Originally Posted by sxpsxpsxp
The fact that she couldn't reroute me on AirCanada, for example, is a concern. What if the only available option to get me there the same day was on another carrier? What is AA's obligation in that scenario?
In theory, as per the IATA rules, any member airline has an obligation/duty to re-route you in case of irregular operations, regardless of the fare you are on. Any additional costs that the airline may incur if it has to re-route you on another IATA carrier, or, if necessary, in a higher class of service, is not a consideration.
In practice, most airlines will do their best to avoid such costs by choosing the least expensive re-route option. The "because of the way [your] tickets were issued" excuse is an example of just how creative airlines can be in situations like these.