes the required verbiage for the fare ticketed.
* Agency may reissue if American Airlines has reaccommodated for a different date due to the same day flights were not available for the reaccommodation, as long as the new confirmed booking is the same inventory, origination and destination cities, fare and fare basis. The new ticket must be annotated “AA SKED CHG” in the endorsement box. This is the only annotated verbiage required on the new ticket and supersedes the required verbiage for the fare ticketed.
When reissuing the tickets the PNR must be documented with the following OSI:
OSI AA INVOL SKED CHG/AA FLIGHT NUMBER/DATE/CXLD OR SKED CHG
Note:
AA flight number is the original flight number.
Date is the original flight date.
Only one OSI per PNR is necessary even if multiple flights are impacted by the schedule change.
Schedule Change unacceptable to customer
Travel agency must contact AA RES to handle the rebooking and re-ticketing if the same inventory is not available, if a flight is not available on the same day, or the schedule change is not acceptable to the customer. The customer may be eligible for a refund by AA only for the unused portion of the ticket.
* If schedule change is from a nonstop to a connection or through flight , a refund to form of payment (FOP) is allowed by American Airlines.
* If schedule change is from a through flight to a connecting flight, NO refund.
o EXCEPTION: see C and D and E below.
* If schedule change or flight delay of 60 minutes or less NOT eligible for a refund.
* If schedule change is 61-120 minutes, refund to voucher only is allowed by American Airlines.
* If schedule change is greater than 120 minutes, refund of the remaining ticket to the original form of payment (FOP). All remaining coupons must be refunded by American Airlines.
Previously, the policy was as follows:
Protection For Schedule Change
Passengers are to be protected by one of the following polices:
1. On AA flights in the same inventory/date as ticketed, if available. If same inventory is not available, AA RES will need to rebook in the lowest available inventory in the same cabin as ticketed. If a flight is not available on the same date, or is not acceptable to the customer, they may be rebooked on the previous or next day. Customers may be rebooked over a different routing (same origination and destination) as long as it is a valid routing for the fare being used.
The PNR must be documented with the following OSI:
OSI AA INVOL REROUTE/AA FLIGHT NUMBER/DATE/CXLD OR SKED CHG
Note:
AA flight number is the old flight number.
Date is the old flight date.
Only one OSI per PNR is necessary even if multiple flights are impacted by the schedule change.
2. If available reaccommodations are not acceptable to customer. Full refund of unused portion of the ticket as follows.
1. If schedule change is from a nonstop to a connection, a refund to form of payment (FOP) is allowed.
2. If schedule change is from a through flight to a connecting flight, a refund to the FOP is not allowed unless "C" applies.
3. If schedule change results in change of flight times of 90 minutes or greater, refund to FOP is allowed.
4. If schedule change is less than 90 minutes, refund to voucher only is allowed.
Note: Change fee does not apply. Refunds must be processed by AA only - travel agencies may not process refunds for revenue or AAdvantage tickets.
Note also:
Reaccommodations or refunds do not apply when the schedule change only involves a change in flight number.
dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator