Refundable Choice vs. Choice Essential
Aug 11, 2013, 8:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York
Programs: DL, AA, BA, SPG
Posts: 271
Refundable Choice vs. Choice Essential
One of the advantages they list for "choice essential" is no change fee. If I buy a refundable "choice" ticket and need to make a change, can't I simply cancel the ticket, get a refund, and buy the new ticket? Seems silly to charge change fees on any refundable fare. Am I missing something?
Aug 11, 2013, 9:05 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,109
Refundable Choice vs. Choice Essential
canceling a choice essential or plus fare doesn't generate a cash refund but does generate a credit voucher while a refundable fare returns cash. essential or plus both can be canceled for credit - they differ on other features.
Aug 11, 2013, 9:16 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York
Programs: DL, AA, BA, SPG
Posts: 271
Note that I am talking about the refundable version of the choice essential ticket. Both nonrefundable and refundable tickets are available in the various choice options. This is why it is confusing and doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Aug 11, 2013, 10:24 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
The cheapest refundable ticket might be fully refundable, but it does not give things like a free checked bag or group 1 boarding. This is why AA still offers choice essential.