Originally Posted by
JJeffrey
In my experience the SWU stays attached to the PNR after you cancel it. I assume you could get these removed and refunded to your account but it might take a call to AAdvantage Customer Service. If you do just rebook the ticket and the new dates have C space then the same SWUs will carry over; Same if there's no C space and you're put on the waitlist, it will use the existing SWU.
SWUs are attached to the ticket. If the ticket is refunded, the SWUs are returned to the account from whence they came, with their original expiration dates (if the expiration has passed, they vanish into dust). If the ticket is not refunded, then the SWUs remain attached to the ticket and can be used for a future flight. The ticket itself has a validity period of one year from when it was first issued, unless AA extends it.