Sep 22, 2017, 4:26 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
AA Ticket Refunds and Policies
As of 1 Apr 2016, 24 hour free cancellation, except bookings purchased within seven days of travel, is standard. Tickets purchased within seven days of travel are exempt from 24 hour cancellation policies, per USDOT.
NOTE: Hold can be used when offered. (As of 3 Nov 2016, AA randomly offers free 24 hour hold to those booking travel over seven days out, and some still report being offered up to 7 days hold for $15.99.)
Current refunds policy:
Getting a reservation refunded is a two-step process. First cancel the reservation on aa.com or by calling Reservations, then second request the refund at http://prefunds.aa.com.
For bookings made online, AA may continue to sometimes offer hold for unspecified interim going forward, but 24 hours hold via telephone booking may no longer be granted by agents (though occasional ones might anyway).
update July 2016
Fully refundable tickets that are cancelled: fare, fees and taxes will be returned to the original form of payment (FOP).
Nonrefundable tickets that are cancelled voluntarily: AA will generally issue a voucher for the fare, taxes and fees less the change fee described in the detailed fare rules. The voucher may be used for AA flights and other limited purposes. See Transportation Voucher / vouchers / "MCO" FAQ and master thread.
Full refunds, even for nonrefundable tickets, may often be made for the full fare, fees and taxes:
"We do not refund nonrefundable American Airlines tickets except when the ticket is cancelled within 24 hours of purchase, when we make a schedule change that results in a change of 61 minutes or more, upon the death of a passenger or passenger's travelling companion or because of military orders. Supporting documentation is required."
Some equipment changes, such as purchasing international First and being changed to a flight without First class, or a domestic F or Business seat is eliminated by substituting a single class Economy cabin, may also allow a full refund.
Don't forget to look at other venues for tickets, such as OTAs, if purchasing within the 7 day window and you would like some hedging protection. Expedia offers 24 hour cancellation on AA itineraries within the 7 day window and many AA itineraries can be held via Expedia Trip Lock (which charges a small fee to hold a fare for 48 hours).
As of 1 Apr 2016, 24 hour free cancellation, except bookings purchased within seven days of travel, is standard. Tickets purchased within seven days of travel are exempt from 24 hour cancellation policies, per USDOT.
NOTE: Hold can be used when offered. (As of 3 Nov 2016, AA randomly offers free 24 hour hold to those booking travel over seven days out, and some still report being offered up to 7 days hold for $15.99.)
Current refunds policy:
"You have 24 hours to cancel your trip for a full refund if you booked at least 7 days prior to departure. Link to AA Refunds FAQ."
For bookings made online, AA may continue to sometimes offer hold for unspecified interim going forward, but 24 hours hold via telephone booking may no longer be granted by agents (though occasional ones might anyway).
update July 2016
AA follows USDOT requirements to the letter:● 24 hour cancellation with refund and no penalty, though
● No free 24-hour cancellations for purchases made within seven days of flying (except on refundable fares)
● 24 hour hold will be offered for some random (at least to passengers) online bookings for some tickets for an undetermined interim period of time
● Extended hold for pay will still be offered online on many bookings (not within seven days)
● The five day holds for awards remains unaffected, but be aware all awards by non-elites also incur a $75 close in processing fee for 21 days or fewer from booking to flying.
● Awards that are cancelled incur a $150 redeposit fee (and $25 per other awards from the same account), except for Concierge Key and Executive Platinum members.
● No free 24-hour cancellations for purchases made within seven days of flying (except on refundable fares)
● 24 hour hold will be offered for some random (at least to passengers) online bookings for some tickets for an undetermined interim period of time
● Extended hold for pay will still be offered online on many bookings (not within seven days)
● The five day holds for awards remains unaffected, but be aware all awards by non-elites also incur a $75 close in processing fee for 21 days or fewer from booking to flying.
● Awards that are cancelled incur a $150 redeposit fee (and $25 per other awards from the same account), except for Concierge Key and Executive Platinum members.
Nonrefundable tickets that are cancelled voluntarily: AA will generally issue a voucher for the fare, taxes and fees less the change fee described in the detailed fare rules. The voucher may be used for AA flights and other limited purposes. See Transportation Voucher / vouchers / "MCO" FAQ and master thread.
Full refunds, even for nonrefundable tickets, may often be made for the full fare, fees and taxes:
"We do not refund nonrefundable American Airlines tickets except when the ticket is cancelled within 24 hours of purchase, when we make a schedule change that results in a change of 61 minutes or more, upon the death of a passenger or passenger's travelling companion or because of military orders. Supporting documentation is required."
Some equipment changes, such as purchasing international First and being changed to a flight without First class, or a domestic F or Business seat is eliminated by substituting a single class Economy cabin, may also allow a full refund.
