Aug 22, 2015, 6:34 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA: $75 Expedite Ticketing Fee for awards ticketed within 21 days of travel
(Does not apply to AAdvantage elite status holders)
(Does not apply to AAdvantage elite status holders)
American Airlines charges a $75 "expedite (ticketing) fee" for awards that are less than 21 days from booking (waived for AAdvantage elite members using miles from their own account - but it may vary for awards for others; some report being charged, others not).
There used to be a workaround "loophole"- book for over 21 days out, then change to a closer date. This loophole was closed February 16, 2012, and there is no known way of avoiding this fee for those required to pay it.
AAdvantage Award Processing Charges
Ticketing less than 21 days prior to departure $75
(Waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and
AAdvantage Gold® (and Platinum Pro, Concierge Key EP) members using miles from their account)
Ticketing less than 21 days prior to departure $75
(Waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and
AAdvantage Gold® (and Platinum Pro, Concierge Key EP) members using miles from their account)
See aa.com awards booking page (as of 22 Mar 2016)here.
AA award $75 expedite / close-in processing fee (master thd)
Feb 20, 2012, 6:54 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,413
Now wait a second.
The loophole allowed you to bypass the fee when the new travel date was within 21 days of the ticketing date.
The new rule here, as described (we haven't seen the formal language), would charge the fee when the new travel date was within 21 days of the change date.
That's a big difference. I'll bet it's pretty common for someone to book an award months in advance, then decide at the last minute to leave a day early or return a day later; probably much more common than the loophole-evaders.
The loophole allowed you to bypass the fee when the new travel date was within 21 days of the ticketing date.
The new rule here, as described (we haven't seen the formal language), would charge the fee when the new travel date was within 21 days of the change date.
That's a big difference. I'll bet it's pretty common for someone to book an award months in advance, then decide at the last minute to leave a day early or return a day later; probably much more common than the loophole-evaders.
"CONFIRMED: it does not apply to elites using miles from their own account, and it only triggers if "new outbound travel date.. is within 21 days of the original ticketing date"
(Sorry that I don't have the technological capability to show this as a second quote.)
Feb 20, 2012, 9:05 am
#47
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Amb Elite & LT Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,230
There is confirmation that the $75 fee is an award processing fee for those who book over 21 days out and then voluntarily request the outbound leg(s) begin in fewer than 21 days. The fee will not apply to AAdvantage statusholders using miles from their own account, no changes in this last bit. The source verified; you can confirm as much on TB. The sky is not falling, the loophole has finally been properly stoppered. 
If you have status no change.
Feb 20, 2012, 9:45 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but if you would read the Traveling Better thread that JDiver provided a link to in post 43, you would see that this is incorrect. The following is specifically stated by someone whose knowledge on these kinds of things has stood the test of time:
"CONFIRMED: it does not apply to elites using miles from their own account, and it only triggers if "new outbound travel date.. is within 21 days of the original ticketing date"
(Sorry that I don't have the technological capability to show this as a second quote.)
"CONFIRMED: it does not apply to elites using miles from their own account, and it only triggers if "new outbound travel date.. is within 21 days of the original ticketing date"
(Sorry that I don't have the technological capability to show this as a second quote.)
Over on the TB board, it's said that the travel date is in fact compared to the date of the PNR creation.
http://www.travelingbetter.com/forum...ead.php?t=5120
If true, that's a lot more reasonable, it closes the loophole while still allowing last minute changes. Please ignore my previous posts on this thread.
http://www.travelingbetter.com/forum...ead.php?t=5120
If true, that's a lot more reasonable, it closes the loophole while still allowing last minute changes. Please ignore my previous posts on this thread.
Feb 21, 2012, 8:29 am
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 364
to use advantage miles on trip, it has to be done 21 days in advance?
If I have trips coming up in mid march and want to use my advantage miles, is it true that I have to book, my trip 21 days before the trip date or pay $150 fee?
I plan on using my advantage miles for trip from chicago, to NYC, toronto, car rental to travel to NIAGRA FALLS for 2 nights hotel stay and return to Chicago.
any advices suggestions? my passport expires in July 2012, wonder if it requires 6 month validity at US-CANADA airports?
