Feb 19, 2016, 2:01 pm
Last edit by: thorofare
AA Vacations / aavacations.com Flight and Ground Packages
Trust American Airlines to offer you the perfect package at the best price, guaranteed! When you choose to bundle your travel components into one package price we can offer you an unbeatable value by combining our unpublished low rates on flights with specially negotiated rates on hotels, activities and transportation. So, whether you're looking for a quick flight plus hotel weekend getaway or an all-inclusive package complete with flight, hotel, ground transportation and tickets to local attractions, you can rest easy knowing the entire trip is covered by our Lowest Price Guarantee.
FAQ
Q. Do these earn AAEQM Loyalty Points, Award Miles (RDM) and EQD (EQ Dollars in 2017)?
These generally book into discount paid fare buckets, so "Yes" at this time. There are a few promotional offers that do not earnEQM Loyalty Points; these will clearly say so, so read thoroughly. See:
Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Loyalty Points on aa.com (link)
Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partners 2016
and this for the changes affecting Award Miles coming in the latter part of 2016.
Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016
Q. Can I upgrade these with AA upgrade instruments (e500 "stickers", miles and copay, SWU)? NOTE: As of July 2022, AA no longer issues 500-mile upgrade certificates ("stickers"). Auto-requested complimentary upgrades are now available to all elite status members and one traveling companion. See details at aa.com
Yes. These follow the standard AA upgrade rules.
Q. Can I use AAadvantage Award Miles to "pay" for a vacation?
(Change late 2019) Yes. You can "pay" with money (cards, etc.), AAdvantage miles or a combination of both. Miles may be used to pay for any portion of the vacation package up, and including, all of it. At this time there is no way to distinguish the breakpoint between the land portion and the air portion of the package, except by calling. And even this is a mixed bag.
Q. If I use AAdvantage Aware Miles to pay for part of my vacation, does this impact upgrades or EQM/RDM for the flights?(RDM)?
(Change 2020) AA Vacations agents are confident that using miles will have no impact on EQM/EQD/RDM as the miles are converted to "cash" to pay for the trip, so the AA system sees these as cash paid. This is supposed to apply no matter how much of the trip is paid with miles. Experiences reported here using part miles indicate that all posts as expected in these cases..
Q. So, what kinds of fares are ineligible for earning AA miles?
"Exceptions (aa.com)
Q. What aboutEQM Loyalty Points and Award ("Redeemable") Miles earning later in 2016 after 1 January 2022?
AA has specified a set of "Special Fares", which includes select AA Vacations (where there is a * next to the booking code when looking at the flight details).
Note that the Special Fares page also says, "AAdvantage elite member bonuses will be applied in addition to the percentages shown for award miles."
Q. What fare classes do First and Business packages book into?
Typically A for international First, A, R or P domestic F, and I or D international Business.
Q. What if I'm flying on a flight on a partner airline?
AA Vacations most often books into AA "code shares" / AA marketed flights. In that case, you'll earn miles as if flying on American. If it doesn't, you'll earn per the agreement AA has with the partner airline. Start here to look them up.
Q. What advance purchase restrictions are imposed?
Most advance purchase, minimum stay, etc. normally imposed by the airline don't apply; the restrictions are those imposed by AA Vacations. (Detailed Fare Rules for your fare generally do apply, however.)
Q. Are the trips or fares refundable?
Generally not fully refundable. Hotels and ground activities are generally not at all, and air will depend on the fare bucket and detailed rules. AA vacations does offer protection, but hotels etc. may not be included.
"There are two types of protection available: We offer the Cancellation and Change Waiver (Pre-Departure Protection) which allows you to cancel and/or change either the land or air portion of their package without penalty. Trip Protector (Post-Departure protection) from Allianz Global Assistance can provide protection for your trip expenses, your health and your belongings."
A waiver is usually $129 for international travel and $69 for domestic travel. This can also be paid with miles.
Q. What is the shortest time I can book an air-hotel package for?
It appears three nights is the shortest period allowed by aavacations, unless the total duration of the trip is less than three days, then it is length of trip. However, those three nights do not need to be at a single property.
Q. Can I book a ten day package with only three days of prepaid hotel?
Sure. You'll have to call to do so, however.
You can change the dates of the hotel to be different from those of the flights in the "More Search Options" section of the search. You can also book multiple rooms here too, specifying the number of guests per room.I don't think you can book hotel to be in a different city though. A hotel in a different city (or continent, even) can be booked, but must be done over the phone.
