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 17, 2016, 9:18 pm
#1291
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863
Nov 18, 2016, 8:23 am
#1292
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Nov 18, 2016, 8:54 am
#1293
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott LT Plat; WoH Exp; AS Gold; AA Plat
Posts: 369
I was under the impression that only the layover/connection between a domestic segment and an international segment can be <24hrs. Connections between 2 domestic segments still need to be <4hrs, even if these segments are part of an international award.
Nov 18, 2016, 9:11 am
#1294
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: AA EXP, SPG GLD, Starbucks (SBUX) Super Duper Executive Gold Global Priority Platinum Prestige
Posts: 69
--retracted--
Nov 18, 2016, 9:37 am
#1295
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
You were under a mis-impression.
Nov 18, 2016, 10:05 am
#1296
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
For more comprehensive notes on award rules, pleasecsee the Wikipost and posts in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2015-a.html
This will soon be merged into http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l-changes.html.
Moderator
This will soon be merged into http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l-changes.html.
Moderator
Nov 18, 2016, 12:32 pm
#1297
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 53
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant that I couldn't find any other potential fee related to my situation aside from the standard $75 fee if I were to change my award 21 days before departure.
Nov 18, 2016, 12:38 pm
#1298
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863
There is no fee for changing close to departure. The only fee is for changing to a date within 21 days of the ORIGINAL booking date.
Nov 21, 2016, 8:17 am
#1299
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,637
Original ticket at 55K business award US-ASIA2 (Sri Lanka)
DCA-JFK (AA) -- JFK-LAX (AA) -- LAX-HKG (CX) -- HKG-BKK-CMB (UL, thru flight)
I want to change the date to 1 week later and this was the best that I could find.
DCA-LGA (AA Y) -- JFK-HKG (CX) -- HKG-BKK (CX) -- BKK-CMB (UL Y)
I was told that would be 70K miles instead of the original 55K miles. Agent stated only $60 taxes/fees. Because there are voluntary downgrades to Y, then the routing is OK but the new award level is required. She even called her help desk. But did not know the airport code for Bangkok or Colombo or what airline flew to Sri Lanka. Inexperienced agent? Try again? I should be OK, I believe.
UPDATE: Called the next day. Agent not very experienced, but the exchange was made without any extra miles or fees collected. I suspect that the quality of the help desk that agent need is better during normal 9-5 business hours.
DCA-JFK (AA) -- JFK-LAX (AA) -- LAX-HKG (CX) -- HKG-BKK-CMB (UL, thru flight)
I want to change the date to 1 week later and this was the best that I could find.
DCA-LGA (AA Y) -- JFK-HKG (CX) -- HKG-BKK (CX) -- BKK-CMB (UL Y)
I was told that would be 70K miles instead of the original 55K miles. Agent stated only $60 taxes/fees. Because there are voluntary downgrades to Y, then the routing is OK but the new award level is required. She even called her help desk. But did not know the airport code for Bangkok or Colombo or what airline flew to Sri Lanka. Inexperienced agent? Try again? I should be OK, I believe.
UPDATE: Called the next day. Agent not very experienced, but the exchange was made without any extra miles or fees collected. I suspect that the quality of the help desk that agent need is better during normal 9-5 business hours.
Nov 29, 2016, 5:19 pm
#1300
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,314
I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this, but here it goes.
I have a partner award DBV-MAD-LAX in IB. Since DBV-MAD arrives later than MAD-LAX departs (only one flight each segment), I had an overnight in DBV.
Now IB eliminated the DBV-MAD flight on the scheduled day and they booked me on the following day. My ticket has me arriving from DBV to MAD after the MAD-LAX flight departs.
IB won't open up space the next day, so I have an impossible ticket to fly.
The only reasonable alternative routing (i.e., one stop) is DBV-LGW on BA, overnighting and connecting (within 24 hours) to LAX-LHR. AA intially refused to open space, nor provide any option, I'm trying again. If that doesn't succeed, I'll try Twitter.
My question is whether the fact that the departure is from the EU give me any more rights in this case. Is AA obligated to get me home in the class I booked? If not, any compensation due? Or just a refund?
AA is such a pain these days, the Exec Plat desk agent cancelled my IB ticket without checking with me! Luckily when I told her not to cancel it, and she replied she already did, she was able to get the seats back. Otherwise, I'd be stuck without no TATL (at least giving me an option to spend two nights in MAD and flying DBV-MAD on my own nickel or as a separate award).
ETA maybe I found out the answer online. If the cancelled flight is more than 14 days out, no compensation is due other than refund. Is that correct?
I have a partner award DBV-MAD-LAX in IB. Since DBV-MAD arrives later than MAD-LAX departs (only one flight each segment), I had an overnight in DBV.
Now IB eliminated the DBV-MAD flight on the scheduled day and they booked me on the following day. My ticket has me arriving from DBV to MAD after the MAD-LAX flight departs.
IB won't open up space the next day, so I have an impossible ticket to fly.
The only reasonable alternative routing (i.e., one stop) is DBV-LGW on BA, overnighting and connecting (within 24 hours) to LAX-LHR. AA intially refused to open space, nor provide any option, I'm trying again. If that doesn't succeed, I'll try Twitter.
