Originally Posted by
carlosdca
It does not matter if it is your real aunt or not.
The fact is that you posted an ad on craigslist and you showed intent by exchanging communication with potential buyers.
That you ended up not selling the miles to anyone is irrelevant. You still went against the T&Cs.
It will be also interesting if you post the WHOLE email that AA sent you, not just the last paragraph.
AA is correct to take the miles but that doesn't mean once can't appeal for some compassion. OP has been forthcoming and if they admit they didn't know the rules and didn't intend to break them it is entirely possible a lenient AA may give them back their miles or perhaps at least some of them.