Award Flight Change Policy (Since Sept. 1, 2020)
Mar 2, 2021, 5:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 1,000
Award Flight Change Policy (Since Sept. 1, 2020)
I called the MVP line to ask about fees for changing AS and partner awards. The agent told me:
1. If you book an AS award ticket, you can get the whole award ticket refunded - miles and fees redeposited into your account.
2. If you book a partner award ticket, you can change the whole award without fees. (If the new routing requires additional miles and/or fees, you pay them.)
1. If you book an AS award ticket, you can get the whole award ticket refunded - miles and fees redeposited into your account.
2. If you book a partner award ticket, you can change the whole award without fees. (If the new routing requires additional miles and/or fees, you pay them.)
Mar 2, 2021, 5:58 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
Both those statements are true. Partner awards also get taxes and fees refunded. You do lose the $12.50/25.00 partner award fee on a voluntary cancel.
Mar 2, 2021, 6:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
I called the MVP line to ask about fees for changing AS and partner awards. The agent told me:
1. If you book an AS award ticket, you can get the whole award ticket refunded - miles and fees redeposited into your account.
2. If you book a partner award ticket, you can change the whole award without fees. (If the new routing requires additional miles and/or fees, you pay them.)
1. If you book an AS award ticket, you can get the whole award ticket refunded - miles and fees redeposited into your account.
2. If you book a partner award ticket, you can change the whole award without fees. (If the new routing requires additional miles and/or fees, you pay them.)
Since there are no longer "change" fees "ever," point 2 sounds correct too.
When the waivers for point 1 expire, you will always be able to change your award itinerary as per point 2, within ticket validity, of course. However, if you want to cancel your award and return your miles, you will have to pay the cancellation fee; unless, of course, you have an Elite waiver.
James
Mar 3, 2021, 12:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 13
Given that there are waivers in effect for point 1, that sounds correct. The waiver supercedes all Elite waivers and extends to all MP Members.
Since there are no longer "change" fees "ever," point 2 sounds correct too.
When the waivers for point 1 expire, you will always be able to change your award itinerary as per point 2, within ticket validity, of course. However, if you want to cancel your award and return your miles, you will have to pay the cancellation fee; unless, of course, you have an Elite waiver.
James
Since there are no longer "change" fees "ever," point 2 sounds correct too.
When the waivers for point 1 expire, you will always be able to change your award itinerary as per point 2, within ticket validity, of course. However, if you want to cancel your award and return your miles, you will have to pay the cancellation fee; unless, of course, you have an Elite waiver.
James
Mar 3, 2021, 3:29 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
The reference to the $125 change fee no longer appears in AS fare rules but the reference to the $125 cancellation fee is still present.
James
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Mar 3, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Jun 15, 2021, 9:07 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
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Change & cancellation fee waivers have been for MVPG+ only. Currently change & cancellation fees are waived for everyone. When the COVID-19 cancellation waiver expires, only MVPG+ would be eligible to cancel without a fee.
The reference to the $125 change fee no longer appears in AS fare rules but the reference to the $125 cancellation fee is still present.
James
The reference to the $125 change fee no longer appears in AS fare rules but the reference to the $125 cancellation fee is still present.
James
Jun 15, 2021, 9:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
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Posts: 3,299
Jun 18, 2021, 3:50 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,843
So I used Alaska miles to book a Award ticket for American Metal departing July 3rd yesterday.
Can I cancel at anytime before departure and get my miles and taxes reinstated without your $125 fee or any fee? I understand I’ll lose the $12.50/$25RT parter booking fee.
Or do I only have 24 hours after booking to cancel?
Can I cancel at anytime before departure and get my miles and taxes reinstated without your $125 fee or any fee? I understand I’ll lose the $12.50/$25RT parter booking fee.
Or do I only have 24 hours after booking to cancel?
Jun 18, 2021, 6:16 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
So I used Alaska miles to book a Award ticket for American Metal departing July 3rd yesterday.
Can I cancel at anytime before departure and get my miles and taxes reinstated without your $125 fee or any fee? I understand I’ll lose the $12.50/$25RT parter booking fee.
Or do I only have 24 hours after booking to cancel?
Can I cancel at anytime before departure and get my miles and taxes reinstated without your $125 fee or any fee? I understand I’ll lose the $12.50/$25RT parter booking fee.
Or do I only have 24 hours after booking to cancel?
“Alaska eliminated all change/cancel fees for award tickets permanently on May 1, 2021.”
Jun 27, 2021, 11:17 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Posts: 20,387
(For instance, I don’t think “but it’s involuntary!” is going to get you out of UK APD if your BA award travel has you spending a night near LHR because of schedule changes. The government wants a cut.)
Jun 29, 2021, 3:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,956
Well I'll never know because I moved to a different airline and different award/taxes/fees (which was cheaper anyway). I think a 24 hour flight change warrants cost-free reaccommodation from the operating airline (assuming something was available).
Jun 29, 2021, 5:58 pm
#13
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Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Right, but “partner award” means “the operating airline and the issuing airline are not the same airline”. “Hey, BA, can you pay a couple hundred quid in UK APD that’s now due” might well get a response of “kick rocks”.
Jun 30, 2021, 12:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,956
If that is truly the case, is it 100% up to the customer to reaccomodate themselves? Or is it up to AS and what if they cannot find any award availability? Does CoC for award tickets only allow for refund but not reaccommodation? Just fail to see how you can force the customer to pay more to fulfill the original ticket.
Jun 30, 2021, 1:28 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
If that is truly the case, is it 100% up to the customer to reaccomodate themselves? Or is it up to AS and what if they cannot find any award availability? Does CoC for award tickets only allow for refund but not reaccommodation? Just fail to see how you can force the customer to pay more to fulfill the original ticket.
If it was something like YQ I would expect that to be different- but mandatory taxes owed to governments not so much…