Jan 5, 2019, 6:11 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Voluntary Award Changes Questionsfor carrier, co-terminal, date, destination, add / drop a segment, origin, routing, cancellation AAnytime <-> MileSAAver and other changes
See the current thread here, please.
NOTE: For involuntary award changes (caused by the operating carriers), see Involuntary Award Changes / What To Do (merged threads).
Ordinarily, one must call to request or make changes to award tickets.
Award changes, ordinary
NOTE: More extensive listing of terms and conditions are listed in oneworld and other all partner awards rules, Information 2015 on
Award carrier, connection, date or routing changes: As long as origin and destination (but read on for exceptions such as first / last segment) remain the same, change / award redeposit fees are usually waived for awards under certain circumstances when date, connection, routing or carrier changes are made But:
Award cancellations can be by phone or online, but online cancellation requires separate action to reinstate the miles. Canceling online does not request or result in miles redeposit.
Award miles reinstatement: Redeposit fees are waived for Executive Platinum members. See here for more information on award miles reinstatement.
"Upgrading" class of service by using miles requires redepositing the original award and issuing a new one for the higher class if service. AA will waive the deposit fee on the redeposited award, and will not charge for this. (However, taxes may differ, such as going from the discounted U.K. Air Passenger Duty to the full APD if upgrading from Y / PE to J; if there are higher taxes and fees imposed by the new fare, the passenger is charged for those.)
Co-terminals: For award purposes, there are no co-terminals; changing co-terminal airports (MIA and FLL, PBI; JFK, LGA, EWR etc.) will incur a $150 change fee. See this thread for detail on award miles redeposit.
An award using AS, FJ, HA or TN to South Pacific (e.g. AKL, SYD) can not be changed to AA or QF without requiring award redeposit (or vice versa).
Dropping segments: Awards made on AA or / and "all partner" carriers will allow changes mentioned above without requiring redeposit fees. Instances of dropping an origin segment can be allowed, or a final segment - as long as doing so does not change the destination zone (or sub-zone, in the case of intra-North America awards); changing the mileage (miles required) of the award claimed or the number of awards claimed.
Segments can be dropped as long as doing so does not change the destination zone (or sub-zone, in the case of intra-North America awards). If you are refused, refer agents to the in-house memo/advisory dated 02/03/11 entitled "Dropping OWFA segments." (guv1976)
As JonNYC posted:
This document was current as of December 2014:
For permitted changes and fees, see this post in the airline partner award thread.
See TravelingBetter.com here and illustrations here.
If the award is AA and oneworld, changes may be made as long as the main / governing /Most Significant Carrier makes an unconstructed fare on the award routing and the governing fare's carrier is not changed to one not offering such a fare.
Close-in booking fee: Changes made to bring travel to under 21 days from award issue will incur close-in booking fees of $75.
Schedule changes: On international awards, schedule changes of two hours or longer, or those breaking connections by bringing them below MCT / minimum connection times, flight cancellations, generally may be cancelled and redeposited without fees, or engender greater flexibility in changes. With AA awards, it is possible award seating may be opened when there is none; with partners, AA can appeal to the Liaison to the partner to open seating in these cases (the partner airline may or may not grant the exception requested). Equipment change constitutes a schedule change and you will be able to get the fee waived pre this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
Partner changes: If the award includes non-oneworld partners such as AS, EY, FJ or TN, or a oneworld carrier award is changed to include a non-oneworld carrier, or vice versa, significant fees will be incurred ($150).
"Upgrading" class of service by using miles requires redepositing the original award and issuing a new one for the higher class if service. AA will waive the deposit fee on the redeposited award, and will not charge for this. (However, taxes may differ, such as going from the discounted U.K. Air Passenger Duty to the full APD if upgrading from Y / PE to J; if there are higher taxes abd fees imposed by the new fare, the passenger is charged for those.)
Changes that require different award type -
Changes to the itinerary which involve different AAdvantage award(s) than originally ticketed require a reinstatement of the original award ticket, payment of the applicable award reinstatement charge (see below), and a new award ticket issued (waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members using miles from their account). However, SAAver awards canceled for AAnytime awards, or changing to a higher class of service, will not incur redeposit fees.
