Originally Posted by
gemac
Well, as you say you knew this before buying this ticket, it would seem that you either bought insurance or decided to self-insure this risk. If the latter, sometimes we have to pay off when weself-insure.
I'm all for personal responsibility, but in this particular case, it's pretty clear that the OP should not have to pay off based on illness waiver in the fare rule and the doctor's instructions not to fly.
It's worth noting that this waiver is in every AA international fare I've seen (although I haven't checked those originating outside the U.S., mentioned by
3Cforme above). In contrast, U.S. domestic fares only contain waivers "IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER/ OR A TRAVELING COMPANION."