Originally Posted by
JDiver
Im glad you're reading here now...
You did make two incorrect assumptions:
1) AA offers another USDOT approved ticketing policy. You had the opportunity to hold the ticket for 24 hours, rather than have a 24 hour cancelation period.
2) Your SWUs should be redeposited without cost as long as you didn't actually use them. (If you'd been upgraded and merely abandoned the flight and didn't cancel, you might then lose them.)
I recommend further reading in this forum. The GUIDE sticky might be a good place to begin, along with
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...er-thread.html.
Safe travels.
24 hour Holds are not always available. OP mentioned purchasing the ticket for his wife to join him at a funeral. My guess is that they may have been within the 7 day window.
In that case, using AA as your booking agent is not recommended as you get neither Hold nor 24 hour cancellation rights. Use travel agency and your rights are protected when booking within a 7 day window or using partner airlines (whom don't recognize AA "hold scheme").