Apr 6, 2014, 7:48 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA.com 24 Hour Cancellation Policy is 24 Hour Hold, DOT OK / 26 Jan 2012
AA has cancelled this policy effective 1 April 2016
AA has cancelled this policy effective 1 April 2016
See HOLD ticket WILL change 1 Apr 2016 - 24 hr hold or / & cancel for current thread.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
●
● Bookings made within seven days of flight are not required to offer 24 hour cancellation or holds; AA.com does not offer cancellation options in those cases, nor does it do so on partner airline flights. (Still in force.)
●
See:
http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/notic...ur-reservation
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/fil...al20130530.pdf
(Award flights on AA can still be held for five days.)
Also see: Extended Hold: Pay to hold reservation longer than 24 hours (consolidated)[/FONT][/COLOR]
AA's Customer Commitment states: "When you make a telephone reservation with American Airlines or when you make a reservation via AA.com, the reservation can be held and the fare quoted will be guaranteed for 24 hours or until 11:59 p.m. Central Time the following day, whichever allows you more time to purchase your ticket. If you elect to make changes to the itinerary within this timeframe, the ticket price may change and once payment is received, normal refund policies apply to the ticket."
Note this foot note on AA.com. * Actual "Hold" period depends on fare rules. Some fares require purchase by a specific time.
Note this foot note on AA.com. * Actual "Hold" period depends on fare rules. Some fares require purchase by a specific time.
In some cases, the 24 hour hold may actually expire in less than 24 hours if ticketing conditions (e.g. advance purchase requirements) supersede the 24 hour period. Nonetheless, as brp states below: "Web Services (800-222-2377) within the 24 hours and they will reinstate the original fare."
24 hour hold is not available for codeshares and partner airlines marketed flights when combined with AA travel, nor to those using discount codes. Nonetheless, under DOT regulations, the airline must allow 24 hour cancellation without fees.
[FONT="Arial"]
Refunds Within 24 Hours of Booking Within 7 Days of Flight No Longer Offered
The 24-hour reservation requirement is mandated by the Department of Transportation’s consumer rule “Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections” (14 CFR 259.5(b)(4), 76 Fed. Reg. 23110, 23166, Apr. 25, 2011) and applies to all reservations made seven days or more prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time.
If one is booking for travel within seven days, there is no "hold" option given during the booking process. Though one may have previously gotten refunded within 24 hours of booking fewer than seven days out by AA, it is not required by USDOT and AA is now denying refunds in these instances as of 12 June 2015. The change was not announced to AA flyers or AAdvantage members.
Per JonNYC below:
Originally Posted by Previous policy
Updated 10 Feb 2016
ARCHIVE: AA 24 Hour Cancellation Policy: Offer 24 Hour Hold (obsolete)
Jul 12, 2012, 4:50 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
AA offers a free 24-hold on most itineraries so they do not offer a refund option after ticketing.
Jul 12, 2012, 4:54 pm
#92
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
The FAQ is the place to go; you would then encounter the post that has information and links regarding your question.
Jul 12, 2012, 5:04 pm
#93
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 542
As I read it, you can cancel and get a refund within 24 hours of purchase as long as the flight is more than one week away.
If you put your ticket on hold and then purchased, I do not believe you are entitled to a refund.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2012/dot0812.html
"Also beginning this week, passengers will be able to hold a reservation without payment, OR cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date." (emphasis added)
If you put your ticket on hold and then purchased, I do not believe you are entitled to a refund.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2012/dot0812.html
"Also beginning this week, passengers will be able to hold a reservation without payment, OR cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date." (emphasis added)
Jul 12, 2012, 5:07 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
As I read it, you can cancel and get a refund within 24 hours of purchase as long as the flight is more than one week away.
If you put your ticket on hold and then purchased, I do not believe you are entitled to a refund.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2012/dot0812.html
"Also beginning this week, passengers will be able to hold a reservation without payment, OR cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date." (emphasis added)
If you put your ticket on hold and then purchased, I do not believe you are entitled to a refund.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2012/dot0812.html
"Also beginning this week, passengers will be able to hold a reservation without payment, OR cancel a booking without penalty, for 24 hours after the reservation is made, if they make the reservation one week or more prior to a flight’s departure date." (emphasis added)
Cheers.
