Executive Plat paying fees on award tix for other passenger?
Nov 6, 2012, 5:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM Gold, AA Ex Plat, SPG Plat,Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 992
Executive Plat paying fees on award tix for other passenger?
First time redeeming miles as Ex Plat and I was a little suprised. I had to pay the normal $25 phone fee and was told any changes, cancellations, etc will incur the $150 since I am not the passenger (even thou miles were coming from my acct)
Seems very odd comparing to UA 1k i never paid ANY fees as long as miles came from my acct
Seems very odd comparing to UA 1k i never paid ANY fees as long as miles came from my acct
Nov 6, 2012, 5:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
The $25 ticketing fee is proper, and is waived only if you or an EXP is traveling with the passengers (a different reservation is fine to use for the waiver).
However, if the miles came from an EXP account, regardless of whoever is traveling, there is no fee to make any changes or to redeposit. The agent must have been mistaken.
However, if the miles came from an EXP account, regardless of whoever is traveling, there is no fee to make any changes or to redeposit. The agent must have been mistaken.
Nov 6, 2012, 5:35 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
If you aren't traveling on the same itinerary as the ticketed person, AA will charge the fee. It isn't the normal phone fee, it is a different fee. Someone soon will come along with the correct link to the info on here, I don't know exactly where it is. AA doesn't want their EXPs to become award booking services from their own accounts.
Nov 6, 2012, 7:40 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
The telephone booking fee certainly applies for the initial booking, but I am not sure about changes. However, I have made cancellations (refunding miles to my account) and have not been charged.
Nov 6, 2012, 8:08 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area, Calif
Programs: AA-EXP 2MM
Posts: 158
First time redeeming miles as Ex Plat and I was a little suprised. I had to pay the normal $25 phone fee and was told any changes, cancellations, etc will incur the $150 since I am not the passenger (even thou miles were coming from my acct)
Seems very odd comparing to UA 1k i never paid ANY fees as long as miles came from my acct
Seems very odd comparing to UA 1k i never paid ANY fees as long as miles came from my acct
Nov 6, 2012, 8:14 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
The EXP and the companion have to only share one segment for the ticketing fee to be waived. It does not have to be identical itineraries.
Nov 6, 2012, 8:16 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
The rep was mistaken about the $150 redeposit fee for tickets from the EXP account. Would be correct if the miles were pulled from the flyer's account (and they are not EXP).
Nov 6, 2012, 10:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA MM Gold
Posts: 1,193
Concur with cbrown5294. As an ex-1K, I too am disappointed to hear of AA charging me to ticket anyone with my miles. I have given away far more award miles than I have ticketed for myself, and UA's flexibility of 1K booking and changing any ticket without chg was a v powerful part of their program for me. Yes, AA has every right to levy fees in their program. Just a disappointing difference....
Nov 6, 2012, 11:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,878
I've not been charged any fees in the past when ticketing for other people when I don't travel with them.
Nov 6, 2012, 11:52 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
Concur with cbrown5294. As an ex-1K, I too am disappointed to hear of AA charging me to ticket anyone with my miles. I have given away far more award miles than I have ticketed for myself, and UA's flexibility of 1K booking and changing any ticket without chg was a v powerful part of their program for me. Yes, AA has every right to levy fees in their program. Just a disappointing difference....
Nov 6, 2012, 11:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA MM Gold
Posts: 1,193
Here's the language in the EXP promo material I received with my EXP card:
You will enjoy waived ticketing service charges on award tickets and revenue tickets issued by American Airlines personnel, as well as processing charges for AAdvantage awards claimed within 21 days of departure. Plus, we will waive reinstatement and ticket change charges related to award tickets issued from your account.
Unsure where the idea comes from that I must travel with people I choose to ticket from my account IOT avoid incurring fees. Must be stated elsewhere, but not in the EXP Member Guide.
You will enjoy waived ticketing service charges on award tickets and revenue tickets issued by American Airlines personnel, as well as processing charges for AAdvantage awards claimed within 21 days of departure. Plus, we will waive reinstatement and ticket change charges related to award tickets issued from your account.
Unsure where the idea comes from that I must travel with people I choose to ticket from my account IOT avoid incurring fees. Must be stated elsewhere, but not in the EXP Member Guide.
Nov 7, 2012, 12:53 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
Unsure where the idea comes from that I must travel with people I choose to ticket from my account IOT avoid incurring fees. Must be stated elsewhere, but not in the EXP Member Guide.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/FAQs...tions.jsp#fees
"This charge does not apply to:
AAdvantage Executive Platinum members when the member is traveling on either a revenue or award ticket. The service charge will not apply to any passenger booked in the same reservation as the AAdvantage Executive Platinum member."
This covers the booking charge, change fees and reinstatement do not attract fees when the miles come from the EXP account.
Nov 7, 2012, 9:12 am
#14
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
That is correct as far as the telephone fees and the usual change fees if O or D change, etc. iirc; it has certainly been my experience with every award trip I have gifted ($25 for the call), and I am, er, sufficiently "frugal" to tell those receiving the award they would have to pay change fees if their plans changed in ways that would require such, as well.
First time redeeming miles as Ex Plat and I was a little suprised. I had to pay the normal $25 phone fee and was told any changes, cancellations, etc will incur the $150 since I am not the passenger (even thou miles were coming from my acct)
Seems very odd comparing to UA 1k i never paid ANY fees as long as miles came from my acct
Seems very odd comparing to UA 1k i never paid ANY fees as long as miles came from my acct
Nov 7, 2012, 9:19 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
I've seen many tickets changed (i.e. canceled and re-booked) online and the fees/$s have been refunded fee free when EXP was not on ITN.
So maybe the "error" for the OP was involving a telephone agent, especially one not fully versed on fees for EXPs.