Would it work to ask them for a gate pass to go into the Admirals Club for a meeting? I think buying a full Y to ask for a refund isn't very fun. If your mom looks like she needs help, its in their best interest to give you a gate pass versus mommy running into trouble on her way to the gate.
Originally Posted by Blumie
Chances are very good that AA will give you a gate pass. However, Spiff's strategy is foolproof: a day before your family member's flight, purchase a ticket on aa.com (obviously, you want to purchase a fully refundable ticket for a flight that departs around the same time as your family member's flight, or perhaps a little afterwards; purchasing a day in advance, as opposed to day of, and purchasing a round trip instead of a one-way, will decrease your chances of secondary screening at the airport). Check in and obtain your boarding pass as you ordinarily would when flying. After you see your family member off, call aa and tell them that your plans have changed and you want a refund. Most times the refund will hit your credit card on the same statement on which the original charge appears.