Jul 12, 2012, 5:29 pm
#96
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,702
There is so much confusion here, so hopefully this will clarify.
The DOT gives airlines and booking agents two options to comply with the new regulations. Airlines are free to choose either of them.
(1) 24 hour cancellation and refund payment -OR- (2) 24 hour hold without payment
For AA only flights, AA.com has chosen (2).
If your AA.com reservation is able to be placed on hold and you ticket it, you are NOT entitled to a refund or change once it has ticketed.
If your AA.com reservation is not able to be placed on hold (itineraries that include non-AA flights or ones with promo codes) you must ticket it immediately to keep the fare. If you made your reservation greater than 7 days in advance, you may cancel the ticket for a refund within 24 hours.
Note the following:
1) Not all AAgents might be aware of this policy. If you encounter one that is not, ask for a supervisor. AA recently sent out a memo to its phone agents regarding this so these instances have reduced.
2) If you used a one time use promo code and you cancel the flight within 24 hours, you lose the value of the promo code.
Of course, as brp stated above, a sympathetic AAgent can let anything happen.
The DOT gives airlines and booking agents two options to comply with the new regulations. Airlines are free to choose either of them.
(1) 24 hour cancellation and refund payment -OR- (2) 24 hour hold without payment
For AA only flights, AA.com has chosen (2).
If your AA.com reservation is able to be placed on hold and you ticket it, you are NOT entitled to a refund or change once it has ticketed.
If your AA.com reservation is not able to be placed on hold (itineraries that include non-AA flights or ones with promo codes) you must ticket it immediately to keep the fare. If you made your reservation greater than 7 days in advance, you may cancel the ticket for a refund within 24 hours.
Note the following:
1) Not all AAgents might be aware of this policy. If you encounter one that is not, ask for a supervisor. AA recently sent out a memo to its phone agents regarding this so these instances have reduced.
2) If you used a one time use promo code and you cancel the flight within 24 hours, you lose the value of the promo code.
Of course, as brp stated above, a sympathetic AAgent can let anything happen.
Jul 12, 2012, 5:37 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
The memo hasn't done much.
Still, most AAgents say something like "all the fare rules still apply". They are completely clueless about it. I sent a DoT complaint over this.
However, one AAgent suggested to cite the DoT Passenger Bill of Rights 6/14/12 Update to help clueless agents get enlightened.
Still, most AAgents say something like "all the fare rules still apply". They are completely clueless about it. I sent a DoT complaint over this.
However, one AAgent suggested to cite the DoT Passenger Bill of Rights 6/14/12 Update to help clueless agents get enlightened.
Jul 12, 2012, 5:40 pm
#98
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,702
Jul 12, 2012, 6:55 pm
#99
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,982
The answer is you can call and even though the ticket has been issued, ask the agent or your TA to *void* the ticket. I am unsure the time threshold, but I have had no problem asking for this even if I bought the ticket in the AM, and by COB I was able to push off the meeting. I have to do this a handfull of times a year and always have no issue.
Jul 21, 2012, 12:04 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,962
So if making changes (not just a cancelation) on an award ticket booked from an Executive Platinum account even if the actual passenger is a general member, the EP fee waiver applies? Or does the person have to pay according to their own non-status level?
Jul 21, 2012, 12:10 pm
#101
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 259
I believe the fee waiver applies in this case. Even if the passenger is a GM, so long as the origin and destination don't change and the date of travel is more than 21 days out, there are no change fees.
Jul 21, 2012, 5:04 pm
#102
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
Jul 21, 2012, 6:43 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
Jul 21, 2012, 11:20 pm
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
The waiver applies if the account the miles are from belongs to an EXP.
The status of the passenger doesn't matter.
Jul 22, 2012, 1:08 am
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
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