Q. Is only one hotel offered?
No. A variety of properties is generally offered, but this will of course affect pricing.
Q. Does the hotel have to be in the destination city?
No. You can book a property in another city if it's offered by AA Vacations.
Q. What happens if I don't use the ground part (hotel, car, etc.)? Will they cancel my return flights?
Nothing. You can use it or forget it. No flight cancellations ensue. See AA Vacations - not checking in at Hotel Some purposely book the cheapest pricing for their trip knowing they're choosing a "throwaway hotel" they won't use.
Though one AA Vacations agent actually said "always book with us and just book the cheapest hotel for 3 days and throw it away", don't you say it's your intent.
Q. Will AA Vacations cause problems for me?
If you disclose your intent to AA Vacations to "throw away" (not stay at) the hotel, they can not sell you the package. So, don't.
Q. Will the hotel cause problems for me?
Not likely; they're paid for a prepaid stay whether you stay or not, as they get to keep the money and have "your" room to sell.
Q. Will I earn points at the hotel? Will they recognize my status?
Many chains don't recognize third party bookings for points or stay credit, but will usually recognize your status. Properties will treat as prepaid booking.
Q. Are there ever deals or promos?
Indeed. There are often sales and promotions; look for them on the site.
Q. What if I want to book open jaw or customize?
Calling can do that. There's a $39 call fee, unless it's not able to be booked online. Others have said you can generally calculate the price of an open jaw itinerary by adding half the price of pricing for vacations to the arrival and departure cities and adding those.
Q. Can I put these on "hold" while I think about it since these include air fare?
No. But: Refund of Air Ticket Portion Within 24 Hours of Purchase
Within 24 hours of booking, you are allowed to cancel your refundable or non-refundable air ticket for a full refund (and no change fees and/or difference in fare) subject to the following rules:
Q. My AAdvantage credit card earns double Award ("Redeemable") Miles on AA purchases. Will AA Vacations purchases earn 2x miles?
No. What transactions are eligible to earn double AAdvantage® miles?
Eligible American Airlines purchases are items billed by American Airlines as the merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels (aa.com, American Airlines Reservations, American Airlines airport, in-flight and city ticket counters). American Airlines tickets purchased through other channels or that are a component of any other cruise or tour package do not earn the additional mile purchase bonuses. Products or services that do not qualify for the additional bonus miles include car rentals, hotel reservations, American Airlines Vacations packages, purchases of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, duty free purchases and or AA Cargo℠
Q. Do these earn AA
These generally book into discount paid fare buckets, so "Yes" at this time. There are a few promotional offers that do not earn
Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Loyalty Points on aa.com (link)
and this for the changes affecting Award Miles coming in the latter part of 2016.
Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016
Q. Can I upgrade these with AA upgrade instruments (
Yes. These follow the standard AA upgrade rules.
Q. Can I use AAadvantage Award Miles to "pay" for a vacation?
(Change late 2019) Yes. You can "pay" with money (cards, etc.), AAdvantage miles or a combination of both. Miles may be used to pay for any portion of the vacation package up, and including, all of it. At this time there is no way to distinguish the breakpoint between the land portion and the air portion of the package, except by calling. And even this is a mixed bag.
Q. If I use AAdvantage Aware Miles to pay for part of my vacation, does this impact upgrades or EQM/RDM for the flights?(RDM)?
(Change 2020) AA Vacations agents are confident that using miles will have no impact on EQM/EQD/RDM as the miles are converted to "cash" to pay for the trip, so the AA system sees these as cash paid. This is supposed to apply no matter how much of the trip is paid with miles. Experiences reported here using part miles indicate that all posts as expected in these cases..
Q. So, what kinds of fares are ineligible for earning AA miles?
"Exceptions (aa.com)
There are certain airline ticket types that are not eligible for mileage accrual regardless of the booking class. These include, without limitation, the following:
Q Are there any types of tickets that won’t earn award miles?
Yes, tickets that currently do not earn award miles, elite-qualifying miles or elite-qualifying segments will not earn award miles in the future. This includes:
Q Are there any types of tickets that won’t earn award miles?
Yes, tickets that currently do not earn award miles, elite-qualifying miles or elite-qualifying segments will not earn award miles in the future. This includes:
- All tickets issued as AAdvantage awards
- Other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets
- Companion tickets
- Charter flight tickets
- Travel agency/industry reduced rate tickets
- Infant tickets
- Extra seats or items occupying a purchased seat
- Unpublished fare tickets, including consolidator fares
- Tickets issued subject to special provisions
Q. What about
AA has specified a set of "Special Fares", which includes select AA Vacations (where there is a * next to the booking code when looking at the flight details).
