Originally Posted by number_6
So you traded off a cheap award cost with lack of flexibility -- then complain about the lack of flexibility (or expect AA to provide flexibility for "unusual circumstances"). Now every reroute has some sort of "unusual circumstance". I've had revenue tickets which became invalid due to visa problems, and it cost me thousands of dollars to fix it. I wish the OW rules allowed for more flexibility, but they don't and most of us live with it (or don't use those awards).
Hey, ease up. I don't need to be lectured to like a child, a cheat or a freeloader.
I wasn't posting a complaint about flexibility of the awards. the OP asked about what would happen if the airline cancelled a flight. I don't know directly but had a situation near to it that I shared.
I have used OW awards and paid tickets many times, am fully aware of the restrictions, and have had nary a problem except for the one caused by the bad visa. In my view, having the ticket voided wasn't reasonable at that point; neither was it to AA. On the other hand, both you and AY think it was warranted. Obviously people can differ on this.