Flight rescheduled by AA…what are my options?
Originally bought (AA saver award) tkt at end of March flying LHR-MIA on BA metal landing at 3.15pm with connection of 2h 15mins to late afternoon 5.30pm MIA-PUJ (Punta Cana, Dominican Rep.) on AA metal. Purchased my wife's tkt. (class N) using same schedule.
Due to re-scheduling, the later MIA-PUJ one has been moved to 12.30pm and there was no later one on the same day. So my transatlantic flight will have landed (at 3.15pm) after the connecting flight had left. Basically, there is no way that we can now leave LHR and arrive in PUJ (via MIA or any other US airport) on the same day. I was informed that I would have to pay for any overnight MIA stay…which is their policy (?!?).
Received call from AAdvantage agent to inform me but I wasn't able to discuss immediately due to work. Therefore rang (USA-NC call centre) 2hrs later to clarify situation. Had researched to see what options I had between 1st and 2nd calls.
The agent said that because AA have given plenty of advanced warning, they could offer a full refund for both tkts. But as I explained…the reason I bought them in late March was because they were at their cheapest. If I was to purchase new ones either with AA or another carrier, then I would be considerably out of pocket!!!
Next, I asked if they could move us to the codeshare US Airways flight, routing and overnighting thru PHL? Agent told us that it may be possible for myself but impossible for my wife.
Finally, I asked if we could fly instead into SDQ (Santo Domingo) from MIA on their late afternoon flight so that the journey could be completed in 1 day. Again no luck. So I decided to hold back and not make any decision that day.
We really don't want to overnight in MIA if we can possibly avoid it. This was the original reason we bought AA tkts!!! I had the feeling that the agent was deliberately putting up obstacles to every single one of my suggestions!!!
Please can anyone help? What are our options?