Some fares (such as bulk or consolidator fares) earn award miles and Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) Loyalty Points (LPs) at a modified rate based on a percentage of the distance flown as determined by the booking code.
Special fares are often purchased through a specialized agent, third party or as part of a package including air transportation and lodging.
Examples:
Special fares are often purchased through a specialized agent, third party or as part of a package including air transportation and lodging.
Examples:
- Bulk fares
- Cruise fares
- Consolidator fares
- Discounted or inclusive tour packages
- Vacation packages, including select American Airlines Vacations® packages. For Vacations, special fares are marked with an asterisk (*) after the booking code in the AAVacations.com booking path,
- Other tickets where the fare isn't disclosed, excluding bookings made through priceline.com or hotwire.com where the carrier isn't disclosed before buying
Q. What fare classes do First and Business packages book into?
Typically A for international First, A, R or P domestic F, and I or D international Business.
Q. What if I'm flying on a flight on a partner airline?
AA Vacations most often books into AA "code shares" / AA marketed flights. In that case, you'll earn miles as if flying on American. If it doesn't, you'll earn per the agreement AA has with the partner airline. Start here to look them up.
Q. What advance purchase restrictions are imposed?
Most advance purchase, minimum stay, etc. normally imposed by the airline don't apply; the restrictions are those imposed by AA Vacations. (Detailed Fare Rules for your fare generally do apply, however.)
Q. Are the trips or fares refundable?
Generally not fully refundable. Hotels and ground activities are generally not at all, and air will depend on the fare bucket and detailed rules. AA vacations does offer protection, but hotels etc. may not be included.
"There are two types of protection available: We offer the Cancellation and Change Waiver (Pre-Departure Protection) which allows you to cancel and/or change either the land or air portion of their package without penalty. Trip Protector (Post-Departure protection) from Allianz Global Assistance can provide protection for your trip expenses, your health and your belongings."
A waiver is usually $129 for international travel and $69 for domestic travel. This can also be paid with miles.
Q. What is the shortest time I can book an air-hotel package for?
It appears three nights is the shortest period allowed by aavacations, unless the total duration of the trip is less than three days, then it is length of trip. However, those three nights do not need to be at a single property.
Q. Can I book a ten day package with only three days of prepaid hotel?
You can change the dates of the hotel to be different from those of the flights in the "More Search Options" section of the search. You can also book multiple rooms here too, specifying the number of guests per room.
Q. Is only one hotel offered?
No. A variety of properties is generally offered, but this will of course affect pricing.
Q. Does the hotel have to be in the destination city?
No. You can book a property in another city if it's offered by AA Vacations.
Q. What happens if I don't use the ground part (hotel, car, etc.)? Will they cancel my return flights?
Nothing. You can use it or forget it. No flight cancellations ensue. See AA Vacations - not checking in at Hotel Some purposely book the cheapest pricing for their trip knowing they're choosing a "throwaway hotel" they won't use.
Though one AA Vacations agent actually said "always book with us and just book the cheapest hotel for 3 days and throw it away", don't you say it's your intent.
Q. Will AA Vacations cause problems for me?
If you disclose your intent to AA Vacations to "throw away" (not stay at) the hotel, they can not sell you the package. So, don't.
Q. Will the hotel cause problems for me?
Not likely; they're paid for a prepaid stay whether you stay or not, as they get to keep the money and have "your" room to sell.
Q. Will I earn points at the hotel? Will they recognize my status?
Many chains don't recognize third party bookings for points or stay credit, but will usually recognize your status. Properties will treat as prepaid booking.
Q. Are there ever deals or promos?
Indeed. There are often sales and promotions; look for them on the site.
Q. What if I want to book open jaw or customize?
Calling can do that. There's a $39 call fee, unless it's not able to be booked online. Others have said you can generally calculate the price of an open jaw itinerary by adding half the price of pricing for vacations to the arrival and departure cities and adding those.
Q. Can I put these on "hold" while I think about it since these include air fare?
No. But: Refund of Air Ticket Portion Within 24 Hours of Purchase
Within 24 hours of booking, you are allowed to cancel your refundable or non-refundable air ticket for a full refund (and no change fees and/or difference in fare) subject to the following rules:
- You must call 800-321-2121 within 24 hours of purchase to cancel the air ticket reservation and request a refund of the air ticket.
- The reservation must have been booked at least 7 days before scheduled departure.
