Not super experienced with fare rules so asking here in case others know more.
I bought an itinerary back in March as follows:
August: ELP-PHX-JFK-MEX
October: MEX-JFK-BOS
I’ve flown the August outbound segments and have yet to fly the inbound starting in MEX.
As far as I understand (correct me if I’m wrong) the fare is a dual inventory fare booking into a lower bucket like Q/N outbound and (maybe?) O inbound with an instant upgrade to I-class (business/domestic first).
I want to know the following:
1) Can I refund the return portion to voucher without penalty now that I’ve flown the outbound sectors?
2) If I can’t do that, can I instead change the date of the inbound without penalty to later in the year?
If I can change the flights, what are the limiting factors on the changes I can make: ie. what inventory needs to be available? will the fare need repricing with current fares or can the historical fare be used? How many times can I change the dates?
Fare rules pasted here. I only kept a copy of the outbound rules but the inbound is probably near-identical. Unfortunately I can’t find the historical fare rules on ExpertFlyer (maybe I’m searching wrong):
American (AA) QNN0AHI1 ELP to MEX
General notes
BUSINESS SELL-UP OW NON-REF FARES I
APPLIES FOR ONE WAY FARES
FOR ADULT
RESERVATION BOOKING DESIGNATOR
EXCEPTIONS
CHART 1
FARE LOCATIONS/FLIGHTS MKTG RBD NOTE
IDENTIFIER CXR
------------- ----------------------- --- ---------- ------
ANY FARE FLT SEGMENTS FROM LAST AA Q I R/DA
PT IN THE UNITED STATES
- 1ST ARR IN MEXICO/VV.
ANY FARE FLT SEGMENTS FROM LAST AA Q I R/DA
PT IN NORTH AMERICA -
1ST ARR IN INTL. POINTS
IN THE CARIBBEAN AREA/
VV.
ANY FARE FLT SEGMENTS FROM LAST AA Q I R/DA
PT IN NORTH AMERICA -
1ST ARR IN SOUTH
AMERICA/VV.
ANY FARE FLT SEGMENTS FROM LAST AA Q I R/DA
PT IN NORTH AMERICA -
1ST ARR IN CENTRAL
AMERICA/VV.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA Q I P/BA
NORTH AMERICA.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA Q PERM
NORTH AMERICA.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA V M R/AV
BRAZIL.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA H PERM
BRAZIL.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA B REQ
BRAZIL.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA P W R/AV
SOUTH AMERICA.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AA Y REQ
SOUTH AMERICA.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT WITHIN AS Q PERM
NORTH AMERICA.
ANY FARE EACH FLT SEGMENT. AA NRBD
Category 4: Flight restrictions
THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY WS
ANY WS FLIGHT.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL WITHIN THE UNITED
STATES
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY HA
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY 9K.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND MEXICO
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY AA FLIGHT OPERATED BY AA.
Category 5: Advanced reservation/ticketing restrictions
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH SECTOR.
WAITLIST AND STANDBY NOT PERMITTED.
TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 1 DAY AFTER
RESERVATIONS ARE MADE.
NOTE -
TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
RESERVATIONS BOOKED 3 DAYS OR LESS PRIOR TO
DEPARTURE MUST BE TICKETED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
RESERVATIONS BOOKED 24 HOURS OR LESS PRIOR TO
DEPARTURE MUST BE TICKETED WITHIN 3 HOURS.
Category 6: Minimum stay requirements
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL VIA TICKETED POINTS
THE UNITED STATES
ON ONLINE CONNECTIONS/INTERLINE CONNECTIONS
TRAVEL FROM TURNAROUND MUST COMMENCE NO EARLIER THAN 24
HOURS AFTER ARRIVAL AT TURNAROUND.
Category 8: Stopover restrictions
ORIGINATING NORTH AMERICA -
NO STOPOVERS PERMITTED.
Category 9: Transfer restrictions
1 TRANSFER PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION FREE
1 FREE BETWEEN AA AND AS IN EACH DIRECTION.
AND - 2 TRANSFERS PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION FREE
FREE ON AA ONLY IN EACH DIRECTION
FARE BREAK SURFACE SECTORS NOT PERMITTED AND
EMBEDDED SURFACE SECTORS PERMITTED ON THE FARE
COMPONENT.
Category 10: Combinability
DOUBLE OPEN JAWS NOT PERMITTED.
APPLICABLE ADD-ON CONSTRUCTION IS ADDRESSED IN
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS - CATEGORY 23.
END-ON-END
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS NOT PERMITTED WITH DOMESTIC
FARES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. VALIDATE ALL FARE
COMPONENTS. SIDE TRIPS NOT PERMITTED.
END-ON-END NOTE -
ADD-ONS PERMITTED
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS NOT PERMITTED WITH US-CANADA
TRANSBORDER FARES. VALIDATE ALL FARE COMPONENTS. SIDE
TRIPS NOT PERMITTED.
