Originally Posted by
Often1
If you do not do this regularly, there are no reports of AA taking any action.
You might want to consider picking a return date (which does not increase your fare) which you might possibly use for some purpose. A schedule change will not help you because the refund for a cancellation of that return flight will be $0.
If the airline changes the schedule, why wouldn't the refund be half of the RT fare, adjusted of course if the return is booked in coach?
If the schedule change occurs within two weeks of the scheduled departure date, EC261 would apply to the return portion from Europe to the USA.