Don't forget to look at other venues for tickets, such as OTAs, if purchasing within the 7 day window and you would like some hedging protection. Expedia offers 24 hour cancellation on AA itineraries within the 7 day window and many AA itineraries can be held via Expedia Trip Lock (which charges a small fee to hold a fare for 48 hours).
AA Ticket Refund and Related (master thread)
May 27, 2017, 5:49 pm
#151
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 148
Interesting so if you buy a ticket for someone else not on a refundable ticket its basically the same as giving them cash and telling them to buy the ticket. The original "purchaser" loses all rights/control of the money then?
May 27, 2017, 6:38 pm
#152
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Correct. The contract is with the passenger. You just happen to be buying the product for them.
May 27, 2017, 7:39 pm
#153
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May 27, 2017, 7:41 pm
#154
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It's a nonrefundable ticket, so there is no refund. AA is not returning money to anybody, it is simply permitting the value to be used later.
May 27, 2017, 8:16 pm
#155
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
All that is happening is the passenger is being allowed to change the ticket to another date/route ( as allowed) by paying the change fee. It just happens that AA allows people to defer their decision on making the change
The purchaser is simply the purchaser and has no right/control regardless
Where there is a refund provision ( partial or full ) then that refund goes back to the purchaser
May 28, 2017, 8:35 pm
#156
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Jun 19, 2017, 3:40 pm
#157
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 22
Flight cancelled. Can I get a refund?
Our 1pm flight got cancelled today due to weather, and AA said we are booked on a flight leaving tomorrow at 2pm. If we find another way home on our own dime (drive) are we entitled to a refund for the full amount?
We made the purchase on Expedia and this is the return flight, though our original flight was on JB so as far as they are concerned this is a 1 way. I don't want credit, much less credit that expires in 1 year as we rarely fly AA.
We made the purchase on Expedia and this is the return flight, though our original flight was on JB so as far as they are concerned this is a 1 way. I don't want credit, much less credit that expires in 1 year as we rarely fly AA.
Jun 19, 2017, 3:44 pm
#159
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
Our 1pm flight got cancelled today due to weather, and AA said we are booked on a flight leaving tomorrow at 2pm. If we find another way home on our own dime (drive) are we entitled to a refund for the full amount?
We made the purchase on Expedia and this is the return flight, though our original flight was on JB so as far as they are concerned this is a 1 way. I don't want credit, much less credit that expires in 1 year as we rarely fly AA.
We made the purchase on Expedia and this is the return flight, though our original flight was on JB so as far as they are concerned this is a 1 way. I don't want credit, much less credit that expires in 1 year as we rarely fly AA.
Jun 19, 2017, 3:50 pm
#160
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Also, is the OLTA allowed to charge a service fee to process the refund? I assume that any OLTA service fees charged at the time of purchase are nonrefundable even if the customer is entitled to a full refund for the ticket.
This is yet another case where it would have been so much simpler if the OP had just purchased the ticket directly from AA.
Jun 19, 2017, 4:00 pm
#161
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Also, looking, it seems to be the inbound of a r/t journey - so not a simple full refund
Jun 19, 2017, 4:29 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
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If jetBlue has rebooked you on AA flight then a refund is done in original forms of payment, isn’t it? Then the refund will go to jetBlue, not to the passenger. Isn’t that the case?
If jetBlue rebooked you to AA then you have to deal with jetBlue for the refund of return portion of your flight, I think.
Jun 19, 2017, 4:32 pm
#163
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
Were you originally booked on jetBlue flight? By the way airline code of jetBlue is B6, not JB. Was your jetBlue flight got delayed or cancelled? If so how did you ended up with AA flight? Did you purchase oneway AA ticket on your own? Or did jetBlue rebooked you to AA flight?
If jetBlue has rebooked you on AA flight then a refund is done in original forms of payment, isn’t it? Then the refund will go to jetBlue, not to the passenger. Isn’t that the case?
If jetBlue rebooked you to AA then you have to deal with jetBlue for the refund of return portion of your flight, I think.
If jetBlue has rebooked you on AA flight then a refund is done in original forms of payment, isn’t it? Then the refund will go to jetBlue, not to the passenger. Isn’t that the case?
If jetBlue rebooked you to AA then you have to deal with jetBlue for the refund of return portion of your flight, I think.
Jun 19, 2017, 4:40 pm
#164
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Alright, then you should be eligible for a refund as a “trip in vain” situation. However, as other have said if your AA ticket was some sort of unpublished fare available only via Expedia, consolidator type fare, then Expedia itself may have some condition specified regarding refund condition. AA may tell you that you have to apply for a refund through Expedia, not directly with AA.
Jun 19, 2017, 5:04 pm
#165
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