- This policy does not apply to hotel or other non-air portions of the package. Standard cancellation policies will apply to all non-air components of the package.
- Refunds are only issued for tickets booked on aavacations.com or with American Airlines Vacations Reservations.
Q. My AAdvantage credit card earns double Award ("Redeemable") Miles on AA purchases. Will AA Vacations purchases earn 2x miles?
No. What transactions are eligible to earn double AAdvantage® miles?
Eligible American Airlines purchases are items billed by American Airlines as the merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels (aa.com, American Airlines Reservations, American Airlines airport, in-flight and city ticket counters). American Airlines tickets purchased through other channels or that are a component of any other cruise or tour package do not earn the additional mile purchase bonuses. Products or services that do not qualify for the additional bonus miles include car rentals, hotel reservations, American Airlines Vacations packages, purchases of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, duty free purchases and or AA Cargo℠
(lower right wiki corner)Updated by JDiver 19 Feb 2016
FAQ: aavacations.com / AA Vacations flight & vacation package questions, discussion
Aug 3, 2017, 7:34 pm
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
FWIW, I searched some AAV fares today and they had the *. However, the earnings were better booking on aa.com, because the distances were not that great (about 5000 miles each way). The fares were comparable, =/- $100 if you were booking the cheapest throwaway hotel.
The biggest advantage would be to get a discount on a hotel you would actually use, or to add the $129 waiver and make the fare refundable.
The biggest advantage would be to get a discount on a hotel you would actually use, or to add the $129 waiver and make the fare refundable.
Cheers.
Aug 4, 2017, 12:08 am
#197
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Okay, so when I went shopping the other day for an AAV package, it said the special fares chart applies only when the flights are displayed with * next to the booking class; all other fares use the regular fare-based chart.
At least on the itineraries I searched, most of the flights did not show the *.
Apparently this loophole has been closed?
At least on the itineraries I searched, most of the flights did not show the *.
Apparently this loophole has been closed?
Aug 4, 2017, 8:29 am
#198
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium
Posts: 1,334
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
Vacation packages, including select American Airlines Vacations® packages. For Vacations, special fares are marked with an asterisk (*) after the booking code in the AAVacations.com booking path.
Aug 7, 2017, 10:37 am
#199
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
How does the change waiver work?
Does anyone know how the pre-departure change waiver works? Specifically, for changes, can you change as many times as you want or just once? Does it waive change fees such that you are only responsible for fare difference? What happens if the new fare is less, do you get a refund of the difference?
I am trying to book a vacation and plan on using a SWU but the flights I actually want only have really expensive fare classes avail and there are some really cheap flights where the SWU clearing is much lower likelihood so I'd like to book the cheap flights now and hope that the cheaper fare classes open up later and change to those flights.
I am trying to book a vacation and plan on using a SWU but the flights I actually want only have really expensive fare classes avail and there are some really cheap flights where the SWU clearing is much lower likelihood so I'd like to book the cheap flights now and hope that the cheaper fare classes open up later and change to those flights.
Aug 7, 2017, 12:52 pm
#200
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I had not seen the new details about the * being required, but my recollection had been that most of the ex-SEA and ex-YVR flights had that. I just looked at both SEA-STO and YVR-STO for mid October and was able to price out at $2800 RT in biz and all flight combos showed a * next to fare class. I still cannot beat $2930 (which is effective price for flights with the waiver added) and my corporate rate for those dates is around $5k. I am having a tough time finding preferred seat, it seems there are few 77W flights to/from LHR these days and so it is either BA 747/380 or AA 772/787 as the options.
Aug 8, 2017, 6:03 am
#201
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,433
Does anyone know how the pre-departure change waiver works? Specifically, for changes, can you change as many times as you want or just once? Does it waive change fees such that you are only responsible for fare difference? What happens if the new fare is less, do you get a refund of the difference?
https://www.aavacations.com/waiver.asp
Aug 8, 2017, 9:07 am
#202
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 102
I just priced out a future itinerary to South America on AA vacations and found a much better deal for business class tickets. I know the AA waives change fees when upgrading an existing reservation. Does anyone know if that applies when upgrading an existing AA reservation through AA Vacation?
Also, if you never show at the booked hotel, does that jeopardize the reservation on AA?
Also, if you never show at the booked hotel, does that jeopardize the reservation on AA?
Last edited by jrb CO; Aug 8, 2017 at 9:22 am
Aug 12, 2017, 7:27 am
#203
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Miami, Florida, USA
Posts: 213
Well before I call AA Vacations, I wanted to see if perhaps anyone here had a similar experience and words of wisdom...