Changes to your outbound travel date, resulting in a departure within 21 days -
Close-in booking fee: A $75 USD award processing charge will apply for a confirmed change to the date on an AAdvantage MileSAAver and AAnytime award ticket if the change results in a new outbound travel date that is within 21 days of the original booking date (waived for AAdvantage elite members using miles from their account).
Contact AAdvantage Reservations to change your itinerary, pay the applicable charge and have your ticket reissued prior to travel.
Canceling Awards / Reinstating Award Tickets
(Waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members using miles from their account)
Award class changes: MileSAAver to AAnytime changes generally incur no fees; conversely, AAnytime to MileSAAver awards generally will.
Award cabin class "upgrades" (e.g. Y to J): If the change made is an increase of miles to another cabin class, fees are not normally charged (but some government required fees such as UK Air Passenger Duty, airport passenger facility fees, etc. may change).
Redepositing awards incurs a fee of $150 other than for Executive Platinum members redepositing to their accounts. If two or more awards are being redeposited to the same account at the same time, the fees are $150 for the first award, $25 for every award thereafter. Note the awards do not have to share the same PNR, though some less knowledgeable agents will insist so.
Note: given a 120 hr / 5 day hold is offered, there is no right to “Free” cancellation (without redeposit) within 24 hours of securing the award. OTOH, mere date changes to a year from Booking are free of charge in most instances.
Please see: State of the award reinstatement fee (Nov 2015 - clarifying)
FAQ: Cancel award ticket / cancellation (time frame, taxes, etc.) (merged threads)
Link to 2012-2014 archive of older posts on this topic
See the current thread here, please.
NOTE: For involuntary award changes (caused by the operating carriers), see Involuntary Award Changes / What To Do (merged threads).
Ordinarily, one must call to request or make changes to award tickets.
Award changes, ordinary
NOTE: More extensive listing of terms and conditions are listed in oneworld and other all partner awards rules, Information 2015 on
Award carrier, connection, date or routing changes: As long as origin and destination (but read on for exceptions such as first / last segment) remain the same, change / award redeposit fees are usually waived for awards under certain circumstances when date, connection, routing or carrier changes are made But:
Airline / carrier changes incur no change or redeposit fees as long as you do not try to change between all AA oneworld airlines and non-oneworld airlines or vice versa.
E.g. an AA award such as SEA-HNL-SYD using AS can not be changed to use JL without requiring award redeposit. An award using AA LAX-HKG can be changed to JL via NRT or CX Without redeposit ing miles.
If Maximum Permitted Miles (usually 125% of the most direct available routing) for an award is exceeded, two awards may be charged
or
MSC fare requirements: The most significant or prevailing carrier, usually the one with the transoceanic sector, must offer an unconstructed fare between desired origin and destination; if a fare would require "married segments", two awards may be required.
Award validity: Awards must be used within one year of original booking. For travel beyond that, the award miles will have to be redeposited and new awards secured.E.g. an AA award such as SEA-HNL-SYD using AS can not be changed to use JL without requiring award redeposit. An award using AA LAX-HKG can be changed to JL via NRT or CX Without redeposit ing miles.
If Maximum Permitted Miles (usually 125% of the most direct available routing) for an award is exceeded, two awards may be charged
or
MSC fare requirements: The most significant or prevailing carrier, usually the one with the transoceanic sector, must offer an unconstructed fare between desired origin and destination; if a fare would require "married segments", two awards may be required.
Award cancellations can be by phone or online, but online cancellation requires separate action to reinstate the miles. Canceling online does not request or result in miles redeposit.
Award miles reinstatement: Redeposit fees are waived for Executive Platinum members. See here for more information on award miles reinstatement.
"Upgrading" class of service by using miles requires redepositing the original award and issuing a new one for the higher class if service. AA will waive the deposit fee on the redeposited award, and will not charge for this. (However, taxes may differ, such as going from the discounted U.K. Air Passenger Duty to the full APD if upgrading from Y / PE to J; if there are higher taxes and fees imposed by the new fare, the passenger is charged for those.)
Co-terminals: For award purposes, there are no co-terminals; changing co-terminal airports (MIA and FLL, PBI; JFK, LGA, EWR etc.) will incur a $150 change fee. See this thread for detail on award miles redeposit.
An award using AS, FJ, HA or TN to South Pacific (e.g. AKL, SYD) can not be changed to AA or QF without requiring award redeposit (or vice versa).
