Feb 8, 2018, 12:12 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
When AA may issue you a voucher or reimburse you for lodging
When the issue is the responsibility of AA, the airline may provide a voucher or vouchers for lodging, meals and transportation, under the best of circumstances. These may not be to a convenient or nearby property. If you’re stuck at DFW, you probably won’t be staying at the Hyatt properties, for example. You may find, after waiting in a queue, you’re handed a voucher for the local “Notell Motel “, which neither offers a shuttle nor dining other than during very restricted hours, because AA has a contract with them for passengers in this circumstance. (AA vouchered us into the MIA DoubleTree Club some time ago - a total, grotty, filthy, roach-infested dump that was closed soon after - the six of us there should have been compensated for that abominable stay.)
It’s also possible they may tell you they’re out of vouchers. Have the delay and cause - very useful if AA us at fault and you’ve been told the flight is cancelled or delayed for a mechanical condition, lack of crew, etc. - documented in your PNR, and proceed as below.
If you are inconvenienced and there’s a lengthy reaccommodation or voucher queue, you may want to call AA through your status telephone number. If your flight is affected and it’s not a airport wide issue, and you’re at a hub like DFW, you might ask if there’s a reaccommodation desk nearby and go there.
If it’s an airport-wide issue, that’s a more serious problem. Try to call AA while you stand in queue. In case if hours-long disruption, in hubs such as DFW they might provide cots, blankets, snacks, etc. See The Guide to Sleeping in Airports”link below.
Alternatives:
If you have a higher end credit card (or travel insurance policy - some are even available as annual policies), you may just prefer calling your predilection hotel chain booking number and requesting the nearest hotel with a room and shuttle. You may want to inquire abit getting a “distressed passenger rate” to boot.
If you’re pretty sure the airline will reimburse you because the circumstances are so clear - and more likely you have status and are good at dealing with AACS, book it as a above.
In both cases, document as well as you can. If you can get an employee to enter an OSI (other service information) note into your PNR (passenger name record, the airline’s itinerary ) to note the reason for your inconvenience and anything you’re promised (such as a voucher for future travel), so much the better.
To contact AA for reimbursement, compensation, etc. contact AA Customer Relations.
When will AA likely not reimburse or voucher me for lodging?
When AA generally will not issue you a voucher or reimburse you for lodging (possibly might anyway if you’re a valuable customer such as Concierge Key - influencer of travel).
AA will generally not be responsible for lodging etc. when the conditions are beyond its control - most commonly, as a result of weather, even if the weather affected your aircraft at another location causing your current issue, including crews timing out as a result of such delays. The chain can be lengthy.
From the AA Conditions of Carriage (link):
Force majeure event means:
See above for alternatives.
Note that though your inconvenience might de due to a “force majeure”event, you might still gain some compensation from AA.
Resources
FlyerTalk AA forum master threads:
Contacting American Airlines Customer Relations & Complaint, Issues
IROPS "IRROPS" - OSO, Weather, etc. Affecting AA Flyers
IDB / Involuntarily Denied Boarding on AA & Compensation (master thread)
AA Bump Rates; compensation for VDB / Voluntary Denied Boarding (master thread)
FAQ: TCP, "Linking" / link / merge itineraries / PNR
Questions for 2018 about, guide to, listing of, compensation
EC261 / EC 261/2004 complaints, compensation and AA (applicable for European Community carriers and to AA when your flight originated in, and is disrupted in, Europe).
Lost baggage /luggage delay, loss, damage - advice, compensation, etc.
Other resources:
AA Conditions of Carriage (the rules that govern your travel with AA that AA imposes on you, sometimes called a “contract if adhesion”).
The Guide to Sleeping in Airports Lists best areas in airports around the world to catch some kip, and Lists public or paid access lounges.
When AA may issue you a voucher or reimburse you for lodging
When the issue is the responsibility of AA, the airline may provide a voucher or vouchers for lodging, meals and transportation, under the best of circumstances. These may not be to a convenient or nearby property. If you’re stuck at DFW, you probably won’t be staying at the Hyatt properties, for example. You may find, after waiting in a queue, you’re handed a voucher for the local “Notell Motel “, which neither offers a shuttle nor dining other than during very restricted hours, because AA has a contract with them for passengers in this circumstance. (AA vouchered us into the MIA DoubleTree Club some time ago - a total, grotty, filthy, roach-infested dump that was closed soon after - the six of us there should have been compensated for that abominable stay.)
It’s also possible they may tell you they’re out of vouchers. Have the delay and cause - very useful if AA us at fault and you’ve been told the flight is cancelled or delayed for a mechanical condition, lack of crew, etc. - documented in your PNR, and proceed as below.
If you are inconvenienced and there’s a lengthy reaccommodation or voucher queue, you may want to call AA through your status telephone number. If your flight is affected and it’s not a airport wide issue, and you’re at a hub like DFW, you might ask if there’s a reaccommodation desk nearby and go there.
If it’s an airport-wide issue, that’s a more serious problem. Try to call AA while you stand in queue. In case if hours-long disruption, in hubs such as DFW they might provide cots, blankets, snacks, etc. See The Guide to Sleeping in Airports”link below.