I've booked flight/hotel packages with them in the past for some very reasonable TATL fares, with toss-away hotels, but this time, it just so happened that they were offering a decent package rate for a hotel that I'm familiar with and have stayed at previously, so I opted to go that route and include the hotel which I planned to stay at albeit it bumping up the package price a fair amount from what it would have been with the throw-away option. Anyway, come to find out (several weeks after booking), apparently the hotel is having a major issue with their air con system to the extent that there is now no air con throughout the property - which I've confirmed directly with the hotel, to the extent that they've told me they have to rip out the old system and install an entirely new one in the entire hotel... which they "conveniently" anticipate starting when I'm due to arrive.
So in reality, there's two issues here - the first being that the hotel has no air con now (although they've said they put a fan in the room - not the same) and second the potential disruption of major mechanical work on property while I'm there.
Initially I thought ok, look on the AA Vacation site and see what hotel they're offering that I'd be willing to switch to - and based on logistics and the purpose of my trip, none of the other offerings I saw on the site are acceptable. However, my second choice hotel does have availability, but I'd have to book it directly with the alternative hotel.
My question is this - has anyone been able to get AA Vacations to change their package in which they either provide a simple refund/credit for the hotel portion in a case like this OR perhaps gotten them to modify the package to a lower priced throw-away hotel?
Just curious what my options are and what might be my best method of recourse here since the hotel included in the package no longer meets what I feel is required - working air conditioning.
I should also note - I'd really rather not cancel the entire package and start from scratch since it appears the flight portion has increased in cost. Likewise, not sure if it makes a difference in the case of the hotel portion but I did purchase the pre-departure waiver when booking the package and if memory serves me correctly, the room that I booked was not listed as non-refundable.
I've booked flight/hotel packages with them in the past for some very reasonable TATL fares, with toss-away hotels, but this time, it just so happened that they were offering a decent package rate for a hotel that I'm familiar with and have stayed at previously, so I opted to go that route and include the hotel which I planned to stay at albeit it bumping up the package price a fair amount from what it would have been with the throw-away option. Anyway, come to find out (several weeks after booking), apparently the hotel is having a major issue with their air con system to the extent that there is now no air con throughout the property - which I've confirmed directly with the hotel, to the extent that they've told me they have to rip out the old system and install an entirely new one in the entire hotel... which they "conveniently" anticipate starting when I'm due to arrive.
So in reality, there's two issues here - the first being that the hotel has no air con now (although they've said they put a fan in the room - not the same) and second the potential disruption of major mechanical work on property while I'm there.
Initially I thought ok, look on the AA Vacation site and see what hotel they're offering that I'd be willing to switch to - and based on logistics and the purpose of my trip, none of the other offerings I saw on the site are acceptable. However, my second choice hotel does have availability, but I'd have to book it directly with the alternative hotel.
My question is this - has anyone been able to get AA Vacations to change their package in which they either provide a simple refund/credit for the hotel portion in a case like this OR perhaps gotten them to modify the package to a lower priced throw-away hotel?
Just curious what my options are and what might be my best method of recourse here since the hotel included in the package no longer meets what I feel is required - working air conditioning.
I should also note - I'd really rather not cancel the entire package and start from scratch since it appears the flight portion has increased in cost. Likewise, not sure if it makes a difference in the case of the hotel portion but I did purchase the pre-departure waiver when booking the package and if memory serves me correctly, the room that I booked was not listed as non-refundable.
Aug 13, 2017, 7:24 pm
#204
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Well before I call AA Vacations, I wanted to see if perhaps anyone here had a similar experience and words of wisdom...
I've booked flight/hotel packages with them in the past for some very reasonable TATL fares, with toss-away hotels, but this time, it just so happened that they were offering a decent package rate for a hotel that I'm familiar with and have stayed at previously, so I opted to go that route and include the hotel which I planned to stay at albeit it bumping up the package price a fair amount from what it would have been with the throw-away option. Anyway, come to find out (several weeks after booking), apparently the hotel is having a major issue with their air con system to the extent that there is now no air con throughout the property - which I've confirmed directly with the hotel, to the extent that they've told me they have to rip out the old system and install an entirely new one in the entire hotel... which they "conveniently" anticipate starting when I'm due to arrive.
So in reality, there's two issues here - the first being that the hotel has no air con now (although they've said they put a fan in the room - not the same) and second the potential disruption of major mechanical work on property while I'm there.
