Same-day flight change options are terrible
Nov 25, 2018, 10:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus
Posts: 61
Same-day flight change options are terrible
I am traveling tomorrow and connecting through ORD. I should have known to avoid ORD after November but this one fit my my schedule the best. Of course there is a storm and AA is telling me all about it yet all the same-day flight change options they give me still go through ORD. Even when I am not worried about weather I find that my same-day flight change options still go through the same connecting airport and number of stops. What gives? This is one area that United excels over AA. I am fully bought into flying AA at this point but this is something they need to improve.
Nov 25, 2018, 10:18 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,208
SDFC requires the same routing. And yes, it sucks in general.
if theres a weather issue in place, call AA. They can potentially reroute you and bypass the SDFC shenanigans.
if theres a weather issue in place, call AA. They can potentially reroute you and bypass the SDFC shenanigans.
Nov 25, 2018, 10:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,158
See here for the weather waiver details. You should be covered (not limited by SDFC rules). It indicates you can change online. Perhaps you are selecting SDFC but there should also be a general change option without those restrictions. You can also call.
Nov 25, 2018, 10:52 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
One thing carriers are actually good about is change options in inclement weather.
Last year I flew LAS-PHL. I was booked on a connection through CLT. There was bad weather moving north to south, starting on the 2nd of the month, scheduled to hit PHL on the 3rd. I was on a red-eye leaving the night of the 1st. They let me change to a non-stop and even gave me a few bucks back in the form of a travel voucher.
I'm guessing that you're looking at the wrong screen.
Last year I flew LAS-PHL. I was booked on a connection through CLT. There was bad weather moving north to south, starting on the 2nd of the month, scheduled to hit PHL on the 3rd. I was on a red-eye leaving the night of the 1st. They let me change to a non-stop and even gave me a few bucks back in the form of a travel voucher.
I'm guessing that you're looking at the wrong screen.
Nov 25, 2018, 11:04 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
Ask for the moon
Same here AA's magic comouter changed my ord/lax to a route via IND.
Called and ask to get on a UA non stop as all AA flights are sold out. My advice, look online and pick your ideal route with availability then call.
Called and ask to get on a UA non stop as all AA flights are sold out. My advice, look online and pick your ideal route with availability then call.
Nov 26, 2018, 4:48 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus
Posts: 61
See here for the weather waiver details. You should be covered (not limited by SDFC rules). It indicates you can change online. Perhaps you are selecting SDFC but there should also be a general change option without those restrictions. You can also call.
Nov 26, 2018, 4:54 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
U.S. carriers will throw out most of the routing rules in the case of weather waivers but the proficiency and elegance of their online tools (web and app) to do that varies greatly by carrier.
Nov 26, 2018, 7:01 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
I do find that Delta's website seems mostly capable of implementing the waiver logic on its own (not sure about United).
Nov 26, 2018, 9:08 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Palm Beach
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 790
I've had luck changing connecting airports, as well as originating/destination airports with AA on the phone in cases of weather issues. Delta's app is much more convenient as it lets you do all of this without having to call.
Nov 26, 2018, 10:29 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 812
Wow this pisses me off. I just got delayed then cancelled for DSM>ORD>IND and when I called in to reroute DSM>DFW>IND, they said I had to follow the original routing otherwise I would incur a change fee. I've since cancelled the trip, if I had known that agent was wrong I would have called back. Awful.
Nov 26, 2018, 10:31 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,198
I've also used the AA website and mobile app to change flights in the event of a weather waiver. I've done it maybe 3-4 times in the last year and have never had a problem being charged fees or picking a different routing.
Nov 26, 2018, 10:39 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
This was a major reason I moved over to UA. As others have stated though, for weather, the rules loosen up on AA (and DL and UA for that matter).
Nov 26, 2018, 5:12 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, AC
Posts: 4,212
See here for the weather waiver details. You should be covered (not limited by SDFC rules). It indicates you can change online. Perhaps you are selecting SDFC but there should also be a general change option without those restrictions. You can also call.
I had to call the 800 number, wait on hold for half an hour or more, and then when I got an agent, they routed me through DFW without a second thought. Was frustrating but painless once I got through to someone.
Nov 26, 2018, 5:41 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,579
I've found the app to be great for IROPS flight changes on domestic flights ONCE your flight has been cancelled and you've been rebooked. It's not great for proactive changes during weather waivers. It's useless for changes to international itineraries.
Back on topic - AA's SDFC policy is worthless.
Back on topic - AA's SDFC policy is worthless.