My question is whether the fact that the departure is from the EU give me any more rights in this case. Is AA obligated to get me home in the class I booked? If not, any compensation due? Or just a refund?
AA is such a pain these days, the Exec Plat desk agent cancelled my IB ticket without checking with me! Luckily when I told her not to cancel it, and she replied she already did, she was able to get the seats back. Otherwise, I'd be stuck without no TATL (at least giving me an option to spend two nights in MAD and flying DBV-MAD on my own nickel or as a separate award).
ETA maybe I found out the answer online. If the cancelled flight is more than 14 days out, no compensation is due other than refund. Is that correct?
Last edited by beachfan; Nov 29, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Dec 3, 2016, 4:05 pm
#1301
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
Schedule change
in the event, after ticket issuance, schedule
changes are made by aa that:
(i) affect a passenger's departure and/or
arrival by 2 or more hours;
(ii) result in the addition of an intermediate
stop on the passenger's itinerary;
(iii) result in a substitution of equipment not
acceptable to the passenger; or
(iv) if a cancellation or a change in either air
or tour itinerary is initiated either by aa
or it's tour operators which is unacceptable
to the passenger, the passenger will have the
option of cancelling without penalty, or
rerouting on different flights to/from the
same or different destination. However, the
passenger must pay any additional amounts
resulting from the rerouting.
in the event, after ticket issuance, schedule
changes are made by aa that:
(i) affect a passenger's departure and/or
arrival by 2 or more hours;
(ii) result in the addition of an intermediate
stop on the passenger's itinerary;
(iii) result in a substitution of equipment not
acceptable to the passenger; or
(iv) if a cancellation or a change in either air
or tour itinerary is initiated either by aa
or it's tour operators which is unacceptable
to the passenger, the passenger will have the
option of cancelling without penalty, or
rerouting on different flights to/from the
same or different destination. However, the
passenger must pay any additional amounts
resulting from the rerouting.
Dec 7, 2016, 10:14 am
#1302
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 85
Question regarding changes in class for a leg of the ticket:
I currently have business flight tickets for Atlanta-Taipei (1 way) via AA+Cathay Pacific. The date I'm trying to change to has no Business Class tickets for the domestic haul, only First Class and Economy tickets in AAnytime.
The ticketing said that changes to economy would be 55 k per passenger, and to First Class to 90 k. Is that right? It doesn't remotely match up with the AA Award chart.
I currently have business flight tickets for Atlanta-Taipei (1 way) via AA+Cathay Pacific. The date I'm trying to change to has no Business Class tickets for the domestic haul, only First Class and Economy tickets in AAnytime.
The ticketing said that changes to economy would be 55 k per passenger, and to First Class to 90 k. Is that right? It doesn't remotely match up with the AA Award chart.
Dec 7, 2016, 11:31 am
#1303
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,470
Question regarding changes in class for a leg of the ticket:
I currently have business flight tickets for Atlanta-Taipei (1 way) via AA+Cathay Pacific. The date I'm trying to change to has no Business Class tickets for the domestic haul, only First Class and Economy tickets in AAnytime.
The ticketing said that changes to economy would be 55 k per passenger, and to First Class to 90 k. Is that right? It doesn't remotely match up with the AA Award chart.
I currently have business flight tickets for Atlanta-Taipei (1 way) via AA+Cathay Pacific. The date I'm trying to change to has no Business Class tickets for the domestic haul, only First Class and Economy tickets in AAnytime.
The ticketing said that changes to economy would be 55 k per passenger, and to First Class to 90 k. Is that right? It doesn't remotely match up with the AA Award chart.
Dec 8, 2016, 1:25 pm
#1304
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 85
My Routing is Atlanta-Chicago-Hong Kong-Taipei though Cathay. The original travel date is the 14th.
There is availability the 23rd through JAL, but on that date only AAnytime awards available for the domestic segment within the US in F and Y. So in short, only AAnytime in F and Y.
My question being - would changing the domestic segment result in that much of additional fees in miles?
There is availability the 23rd through JAL, but on that date only AAnytime awards available for the domestic segment within the US in F and Y. So in short, only AAnytime in F and Y.
My question being - would changing the domestic segment result in that much of additional fees in miles?
Dec 8, 2016, 3:39 pm
#1305
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
My Routing is Atlanta-Chicago-Hong Kong-Taipei though Cathay. The original travel date is the 14th.
There is availability the 23rd through JAL, but on that date only AAnytime awards available for the domestic segment within the US in F and Y. So in short, only AAnytime in F and Y.
My question being - would changing the domestic segment result in that much of additional fees in miles?
There is availability the 23rd through JAL, but on that date only AAnytime awards available for the domestic segment within the US in F and Y. So in short, only AAnytime in F and Y.
My question being - would changing the domestic segment result in that much of additional fees in miles?
1) you are changing your pre-deval 55K award to the post-deval 70K award, since you are changing the origin of your award from ATL-TPE to HKG-TPE; This part costs 15K extra;
2) you are separately paying for an Anytime award for domestic in either Y or F. This part costs the rest of additional mileage.
That's my best guess.