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS NOT PERMITTED WITH INTERNATIONAL
FARES. VALIDATE ALL FARE COMPONENTS. SIDE TRIPS NOT
PERMITTED.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED ABOVE END-ON-END COMBINATIONS NOT
PERMITTED WITH DOMESTIC FARES WITHIN MEXICO. VALIDATE
ALL FARE COMPONENTS. SIDE TRIPS NOT PERMITTED.
OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS WITH AA
FARES
-TO FORM SINGLE OPEN JAWS.
MILEAGE OF THE OPEN SEGMENT MUST BE EQUAL/LESS THAN
MILEAGE OF THE LONGEST FLOWN FARE COMPONENT.
-TO FORM ROUND TRIPS
-TO FORM CIRCLE TRIPS EXCEPT FOR AROUND-THE-WORLD FARES.
A MAXIMUM OF TWO INTERNATIONAL FARE COMPONENTS
PERMITTED.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARE FOR CARRIER AA IN ANY
RULE IN TARIFF
AAMRVP - BETWEEN PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS-USA
IPRW - BETWEEN THE USA/CANADA-AREA 1
IPRWI - WITHIN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE-INTERNATIONAL
VPCR - BETWEEN PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS-CANADA
VPDR - BETWEEN PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS-THE USA
WHAAR - BETWEEN THE USA/CANADA-AREA 1 AND WITHIN
AREA 1
WHMAAR - BETWEEN THE USA/CANADA-AREA 1 AND WITHIN
AREA 1.
NOTE - THE CITY PAIRS BELOW ARE CONSIDERED THE SAME POINT-
FLL-MIA OAK-SFO OAK-SJC SFO-SJC LAX-ONT BUR-LAX
LAX-LGB LAX-SNA BUR-ONT LGB-ONT ONT-SNA BUR-LGB
ORF-PHF BUR-SNA LGB-SNA EWR-NYC BWI-WAS
Category 12: Surcharges
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR TRAVEL PER FARE COMPONENT.
Category 15: Sales restrictions
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON AA AND MAY NOT BE SOLD IN
VENEZUELA/RUSSIA/BELARUS AND MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN AREA 1/
AREA 2/AREA 3
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
Category 16: Penalties
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/
REFUND.
NOTE -
IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/
OR A TRAVELING COMPANION/THE SERVICE CHARGE MAY
BE WAIVED OR THE TICKET REFUNDED.
VISIT AA.COM FOR DETAILS.
------------------------------------------------
FOR TRAVEL AGENCY BOOKINGS MADE IN MEXICO / THE
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA - AA WILL
ASSESS A USD 50.00 FEE ON ANY UNTICKETED
RESERVATION NOT CANCELLED BEFORE DEPARTURE.
------------------------------------------------
WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES
THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE OF EACH CANCELLED
PRICING UNIT APPLIES
-WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION-
WHEN COMBINING A REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A NON-
REFUNDABLE FARE
THE ENTIRE PRICING UNIT WILL BE NON-REFUNDABLE.
------------------------------------------------
TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE
CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME.
CHANGES
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE -
A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT
MODIFICATION.
CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF
ORIGINAL TICKET.
TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED FOR ALL VOLUNTARY
CHANGES.
--------------------------------------------------
WHERE THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER FARE THE
PENALTY CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENT
WILL APPLY.
--------------------------------------------------
CALCULATION OF REISSUES
//CHANGES BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE//
WHEN THE FIRST FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE
ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING CURRENT FARES
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED.
-----
WHEN THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE FIRST FARE
COMPONENT BUT OTHER FARE COMPONENTS ARE CHANGED
THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL
FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE OR
CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF TICKET
REISSUE WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
--------------------------------------------------
//CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE//
THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL
FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE.
-----
WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE
THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED.
-----
WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE NO
REFUND WILL BE MADE HOWEVER THE DIFFERENCE IN
FARE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER IN THE
FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY
BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET VALID
FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY AA.
-----
REISSUES/EXCHANGES NOT ALLOWED TO EOU/ERU FARE
TYPES.
AFTER DEPARTURE
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE -
A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT
MODIFICATION.
CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF
ORIGINAL TICKET.
TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED FOR ALL VOLUNTARY
CHANGES.
--------------------------------------------------
WHERE THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER FARE THE
PENALTY CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENT
WILL APPLY.
--------------------------------------------------
CALCULATION OF REISSUES
//CHANGES BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE//
WHEN THE FIRST FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE
ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING CURRENT FARES
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED.
-----
WHEN THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE FIRST FARE
COMPONENT BUT OTHER FARE COMPONENTS ARE CHANGED
THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL
FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE OR
CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF TICKET
REISSUE WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
--------------------------------------------------
//CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE//
THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL
FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE.
-----
WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE
THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED.
-----
WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE NO
REFUND WILL BE MADE HOWEVER THE DIFFERENCE IN
FARE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER IN THE
FORM OF A NONREFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY
BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET VALID
FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY AA.