Initially I thought ok, look on the AA Vacation site and see what hotel they're offering that I'd be willing to switch to - and based on logistics and the purpose of my trip, none of the other offerings I saw on the site are acceptable. However, my second choice hotel does have availability, but I'd have to book it directly with the alternative hotel.
My question is this - has anyone been able to get AA Vacations to change their package in which they either provide a simple refund/credit for the hotel portion in a case like this OR perhaps gotten them to modify the package to a lower priced throw-away hotel?
Just curious what my options are and what might be my best method of recourse here since the hotel included in the package no longer meets what I feel is required - working air conditioning.
I should also note - I'd really rather not cancel the entire package and start from scratch since it appears the flight portion has increased in cost. Likewise, not sure if it makes a difference in the case of the hotel portion but I did purchase the pre-departure waiver when booking the package and if memory serves me correctly, the room that I booked was not listed as non-refundable.
I've booked flight/hotel packages with them in the past for some very reasonable TATL fares, with toss-away hotels, but this time, it just so happened that they were offering a decent package rate for a hotel that I'm familiar with and have stayed at previously, so I opted to go that route and include the hotel which I planned to stay at albeit it bumping up the package price a fair amount from what it would have been with the throw-away option. Anyway, come to find out (several weeks after booking), apparently the hotel is having a major issue with their air con system to the extent that there is now no air con throughout the property - which I've confirmed directly with the hotel, to the extent that they've told me they have to rip out the old system and install an entirely new one in the entire hotel... which they "conveniently" anticipate starting when I'm due to arrive.
So in reality, there's two issues here - the first being that the hotel has no air con now (although they've said they put a fan in the room - not the same) and second the potential disruption of major mechanical work on property while I'm there.
Initially I thought ok, look on the AA Vacation site and see what hotel they're offering that I'd be willing to switch to - and based on logistics and the purpose of my trip, none of the other offerings I saw on the site are acceptable. However, my second choice hotel does have availability, but I'd have to book it directly with the alternative hotel.
My question is this - has anyone been able to get AA Vacations to change their package in which they either provide a simple refund/credit for the hotel portion in a case like this OR perhaps gotten them to modify the package to a lower priced throw-away hotel?
Just curious what my options are and what might be my best method of recourse here since the hotel included in the package no longer meets what I feel is required - working air conditioning.
I should also note - I'd really rather not cancel the entire package and start from scratch since it appears the flight portion has increased in cost. Likewise, not sure if it makes a difference in the case of the hotel portion but I did purchase the pre-departure waiver when booking the package and if memory serves me correctly, the room that I booked was not listed as non-refundable.
Aug 13, 2017, 7:44 pm
#205
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
I just priced out a future itinerary to South America on AA vacations and found a much better deal for business class tickets. I know the AA waives change fees when upgrading an existing reservation. Does anyone know if that applies when upgrading an existing AA reservation through AA Vacation?
Also, if you never show at the booked hotel, does that jeopardize the reservation on AA?
Also, if you never show at the booked hotel, does that jeopardize the reservation on AA?
As to your second question, there's a FAQ in the Wikipost at the page that directly answers your question. (No, it does not. You can even book the minimum of three days for a vacation of ten days, and still not show.)
Aug 13, 2017, 8:23 pm
#206
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Miami, Florida, USA
Posts: 213
The one thing I found peculiar was even after explaining the situation (that the original hotel no longer met the level of quality booked - i.e. no air conditioning), the phone rep said that it was good I had purchased the predeparture waiver so there wasn't a fee to change the hotel - I didn't want to get into a hypothetical argument about it, but it sounded like the implication was I'd be charged fees to change otherwise... which really caught me by surprise since this wasn't a change "just for fun", but one based on the product purchased not being as advertised.
Anyway, I'm just glad it was resolved in the end and definitely still say the packages through AA Vacations are not something to be overlooked whether with a throw-away hotel or otherwise for decent TATL airfare in J.
Oh one last observation - I find it interesting that AA promotes hotel bookings on their site via Booking.com yet AA Vacations uses Expedia? When I touched base with the new hotel just to reconfirm everything was good with the new reservation, they said yes, that they saw my prepaid Expedia reservation showing up now.
Aug 13, 2017, 8:43 pm
#207
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 165
Out of curiosity, what cities to/from did you find a much better deal for?
Aug 14, 2017, 7:47 pm
#209
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: HNL
Programs: AA EXP, too many others
Posts: 45
Aug 14, 2017, 8:02 pm
#210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
Cheers.