Alternatives:
If you have a higher end credit card (or travel insurance policy - some are even available as annual policies), you may just prefer calling your predilection hotel chain booking number and requesting the nearest hotel with a room and shuttle. You may want to inquire abit getting a “distressed passenger rate” to boot.
If you’re pretty sure the airline will reimburse you because the circumstances are so clear - and more likely you have status and are good at dealing with AACS, book it as a above.
In both cases, document as well as you can. If you can get an employee to enter an OSI (other service information) note into your PNR (passenger name record, the airline’s itinerary ) to note the reason for your inconvenience and anything you’re promised (such as a voucher for future travel), so much the better.
To contact AA for reimbursement, compensation, etc. contact AA Customer Relations.
When will AA likely not reimburse or voucher me for lodging?
When AA generally will not issue you a voucher or reimburse you for lodging (possibly might anyway if you’re a valuable customer such as Concierge Key - influencer of travel).
AA will generally not be responsible for lodging etc. when the conditions are beyond its control - most commonly, as a result of weather, even if the weather affected your aircraft at another location causing your current issue, including crews timing out as a result of such delays. The chain can be lengthy.
From the AA Conditions of Carriage (link):
Force majeure event means:
- Any condition beyond American's control including, but without limitation, meteorological conditions, acts of God, riots, civil commotion, embargoes, wars, hostilities, disturbances or unsettled international conditions - actual threatened or reported. Also, because of any delay, demand, circumstances or requirement due, directly or indirectly to such conditions; or
- Any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, lockout or any other labor related dispute involving or affecting American's service; or
- Any government regulation, demand or requirement; or
- Any shortage of labor, fuel or facilities of American or others; or
- Any fact not reasonably foreseen, anticipated or predicted by American
See above for alternatives.
Note that though your inconvenience might de due to a “force majeure”event, you might still gain some compensation from AA.
Resources
FlyerTalk AA forum master threads:
Contacting American Airlines Customer Relations & Complaint, Issues
IROPS "IRROPS" - OSO, Weather, etc. Affecting AA Flyers
IDB / Involuntarily Denied Boarding on AA & Compensation (master thread)
AA Bump Rates; compensation for VDB / Voluntary Denied Boarding (master thread)
FAQ: TCP, "Linking" / link / merge itineraries / PNR
Questions for 2018 about, guide to, listing of, compensation
EC261 / EC 261/2004 complaints, compensation and AA (applicable for European Community carriers and to AA when your flight originated in, and is disrupted in, Europe).
Lost baggage /luggage delay, loss, damage - advice, compensation, etc.
Other resources:
AA Conditions of Carriage (the rules that govern your travel with AA that AA imposes on you, sometimes called a “contract if adhesion”).
The Guide to Sleeping in Airports Lists best areas in airports around the world to catch some kip, and Lists public or paid access lounges.
When does AA pay / reimburse lodging / hotel in misconnects / OSO / IROPS (“IRROPS”)?
Nov 17, 2019, 9:26 am
#46
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 2,334
I'll have a few connections from December to January via ORD so I guess I'll take that advice to my heart
Jun 7, 2020, 8:19 am
#47
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern Europe/USA
Posts: 661
Hotel provided on misconnect?
In August I’m flying thru MAD to another city in Spain on same ticket. I transfer from AA to IB in MAD. If there’s a misconnect, does IB or AA provide for a hotel, assuming only one flight/day exists?
Jun 7, 2020, 8:53 am
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
They are not obligated to but may do so as a customer service gesture.
Jun 7, 2020, 9:41 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,009
How much time did you allow between connections at MAD? MAD can be a long connection as I flew BCN-MAD-ORD last year and took quite a time to get to my Chicago bound flight (25 minutes at my fast walking speed).
Jun 7, 2020, 10:29 am
#50
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
If AA caused the misconnect, due mechanical issues, for example, I would expect AA to handle it.
Jun 7, 2020, 10:42 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern Europe/USA
Posts: 661
Iberia keeps changing time of connecting flight on my itinerary. Not worried about AA as originally had a connection time of three hours. My concern is if they change their schedule again so that their flight leaves before my AA flight arrives.
Jun 7, 2020, 11:16 am
#52
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,975
enviroian is correct. International to domestic connections in MAD involve lots of walking, escalators, and elevators.
Jun 7, 2020, 11:26 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,009
Jun 7, 2020, 11:39 am
#54
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
How often have you connected at LGB?
Last edited by mvoight; Jun 7, 2020 at 7:18 pm
Jun 7, 2020, 12:02 pm
#55
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
You will not be able to travel on such a ticket until there is a valid connection meeting the MCT (min connect time).
Jun 7, 2020, 1:22 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern Europe/USA
Posts: 661
Jun 7, 2020, 1:36 pm
#58
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 979
That being said, if your flight somewhere in spain to MAD is delayed for whatever reason, and there are no other flights that day, they will need to give you a hotel.
If you are flying to Europe on a non-EU airline, they technically aren’t obliged by the law. However, I think all airlines talk about it in their contracts of carriage. Talk to a non-EU airline desk upon arriving in mad for options.
Jun 7, 2020, 2:21 pm
#59
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 691
no wonder I’ve been using LHR instead of MAD historically. It’s the IAG group, but I don’t find myself using Iberia too often (even though I try to look anyway out of curiosity)!