-----
REISSUES/EXCHANGES NOT ALLOWED TO EOU/ERU FARE
TYPES.
Category 18: Endorsements
THE ORIGINAL AND THE REISSUED TICKET MUST BE ANNOTATED -
NONREF/RESTRICTIONS APPLY - IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX.
Category 19: Discounts
ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11 - CHARGE 100 PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS CH.
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS IN SAME COMPARTMENT
BY ADULT 16 OR OLDER
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITH A SEAT - CHARGE 100 PERCENT OF
THE FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS CH.
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS IN SAME
COMPARTMENT BY ADULT 16 OR OLDER
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITHOUT A SEAT - NO CHARGE
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS IN.
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL FLIGHTS IN SAME
COMPARTMENT BY ADULT 16 OR OLDER
OR - UNACCOMPANIED CHILD 5-14 - CHARGE 100 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
NOTE -
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN 5 6 AND 7 YEARS OF AGE WILL
ONLY BE TRANSPORTED OVER THE LINES OF AA NON-STOP
OR THROUGH PLANE SERVICE.
Category 22: Other Discounts
PASSENGER OCCUPYING TWO SEATS. ID REQUIRED - CHARGE 100
PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - SEAT.
NOTE -
APPLICATION---
FARES APPLY TO A PASSENGER PERMITTED THE
EXCLUSIVE USE OF TWO ADJACENT SEATS.
SENIOR CITIZEN 65 OR OLDER. ID REQUIRED - NO DISCOUNT.
NOTE -
RULE 1810 - SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY
Category 23: Miscellaneous Fare Tags
THIS FARE MUST NOT BE USED AS THE HIGH OR THE LOW FARE
WHEN CALCULATING A DIFFERENTIAL. THIS FARE MUST NOT BE
USED AS THE THROUGH FARE WHEN PRICING A FARE COMPONENT
WITH A DIFFERENTIAL.
Category 31: Voluntary changes
IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY
THOSE OF AA INTERNATIONAL FARES
NO CHARGE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE
COMPONENTS- CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FARE COMPONENT
2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST
BE DOMESTIC
3. AA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED
4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
OR -
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST
BE DOMESTIC
2. AA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED
3. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE
OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL FROM
THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND - REFUND VIA VOUCHER
ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS.
OR -
AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY
THOSE OF AA INTERNATIONAL FARES
NO CHARGE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE
COMPONENTS- CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST
BE DOMESTIC
2. AA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED
3. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
4. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE SUBTRACT RESIDUAL FROM
THE PENALTY THEN ADD-COLLECT/REFUND - REFUND VIA VOUCHER
ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS.
Category 33: Voluntary cancellations
FARE AND TAXES ARE NONREFUNDABLE BEFORE DEPARTURE OF
JOURNEY.
IF MIX OF PER FARE COMPONENT AND PER PRICING UNIT
CALCULATE EACH AS PER PRICING UNIT AND COLLECT HIGHEST.
REFUND REQUEST MUST BE LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER TICKET
ISSUANCE.
OR -
FARE AND TAXES ARE NONREFUNDABLE AFTER DEPARTURE OF
JOURNEY.
IF MIX OF PER FARE COMPONENT AND PER PRICING UNIT
CALCULATE EACH AS PER PRICING UNIT AND COLLECT HIGHEST.
REFUND REQUEST MUST BE LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER TRAVEL
COMMENCEMENT DATE IF PARTIALLY USED OR ONE YEAR AFTER
TICKET ISSUANCE IF TICKET UNUSED.
Category 50: Application
FARES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES/CANADA AND MEXICO
APPLICATION
AREA
THESE FARES APPLY
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES/CANADA AND MEXICO.
CLASS OF SERVICE
THESE FARES APPLY FOR FIRST/BUSINESS/ECONOMY CLASS
SERVICE.
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION
FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE
ONE-WAY/ROUND-TRIP/CIRCLE-TRIP/OPEN-JAW JOURNEYS.
CAPACITY LIMITATIONS
THE CARRIER SHALL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED
ON ANY ONE FLIGHT AT FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE AND SUCH
FARES WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE AVAILABLE ON ALL FLIGHTS.
THE NUMBER OF SEATS WHICH THE CARRIER SHALL MAKE
AVAILABLE ON A GIVEN FLIGHT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE
CARRIERS BEST JUDGMENT
OTHER CONDITIONS
FOR THE PORTION OF TRAVEL WITHIN/BETWEEN THE
CONTINENTAL U.S./CANADA/HAWAII/PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN
ISLANDS ON AA INCLUDED IN THE THROUGH PUBLISHED
BUSINESS/EXECUTIVE CLASS FARE PASSENGERS WILL BE
ACCOMODATED SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE
IN THE FIRST CLASS SECTION OF AN AIRCRAFT NOT
HAVING A BUSINESS/EXECUTIVE CLASS COMPARTMENT.