I plan on using my advantage miles for trip from chicago, to NYC, toronto, car rental to travel to NIAGRA FALLS for 2 nights hotel stay and return to Chicago.
any advices suggestions? my passport expires in July 2012, wonder if it requires 6 month validity at US-CANADA airports?
Last edited by jonny1; Feb 21, 2012 at 8:44 am Reason: edit
Feb 21, 2012, 9:00 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: HHonors Gold, National Exec, Marriott Silver
Posts: 267
If I have trips coming up in mid march and want to use my advantage miles, is it true that I have to book, my trip 21 days before the trip date or pay $150 fee?
I plan on using my advantage miles for trip from chicago, to NYC, toronto, car rental to travel to NIAGRA FALLS for 2 nights hotel stay and return to Chicago.
any advices suggestions? my passport expires in July 2012, wonder if it requires 6 month validity at US-CANADA airports?
I plan on using my advantage miles for trip from chicago, to NYC, toronto, car rental to travel to NIAGRA FALLS for 2 nights hotel stay and return to Chicago.
any advices suggestions? my passport expires in July 2012, wonder if it requires 6 month validity at US-CANADA airports?
Feb 21, 2012, 9:29 am
#54
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
If you book less than 21 days in advance, you will pay a $75 fee (per ticket, I believe) for "close-in booking" (which, IMO is a ridiculous rip-off, it's not like they have to do something special to issue the tickets, and inventory management has already decided those seats aren't likely to sell and made them available for awards).
Of the major US airlines, the only one that doesn't do this is Delta.
Of the major US airlines, the only one that doesn't do this is Delta.
Feb 21, 2012, 10:11 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
The historical origins of the fee date back to the days of paper tickets and paper award certs, and the fee went towards covering the cost of Fedexing the tickets to ensure you'd have them prior to departure.
In the mid-90s, as e-tickets replaced paper, but there was still no online booking, AA justified continuing the fee with the argument that they needed increased staff to ensure that close-in tickets could get processed in time.
Now, it's just a money grab.
In the mid-90s, as e-tickets replaced paper, but there was still no online booking, AA justified continuing the fee with the argument that they needed increased staff to ensure that close-in tickets could get processed in time.
Now, it's just a money grab.
Feb 21, 2012, 11:25 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
Like many other questions about AA, the answer to this one depends on your AA status. That's why most FT members list their status in their profile - we aren't bragging, we are just trying to avoid making those answering our questions go through the "if you are this status, the answer is X, if you are that status, the answer is Y".
Feb 21, 2012, 11:50 am
#59
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
AA has charged $75 for award travel from non-elite's accounts for travel sooner than 21 days from booking; there was a technical loophole that allowed folks to book farther out, then change to less than 21 days and not pay the fee. Those days are now over, effective 9 Feb 2012, but it does not apply to AAdvantage elites. See the first post in this existing, active thread for details, as well as reading upthread.
If I have trips coming up in mid march and want to use my advantage miles, is it true that I have to book, my trip 21 days before the trip date or pay $150 fee?
I plan on using my advantage miles for trip from chicago, to NYC, toronto, car rental to travel to NIAGRA FALLS for 2 nights hotel stay and return to Chicago.
any advices suggestions? my passport expires in July 2012, wonder if it requires 6 month validity at US-CANADA airports?
I plan on using my advantage miles for trip from chicago, to NYC, toronto, car rental to travel to NIAGRA FALLS for 2 nights hotel stay and return to Chicago.
any advices suggestions? my passport expires in July 2012, wonder if it requires 6 month validity at US-CANADA airports?
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 17, 2012 at 8:27 pm Reason: fill in
Feb 21, 2012, 12:25 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: TBD
Programs: AA since 1988 (ex-elite status); Alaska; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 497
Delta - $150 (all changes)
United - $75 for changes <21 days out. For other change fees, see the complicated chart.
US Airways - $75
United - $75 for changes <21 days out. For other change fees, see the complicated chart.
US Airways - $75