Dropping segments: Awards made on AA or / and "all partner" carriers will allow changes mentioned above without requiring redeposit fees. Instances of dropping an origin segment can be allowed, or a final segment - as long as doing so does not change the destination zone (or sub-zone, in the case of intra-North America awards); changing the mileage (miles required) of the award claimed or the number of awards claimed.
Segments can be dropped as long as doing so does not change the destination zone (or sub-zone, in the case of intra-North America awards). If you are refused, refer agents to the in-house memo/advisory dated 02/03/11 entitled "Dropping OWFA segments." (guv1976)
As JonNYC posted:
This document was current as of December 2014:
For permitted changes and fees, see this post in the airline partner award thread.
See TravelingBetter.com here and illustrations here.
If the award is AA and oneworld, changes may be made as long as the main / governing /Most Significant Carrier makes an unconstructed fare on the award routing and the governing fare's carrier is not changed to one not offering such a fare.
Close-in booking fee: Changes made to bring travel to under 21 days from award issue will incur close-in booking fees of $75.
Schedule changes: On international awards, schedule changes of two hours or longer, or those breaking connections by bringing them below MCT / minimum connection times, flight cancellations, generally may be cancelled and redeposited without fees, or engender greater flexibility in changes. With AA awards, it is possible award seating may be opened when there is none; with partners, AA can appeal to the Liaison to the partner to open seating in these cases (the partner airline may or may not grant the exception requested). Equipment change constitutes a schedule change and you will be able to get the fee waived pre this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
Partner changes: If the award includes non-oneworld partners such as AS, EY, FJ or TN, or a oneworld carrier award is changed to include a non-oneworld carrier, or vice versa, significant fees will be incurred ($150).
"Upgrading" class of service by using miles requires redepositing the original award and issuing a new one for the higher class if service. AA will waive the deposit fee on the redeposited award, and will not charge for this. (However, taxes may differ, such as going from the discounted U.K. Air Passenger Duty to the full APD if upgrading from Y / PE to J; if there are higher taxes abd fees imposed by the new fare, the passenger is charged for those.)
Changes that require different award type -
Changes to the itinerary which involve different AAdvantage award(s) than originally ticketed require a reinstatement of the original award ticket, payment of the applicable award reinstatement charge (see below), and a new award ticket issued (waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members using miles from their account). However, SAAver awards canceled for AAnytime awards, or changing to a higher class of service, will not incur redeposit fees.
Changes to your outbound travel date, resulting in a departure within 21 days -
Close-in booking fee: A $75 USD award processing charge will apply for a confirmed change to the date on an AAdvantage MileSAAver and AAnytime award ticket if the change results in a new outbound travel date that is within 21 days of the original booking date (waived for AAdvantage elite members using miles from their account).
Contact AAdvantage Reservations to change your itinerary, pay the applicable charge and have your ticket reissued prior to travel.
Canceling Awards / Reinstating Award Tickets
(Waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members using miles from their account)
Award class changes: MileSAAver to AAnytime changes generally incur no fees; conversely, AAnytime to MileSAAver awards generally will.
Award cabin class "upgrades" (e.g. Y to J): If the change made is an increase of miles to another cabin class, fees are not normally charged (but some government required fees such as UK Air Passenger Duty, airport passenger facility fees, etc. may change).
Redepositing awards incurs a fee of $150 other than for Executive Platinum members redepositing to their accounts. If two or more awards are being redeposited to the same account at the same time, the fees are $150 for the first award, $25 for every award thereafter. Note the awards do not have to share the same PNR, though some less knowledgeable agents will insist so.
Note: given a 120 hr / 5 day hold is offered, there is no right to “Free” cancellation (without redeposit) within 24 hours of securing the award. OTOH, mere date changes to a year from Booking are free of charge in most instances.
Please see: State of the award reinstatement fee (Nov 2015 - clarifying)
FAQ: Cancel award ticket / cancellation (time frame, taxes, etc.) (merged threads)
Link to 2012-2014 archive of older posts on this topic
ARCHIVE: 2015-16 Award change date change route all changes
Nov 21, 2015, 10:10 am
#511
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
No. As long as there is no change of carriers, origin, or destination, date and time changes will be free.
