AA award flight cancelled due to schedule change
Jan 5, 2014, 6:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 136
AA award flight cancelled due to schedule change
I've read some of the forums on the topic but couldn't find an answer to my specific question so I was hoping someone can help.
I had a flight JFK-LHR on AA using miles in the AM. I recently discovered that without notification I appeared to have been rerouted due cancellation of my flight to JFK-RDU-LHR. Obviously, I do not want to fly through RDU but I really prefer a flight in the AM which after the cancellation of my flight there are only evening direct flights on AA metal. There are BA flights with award space on them that would work for me but I don't want to pay the 100s of dollars in fuel surcharges. I don't really know what my rights are and is it reasonable to expect to be rebooked on the BA flight withought being charged the fuel surcharges or should I just cancel and rebook with another airline.
Thanks for your help!
I had a flight JFK-LHR on AA using miles in the AM. I recently discovered that without notification I appeared to have been rerouted due cancellation of my flight to JFK-RDU-LHR. Obviously, I do not want to fly through RDU but I really prefer a flight in the AM which after the cancellation of my flight there are only evening direct flights on AA metal. There are BA flights with award space on them that would work for me but I don't want to pay the 100s of dollars in fuel surcharges. I don't really know what my rights are and is it reasonable to expect to be rebooked on the BA flight withought being charged the fuel surcharges or should I just cancel and rebook with another airline.
Thanks for your help!
Jan 5, 2014, 6:16 pm
#2
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Looking at the schedule tomorrow, BA doesn't have a single coach seat for sale (Y0) and very limited business and first (scattered F1 and J1). Six flights are completely sold out. How certain are you about these available BA award seats? Seems like an odd time to have award inventory with so few paid seats left.
Jan 5, 2014, 6:21 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Was this schedule change or weather? If it's weather as I think then your options are kind of limited.
Jan 5, 2014, 6:26 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,743
Is this flight tomorrow or in the future?
Jan 5, 2014, 6:56 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
All that has happened is that AA has auto-rebooked OP. He is free to call in and request something else if he can find it. Award inventory won't matter between AA & BA on that route, but as others note, I'm not seeing Y inventory on either AA or BA.
OP is certainly free to cancel for a full refund and then rebook whatever he wants. But, I would advise having the other flights in hand as the IRROPS will affect things for a good long while.
Key here is to call AA ASAP.
OP is certainly free to cancel for a full refund and then rebook whatever he wants. But, I would advise having the other flights in hand as the IRROPS will affect things for a good long while.
Key here is to call AA ASAP.
Jan 5, 2014, 6:59 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 136
Sorry, should have been clearer. Flight is for a few months from now 3/30/14. Just trying to figure out what my options are before I call especially since the wait time with the weather issues right now is over 2 hours!
Jan 5, 2014, 7:06 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,635
OP, it would be courteous to wait a couple of days.
No way is AA going to pay BA surcharges if you want to move your award to BA.
You can get a full refund or rebook or keep the AA rebooking.
No way is AA going to pay BA surcharges if you want to move your award to BA.
You can get a full refund or rebook or keep the AA rebooking.
Jan 5, 2014, 10:23 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
AA award flight cancelled due to schedule change
I would insist they put you on the BA flight and eat the surcharge (or the half that presumably goes to BA, their JV partner). If they refuse, file a DOT complaint.
Jan 5, 2014, 11:08 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Yes, they should definitely put you on the BA flight for free.
When my JFK-BRU award flight was cancelled, I was put on JFK-LHR on AA and LHR-BRU on BA, without being made to pay BA surcharges.
When my JFK-BRU award flight was cancelled, I was put on JFK-LHR on AA and LHR-BRU on BA, without being made to pay BA surcharges.
Jan 5, 2014, 11:35 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Shouldn't the fuel surcharge for LHR-BRU should be much less than for RDU-LHR?
Jan 5, 2014, 11:40 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Jan 6, 2014, 1:02 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
AA is dropping its morning flight and BA is picking up a second frequency so the JV can guarantee lie-flat seats on NYC-LON, at least until AA does some retrofits of 772 or has some spare 77W capacity. Given the emphasis on metal neutrality, pushing you over to the BA flight seems entirely reasonable.
Jan 6, 2014, 3:41 am
#13
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EP, UA Gold-MM, UA 1K (former), GS (former),SPG LT Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,299
(2) My understanding (and please someone correct me if I am wrong) that when fuel surcharges are charged and collected that AA retains that money and does not pass that on to BA. In other words BA does not charge AA any surcharge.
Jan 6, 2014, 3:48 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
Being EXP helps of course.
For the OP, decide what you would prefer then phone up and ask, at worst they will say 'no' but I've usually found them pretty accommodating, especially if the flight they have moved you to arrives significantly later for example.
Jan 6, 2014, 6:39 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,635
They have done it for me in the past without charging me anything extra ...
Being EXP helps of course.
For the OP, decide what you would prefer then phone up and ask, at worst they will say 'no' but I've usually found them pretty accommodating, especially if the flight they have moved you to arrives significantly later for example.
Being EXP helps of course.
For the OP, decide what you would prefer then phone up and ask, at worst they will say 'no' but I've usually found them pretty accommodating, especially if the flight they have moved you to arrives significantly later for example.
How in the world would a schedule change where the OP is offered a full refund merit a DOT complaint for failure to waive BA award fees?