can you cancel award flights?
Jan 14, 2008, 8:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: UA GS, *G, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Diamond, Platinum on Blockbuster, GameStop, several library cards
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can you cancel award flights?
Sort of a trick question, because of course you can cancel your flight simply by not going. The real questions, what are the rules for gettign my points back?
I'm trying to plan family vacation and ma being torn between the dual priorities of booking early to find award seats (to SCL) and booking late in order to have all required information.
Sorry for the n00b question and appreciativew of all help.
I'm trying to plan family vacation and ma being torn between the dual priorities of booking early to find award seats (to SCL) and booking late in order to have all required information.
Sorry for the n00b question and appreciativew of all help.
Jan 14, 2008, 9:02 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Once you claim an AAward, you have one year from the ORIGINAL DATE OF ISSUANCE to use it. As long as the routing does not change, you can changes dates and times as much as you want. But travel MUST be completed within one year of the original date of ISSUANCE, NOT the original date of travel. It's an important distinction.
If you prefer to cancel the ticket, you will need to pay the $100 "redeposit" fee. Nobody is exempt, not even EXPs.
If you prefer to cancel the ticket, you will need to pay the $100 "redeposit" fee. Nobody is exempt, not even EXPs.
Jan 15, 2008, 9:42 am
#3
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Since this is a long flight the redeposit fee may be worth it. Is it per ticket or per booking? (I'm trying to book 3 tix to SCL for thanksgiving.)
Jan 15, 2008, 9:53 am
#4
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Many alleged mysteries are addressed quite directly in aa.com.
Please see 'Reinstating awards' for the details of redeposit fees.
http://www.aa.com/content/AAdvantage...dDetails.jhtml
Please see 'Reinstating awards' for the details of redeposit fees.
http://www.aa.com/content/AAdvantage...dDetails.jhtml
Jan 15, 2008, 10:13 am
#7
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When requesting a reinstatement, a $100 USD processing fee will be charged per account for the first award. Any additional awards reinstated to the same account at the same time will have a $25 USD per award add-on fee.
Jan 15, 2008, 11:00 am
#8
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thanks all! this is very helpful.
And to 3Cforme, thank you for also showing me where on their website I could find this information.
And to 3Cforme, thank you for also showing me where on their website I could find this information.
Jan 15, 2008, 2:22 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 469
Related question, if you cancel an award flight, does the taxes paid get refunded to you (less the $100 reinstatement fee)? On some international flights, the taxes, security fees, etc. can run well over $100 per ticket.
Jan 15, 2008, 3:46 pm
#10
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Posts: 703
Jan 15, 2008, 3:58 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT, UA 1P
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I have had taxes and fees refunded when cancelling an award ticket.
Jan 15, 2008, 6:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Based in London but away ~4 months a year, often in Bali
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Posts: 322
Certainly not something to rely on, and I've not done this myself. But I'd ask politely about it if I wound up booking 10 months before a flight and some months later needed to shift the return to a modest amount after the 1 year mark.
Jan 15, 2008, 6:40 pm
#13
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If I'm not mistaken, I heard that some have *sometimes* found the fee waived when they are redepositing in order to then, with good reason, immediately make another similar booking. E.g. you *might* get lucky if upgrading from business class to first class in order to get seat availability on a date change.
Certainly not something to rely on, and I've not done this myself. But I'd ask politely about it if I wound up booking 10 months before a flight and some months later needed to shift the return to a modest amount after the 1 year mark.
Certainly not something to rely on, and I've not done this myself. But I'd ask politely about it if I wound up booking 10 months before a flight and some months later needed to shift the return to a modest amount after the 1 year mark.