Originally Posted by Smileesha
Hi all, I've read the Wiki and many pages of the thread, and I'm hoping you can confirm my understanding. I have an award ticket SEA-DFW-EZE and EZE-DFW-SEA. The first leg is on AS and the other 3 on AA.
It sounds like, because of the Alaska leg, I'll be charged the change fee if I try to alter the dates of this trip, even if I maintain the same flights on the same carriers as my current itinerary (SEA-DFW AS and the other 3 legs AA). Can you confirm this? Thanks so much for the help!
It sounds like, because of the Alaska leg, I'll be charged the change fee if I try to alter the dates of this trip, even if I maintain the same flights on the same carriers as my current itinerary (SEA-DFW AS and the other 3 legs AA). Can you confirm this? Thanks so much for the help!
Nov 21, 2015, 8:10 pm
#512
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
What changes will be possible to Asia1/Asia2 award after booking?
Can someone help me understand what changes are permitted to an international award after booking? I am hoping to take whatever steps
We are traveling to Japan next July. I'd like to just do a standard Asia 1 award both ways, but I can't find availability in F or J from Japan for the return on the dates we need to travel. So what I have on hold right now is:
Outbound: BOS-PHL-ORD-NRT (ORD-NRT in JL F)
Return: HKG-JFK-BOS (HKG-JFK in CX J)
My current plan is to book a Japan-HKG flight separately with Avios, departing the day before the HKG-JFK flight.
That said: I'd really prefer to fly back directly from Japan, and would like to change the ticket if the seats become available. My questions, then:
1) What would be the easiest/cheapest way to change the return flight from HKG-BOS to NRT/HND/KIX-BOS if those seats became available?
2) Would booking all three legs on one itinerary (US->Japan, Japan->HKG, and HKG->US) make any difference? We would be in HKG for less than 24 hours, but I'm not sure if it'd be considered a stopover in any useful way.
We are traveling to Japan next July. I'd like to just do a standard Asia 1 award both ways, but I can't find availability in F or J from Japan for the return on the dates we need to travel. So what I have on hold right now is:
Outbound: BOS-PHL-ORD-NRT (ORD-NRT in JL F)
Return: HKG-JFK-BOS (HKG-JFK in CX J)
My current plan is to book a Japan-HKG flight separately with Avios, departing the day before the HKG-JFK flight.
That said: I'd really prefer to fly back directly from Japan, and would like to change the ticket if the seats become available. My questions, then:
1) What would be the easiest/cheapest way to change the return flight from HKG-BOS to NRT/HND/KIX-BOS if those seats became available?
2) Would booking all three legs on one itinerary (US->Japan, Japan->HKG, and HKG->US) make any difference? We would be in HKG for less than 24 hours, but I'm not sure if it'd be considered a stopover in any useful way.
Nov 21, 2015, 8:44 pm
#513
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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If you want to change the origination airport of your return-trip award from HKG to depart from either NRT, HND, or KIX, you would have to pay the re-deposit fee, and book new awards from Japan to BOS -- presumably at the much higher, new redemption rates, unless you were to find SAAver seats out of Japan before the new rates take effect.
The re-deposit fee is only waived for EXP members.
You cannot connect in HKG on an award from Asia 1 to North America, so I would stick with BA Avios for the TYO-HKG segment, since AAdvantage would charge more miles for that flight.
If you want to change the origination airport of your return-trip award from HKG to depart from either NRT, HND, or KIX, you would have to pay the re-deposit fee, and book new awards from Japan to BOS -- presumably at the much higher, new redemption rates, unless you were to find SAAver seats out of Japan before the new rates take effect.
The re-deposit fee is only waived for EXP members.
You cannot connect in HKG on an award from Asia 1 to North America, so I would stick with BA Avios for the TYO-HKG segment, since AAdvantage would charge more miles for that flight.
Nov 21, 2015, 9:34 pm
#514
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
I wouldn't mind paying the redeposit fee, honestly -- it's small compared to the added convenience.
Do I risk losing the outbound seats, though, if the entire thing is in one PNR?
Do I risk losing the outbound seats, though, if the entire thing is in one PNR?
Nov 21, 2015, 9:58 pm
#515
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Keep in mind, as guv mentioned above, if you change from HKG-BOS to Japan-BOS after March 22, you will pay the redeposit fee AND additional miles, as the award cost will change from 55k to 60k/80k depending on F or J.
