change fee confusion
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 947
change fee confusion
A few months back, I took advantage of that fire sale on TATL J fares - got a DCA-MIA-MAD-FCO; TRN-LGW; LHR-MIA-DCA for a *very* good price.
Now, with a few changes (both AAdvantage and personal), I'm not sure I'll want to use that ticket, and am considering cancelling and using the money for something completely different.
So this morning, I called the EXP line because I couldn't find anyplace where the change fee is listed.
AAgent #1 quickly checked something and quoted me a $300 change fee.
That sounded suspiciously low for tatl deep discount J, so I did HUCA. AAgent #2 fumbled with some things, and then put me on hold to check with the rate desk. This time, the definitive answer was $500.
I now needed a tie-breaker, so I did some more HUCA. AAgent #3 fumbled with some things, put me on hold, and came back with the definitive answer of $300. I explained the story so far, and he said it was weird that the rate desk quoted a higher figure, as the answer was simple based on my fare basis code.
HUCA. AAgent #4 put me on hold and checked with the rate desk. The easy answer is $500.
At this point, I decided I needed to do something more productive with my morning; as I hemmed and hawed between checking some AA Vacations prices and cleaning the front hallway, I got a call from my favorite contact, "American Airlines": It was AAgent #3 calling back; he'd been curious about the divergent answers I was getting, and did some digging. He says there's one fare basis with $500 for a change fee and another fare basis code with $300, and the only difference is the *last* letter in the code. He said the correct change fee for my fare basis in, in fact, $500; but since I was misquoted twice, he'd put a note in my record granting me a one-time change for $300. The AAgent apologized for the trouble and gave me his full name to use in the event somebody gives me a hard time later.
So I tested this by calling AAgent #5, who took a look and quoted me $500, but she volunteered that a PNR note grants a one-time exception of $300 due to the earlier mis-quote.
I haven't made a final decision yet on whether to cancel or fly (or hold the reservation in the hope that I'll get a schedule change and full refund), but this was a fun little exercise.
I'm not the first one to say it, but: HUCA pays. Literally.
Now, with a few changes (both AAdvantage and personal), I'm not sure I'll want to use that ticket, and am considering cancelling and using the money for something completely different.
So this morning, I called the EXP line because I couldn't find anyplace where the change fee is listed.
AAgent #1 quickly checked something and quoted me a $300 change fee.
That sounded suspiciously low for tatl deep discount J, so I did HUCA. AAgent #2 fumbled with some things, and then put me on hold to check with the rate desk. This time, the definitive answer was $500.
I now needed a tie-breaker, so I did some more HUCA. AAgent #3 fumbled with some things, put me on hold, and came back with the definitive answer of $300. I explained the story so far, and he said it was weird that the rate desk quoted a higher figure, as the answer was simple based on my fare basis code.
HUCA. AAgent #4 put me on hold and checked with the rate desk. The easy answer is $500.
At this point, I decided I needed to do something more productive with my morning; as I hemmed and hawed between checking some AA Vacations prices and cleaning the front hallway, I got a call from my favorite contact, "American Airlines": It was AAgent #3 calling back; he'd been curious about the divergent answers I was getting, and did some digging. He says there's one fare basis with $500 for a change fee and another fare basis code with $300, and the only difference is the *last* letter in the code. He said the correct change fee for my fare basis in, in fact, $500; but since I was misquoted twice, he'd put a note in my record granting me a one-time change for $300. The AAgent apologized for the trouble and gave me his full name to use in the event somebody gives me a hard time later.
So I tested this by calling AAgent #5, who took a look and quoted me $500, but she volunteered that a PNR note grants a one-time exception of $300 due to the earlier mis-quote.
I haven't made a final decision yet on whether to cancel or fly (or hold the reservation in the hope that I'll get a schedule change and full refund), but this was a fun little exercise.
I'm not the first one to say it, but: HUCA pays. Literally.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold
Posts: 1,887
Change fees for my international flights (SCL/EZE-USA) have been $300 in both Y and J for a while now.
However, checking https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...oter#ticketing for the first time in a very long time, I see that they now say:
Voluntary change to ticket before day of travel
$200 - domestic travel
Up to $750 - international travel (bolding mine, obvs)
For all classes.
So, we here won't know if they were supposed to charge you $300 or $500 or something more, since there's no published definition. I suppose in this case AA would say that you should be happy they didn't charge you $750! :/
However, checking https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...oter#ticketing for the first time in a very long time, I see that they now say:
Voluntary change to ticket before day of travel
$200 - domestic travel
Up to $750 - international travel (bolding mine, obvs)
For all classes.
So, we here won't know if they were supposed to charge you $300 or $500 or something more, since there's no published definition. I suppose in this case AA would say that you should be happy they didn't charge you $750! :/
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New York
Programs: BAEC Silver, &c.
Posts: 446
Thanks, discoverCSG, for posting this. I've got some similar flights I am mulling over changing, but could not find the change fee information anywhere (all I found was the page zpaul noted about "up to $750".) But this is helpful for thinking about whether the change is worth it.
I wish AA was a little more transparent on these matters!
I wish AA was a little more transparent on these matters!
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks, discoverCSG, for posting this. I've got some similar flights I am mulling over changing, but could not find the change fee information anywhere (all I found was the page zpaul noted about "up to $750".) But this is helpful for thinking about whether the change is worth it.
I wish AA was a little more transparent on these matters!
I wish AA was a little more transparent on these matters!
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New York
Programs: BAEC Silver, &c.
Posts: 446
PS, I'm just contemplating making a switch so haven't called or investigated further. If I can't change or if the change fee is higher than I'm willing to pay, I can stick with what I booked. I didn't realize that information wasn't more readily available, since otherwise AA seems pretty clear about fees.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,277
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
#10
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I do believe others have reported one can see the change costs using the Refund site.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
#12
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
Fortunately, I can confidently say that I have never seen a ticket with a change fee of more than $300-ish.
You have a conjunctive ticket and the last two digits of the tickets are 47 and 48. You can effectively disregard that part of the endorsements.
You have a conjunctive ticket and the last two digits of the tickets are 47 and 48. You can effectively disregard that part of the endorsements.