personal emergency may disrupt my trip! What are my options on fees?
Jul 29, 2010, 12:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: aadvantage, delta, continental
Posts: 46
personal emergency may disrupt my trip! What are my options on fees?
I have a first MileSaver award, and a paid one-way ticket from tpa/lit and lit/tpa respectively. Unfortunately, my cousin might be going to the hospital for stuff, according to what the Doctor says. If I must Cancel the trip, am I at AA's mercy as in reguards to fees. The one-way paid ticket i'll completely lose out on, so I hope I'm not double-dipped on fees. Your replies are greatly appriciated, you guys know your stuff!
Jordan
Jordan
Jul 29, 2010, 1:49 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
A little more information might help.
Is your cousin travelling with you?
Ordinarily I doubt they would consider a cousin going into hospital as a valid trigger for any of the medical exceptions unless they were actually travelling with you.
For the paid ticket what do the fare rules say about cancellations?
Often even with non-refundable tickets you can still change dates for a fee or cancel for a voucher less a fee so it may not be a total loss as long as you act before the travel date.
Is your cousin travelling with you?
Ordinarily I doubt they would consider a cousin going into hospital as a valid trigger for any of the medical exceptions unless they were actually travelling with you.
For the paid ticket what do the fare rules say about cancellations?
Often even with non-refundable tickets you can still change dates for a fee or cancel for a voucher less a fee so it may not be a total loss as long as you act before the travel date.
Jul 29, 2010, 1:52 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ex-Plat
Posts: 425
read the fare rules for the purchased ticket. sometimes there is an allowance in there for medical emergencies, etc., that allows a refund or other concession on the ticket.
not sure about the award ticket, though. others will have to weigh in.
i would call AA and ask about both if it were me.
not sure about the award ticket, though. others will have to weigh in.
i would call AA and ask about both if it were me.
Jul 29, 2010, 2:04 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
I have a first MileSaver award, and a paid one-way ticket from tpa/lit and lit/tpa respectively. Unfortunately, my cousin might be going to the hospital for stuff, according to what the Doctor says. If I must Cancel the trip, am I at AA's mercy as in reguards to fees. The one-way paid ticket i'll completely lose out on, so I hope I'm not double-dipped on fees. Your replies are greatly appriciated, you guys know your stuff!
Jordan
Jordan
Jul 29, 2010, 5:17 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: aadvantage, delta, continental
Posts: 46
Thanks for all the comments! The paid one-way return is just a discount fare so a cancellation isn't possible to redeme a voucher (possible complete loss.) But, along with that, I'd rather not lose another 150.00 on top of it.
Jordan
Jordan
Jul 29, 2010, 6:43 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
The other advice you received about changing the award ticket is also correct.
Call AA and they will answer any questions about fare rules and your options.
Jul 29, 2010, 7:47 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 63,597
If the medical emergency is not you, but rather your cousin - then you won't qualify for the exemption on change fees. Not even if your cousin was traveling with you on the same itinierary.
AA would point out that there's no requirement that you go to the hospital. If you decide to cancel/reschedule to help out your cousin - that would be a voluntary change on your part and thus your responsibility to pay any associated fees.
AA would point out that there's no requirement that you go to the hospital. If you decide to cancel/reschedule to help out your cousin - that would be a voluntary change on your part and thus your responsibility to pay any associated fees.
Jul 29, 2010, 8:05 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: aadvantage, delta, continental
Posts: 46
The paid ticket is a loss. I only paid like 135.00 for it, so no residual value. I wonder if they can at least work with me on the reinstatement fee, that'd be nice. I'd rather not lose like 280.00. Maybe if they see what's going on they might lower it to 75.00 not 150.00 or something like that. But i'm at their mercy.
Jul 29, 2010, 8:21 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
Jul 29, 2010, 9:31 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 284
The paid ticket is a loss. I only paid like 135.00 for it, so no residual value. I wonder if they can at least work with me on the reinstatement fee, that'd be nice. I'd rather not lose like 280.00. Maybe if they see what's going on they might lower it to 75.00 not 150.00 or something like that. But i'm at their mercy.
Jul 29, 2010, 9:37 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
Jul 29, 2010, 10:45 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 4MM
Posts: 396
Some credit cards provide some protection for medical emergencies but not sure it would help your cause.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:37 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
Jul 29, 2010, 11:55 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Fort Worth, Tx
Programs: My views are strictly my own and do not reflect the views of any company.
Posts: 339
Travel insurance.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:56 am
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Some detailed fare rules would cover the OP if the cousin was a traveling companion; I have had such tickets issued. (Yeah, I always read the detailed fare rules before buying, and choose whether I will "self-insure", purchase TC&I insurance, or upfare.)
It used to be one could go to the AA Refunds site and enter the ticket number (not merely the PNR) and review the detailed fare conditions before actually cancelling - has anyone had recent experience with this?
It used to be one could go to the AA Refunds site and enter the ticket number (not merely the PNR) and review the detailed fare conditions before actually cancelling - has anyone had recent experience with this?