Nov 21, 2015, 10:20 pm
#516
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
There's no risk of losing your seats on the outbound if you make changes to the return.
Keep in mind, as guv mentioned above, if you change from HKG-BOS to Japan-BOS after March 22, you will pay the redeposit fee AND additional miles, as the award cost will change from 55k to 60k/80k depending on F or J.
Keep in mind, as guv mentioned above, if you change from HKG-BOS to Japan-BOS after March 22, you will pay the redeposit fee AND additional miles, as the award cost will change from 55k to 60k/80k depending on F or J.
What changes can I make without repricing? Dates and routings with the same origin/destination, right?
Nov 21, 2015, 10:55 pm
#517
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Nov 21, 2015, 11:27 pm
#518
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Nov 22, 2015, 1:46 am
#519
Join Date: Jul 2009
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No, you cannot drop HND-HKG without penalty, since HND and HKG are in different zones. (If your award were SFO-HND-SEL, on the other hand, you could drop the HND-SEL leg without penalty, since both Japan and Korea are in Asia 1.)
You should get the difference in miles refunded if you pay the $150 change fee to drop HND-HKG.
No, you cannot drop HND-HKG without penalty, since HND and HKG are in different zones. (If your award were SFO-HND-SEL, on the other hand, you could drop the HND-SEL leg without penalty, since both Japan and Korea are in Asia 1.)
You should get the difference in miles refunded if you pay the $150 change fee to drop HND-HKG.
Nov 22, 2015, 4:28 am
#520
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Stockholm
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 202
But would I be able to keep the old price in miles (62.5k), meaning no additional miles would be charged. Or would it count as old award cancelled and new one booked (based on the new chart)? Even though I kept my seats, space in JL F cabin etc., just dropped the first segment.
Nov 27, 2015, 6:17 pm
#521
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 24
Close-in changes to an itinerary starting post-devaluation
I haven't seen the exact answer to this question but perhaps I didn't dig hard enough.
I wanted to book some of the aspirational flights (US-Asia 2 in F and India to US in F) that are getting more expensive after the devaluation in March so I just booked a trip that I've been wanting to do for a while:
4/16 SFO-ORD-HKG-CMB (F on the TPAC, J the rest)
5/4 BOM-AUH-LHR-SFO (all F)
Those dates are fine but ideally I'd like to leave a bit earlier in April but couldn't find much TPAC F availability (yep, known issue). Also, I'd much prefer AUH-JFK-SFO instead of AUH-LHR-SFO so I can avoid BA fuel surcharges and get more time to luxuriate in the EY A380 Apartment.
Both of those sorts of availability seem to mostly show up close-in (i.e. after the devaluation), so my question is: as long as the changes consist of the same origin and destination they won't be repriced at the new higher mileage prices right?
I wanted to book some of the aspirational flights (US-Asia 2 in F and India to US in F) that are getting more expensive after the devaluation in March so I just booked a trip that I've been wanting to do for a while:
4/16 SFO-ORD-HKG-CMB (F on the TPAC, J the rest)
5/4 BOM-AUH-LHR-SFO (all F)
Those dates are fine but ideally I'd like to leave a bit earlier in April but couldn't find much TPAC F availability (yep, known issue). Also, I'd much prefer AUH-JFK-SFO instead of AUH-LHR-SFO so I can avoid BA fuel surcharges and get more time to luxuriate in the EY A380 Apartment.
Both of those sorts of availability seem to mostly show up close-in (i.e. after the devaluation), so my question is: as long as the changes consist of the same origin and destination they won't be repriced at the new higher mileage prices right?
Nov 27, 2015, 6:21 pm
#522
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Stockholm
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 202
If it's purely oneworld award (like outbound journey) then in theory there should be no extra charge. If it involves at least one partner (Etihad in this case) then you're not allowed to change that routing. This is my experience.
Nov 27, 2015, 6:22 pm
#523
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
AA has not stated explicitly what the case will be
As long as there is no need for a new/different award to be issued , I would expect that it shouldn't be an issue
As long as there is no need for a new/different award to be issued , I would expect that it shouldn't be an issue
Nov 27, 2015, 6:24 pm
#524
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Nov 27, 2015, 6:34 pm
#525
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Since when is routing change not allowed on a partner award? I have done it many times on itineraries using EY.