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
Jan 19, 2015, 8:23 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
That very much depends on the type of change you want to make.
Originally Posted by Johnny Rocket
Are there still fees for changing award tickets?
Jan 19, 2015, 8:25 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
try this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...hange-fee.html
Jan 21, 2015, 11:58 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Choice Elite Platinum
Posts: 433
Hi all,
I wanted to get some confirmation on what I am planning.
I’ve booked an aa reward flight for March, two separate one ways for 3 passengers. But now realize we can’t go, instead of cancelling, can I reschedule as far out as possible (November)? Then later, reschedule again for next March. All without penalty fees? I don't think so (max one year out from time of initial booking) but not sure.
Also, If I cancel and get my miles back into my account, is the fee $275 : first one way; $150 +$25+$25 and second one way $25+$25+$25?
Thanks again!!!
I wanted to get some confirmation on what I am planning.
I’ve booked an aa reward flight for March, two separate one ways for 3 passengers. But now realize we can’t go, instead of cancelling, can I reschedule as far out as possible (November)? Then later, reschedule again for next March. All without penalty fees? I don't think so (max one year out from time of initial booking) but not sure.
Also, If I cancel and get my miles back into my account, is the fee $275 : first one way; $150 +$25+$25 and second one way $25+$25+$25?
Thanks again!!!
Jan 21, 2015, 12:46 pm
#49
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
There is a fee, see the 4th example down in this chart:
http://www.travelingbetter.com/showp...72&postcount=2
There were many mistaken posts in this thread (and others in the forum) on this subject, so it's understandable that there was/is a lot of confusion on the subject.
http://www.travelingbetter.com/showp...72&postcount=2
There were many mistaken posts in this thread (and others in the forum) on this subject, so it's understandable that there was/is a lot of confusion on the subject.
I've attempted to add a wiki with (mostly) correct information, but I'm not expert on these issues; perhaps your editing, amending or correcting the information I've attempted to compile by you would add value and enable our members to extract the golden grains from the chaff.
I'm in the same predicament: 3 people, 2 one-way awards, suppose to leave in March TPA>MUC and we can't go. However, in my situation the departing flight was booked with my miles and returning flight was booked with my husband's miles. So if I want we want our miles back is it $150+25+25=$200 twice (because miles are coming from 2 accounts)? or Is it $275 like in the above example?
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 21, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Jan 23, 2015, 11:19 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: USA
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Exec, CITI Prestige, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold and all ever changing
Posts: 218
I guess I'll wait and see if I can get >1 hour change. So far it's been a 20min on the PAR leg. However, i could have been worse, like that of LivelyFL. Guess, these are the risks we take booking ahead with miles. Thats ok, as I've benefited too.
Jan 24, 2015, 6:47 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 35
I've got a milesaver award ticket (for 2 people) coming up in May via airberlin (MSP>MIA>DUS>FCO) I just double checked our MCE seats since the MSP>MIA leg is on a 738 and I wanted to see if it was one of the updated planes. I noticed our DUS>FCO flight now arrives 3 hours later, I was looking at alternative flights since we'd prefer to get to Rome in the morning and noticed 1 award seat left the same day on USAirways, MSP>CLT>FCO which gets us in at 945am. Since there is only 1 award seat left is there any chance AA will be able to open up a 2nd award and make the change? If that's not feasible (and I'm assuming it isn't), can I have the tickets changed to leave the day before when there are 2 award seats?
Jan 24, 2015, 7:25 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Yes, there is a chance they will open US or AA award inventory to reticket you. Yes, there is a chance they will permit travel the day before. You don't have a misconnect, nor an excessive layover that now breaks the fare, so you're seeking a courtesy not asking them to meet a contracted obligation. If they refuse you can ask for a refund and reticket on your own.
Jan 25, 2015, 9:27 am
#53
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
I'm searching too, but can't find it yet. Kind of in a hurry - limited internet access. Really sorry if this is a repost x1000.
Can you change a domestic award ticket without fees, even if you're within 24 hours of departure? Or does it then become a same day change, and cost money?
Same origin, same destination. Just a different connection (avoiding weather).
Thanks in advance.
Can you change a domestic award ticket without fees, even if you're within 24 hours of departure? Or does it then become a same day change, and cost money?
Same origin, same destination. Just a different connection (avoiding weather).
Thanks in advance.
Jan 25, 2015, 9:57 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
I'm searching too, but can't find it yet. Kind of in a hurry - limited internet access. Really sorry if this is a repost x1000.
Can you change a domestic award ticket without fees, even if you're within 24 hours of departure? Or does it then become a same day change, and cost money?
Same origin, same destination. Just a different connection (avoiding weather).
Thanks in advance.
Can you change a domestic award ticket without fees, even if you're within 24 hours of departure? Or does it then become a same day change, and cost money?
Same origin, same destination. Just a different connection (avoiding weather).
Thanks in advance.
Feb 4, 2015, 6:24 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
If I have AUH-JFK in J, aside from mileage differences, would I pay a change fee for each of these scenarios? In all cases, the dates and origin/destination airports are remaining the same:
1. AUH-JFK in F [cabin change on non-oneworld member]
2. AUH-LHR-JFK in J [with BA for LHR-JFK, and still valid routing I believe]
3. AUH-LHR-JFK in F [same as above, but different cabin]
I am not an EXP, and the departure date is over six months away.
Feedback appreciated.
1. AUH-JFK in F [cabin change on non-oneworld member]
2. AUH-LHR-JFK in J [with BA for LHR-JFK, and still valid routing I believe]
3. AUH-LHR-JFK in F [same as above, but different cabin]
I am not an EXP, and the departure date is over six months away.
Feedback appreciated.
Feb 4, 2015, 7:38 am
#57
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Since you are going from non-1W to 1W, there will be a fee.
Feb 4, 2015, 8:09 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
Thank you. Will cabin changes and date changes on AUH-JFK, staying with EY, be free?
Feb 4, 2015, 8:51 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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See the Wiki at the top of this thread.
Feb 4, 2015, 9:51 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
Ok, I presume "If the award includes non-oneworld partners such as AS, FJ or TN, change fees will be incurred." this rule applies. 