Jan 5, 2019, 6:51 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
Link to the current thread.
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 ARCHIVE 2015-2016: Award Change for date, time, routing, co-terminal, cost, all changes.
Link to ARCHIVE 2012-14: Award Change for date, time, routing, co-terminal, cost, all changes.
AAnytime <-> MileSAAver and other changes
Link to the current thread.
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 ARCHIVE 2015-2016: Award Change for date, time, routing, co-terminal, cost, all changes.
Link to ARCHIVE 2012-14: Award Change for date, time, routing, co-terminal, cost, all changes.
ARCHIVE: 2017 Voluntary Award Change: date, time, routing, airline, co-terminal, cost
Jun 27, 2017, 4:02 pm
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,238
Yes, on awards, it doesn't matter whether you've started travel or not. Date/time changes are always free. (Of course you have to use the ticket within one year of the original issuance, but you should be fine here too based on what you posted).
Jun 27, 2017, 4:36 pm
#182
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,601
I'm about to book an award RT ticket, with outbound in two months (Aug 2017) and inbound 6-month later (Feb 2018). I know AA won't charge you for change of date, as long as the origin and destination remain the same. But my question is: after I have started the trip, can I still make (free) changes to the return date? ..before 21 days of the new departure date of coz (say, Mar 2018)..
Jun 27, 2017, 5:16 pm
#183
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CLD
Programs: ua S, marriott P, hilton G, ihg P
Posts: 579
Thanks both ijgordon and guv1976 for the insight.. much appreciated!!
Jun 27, 2017, 7:45 pm
#184
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
I'm about to book an award RT ticket, with outbound in two months (Aug 2017) and inbound 6-month later (Feb 2018). I know AA won't charge you for change of date, as long as the origin and destination remain the same. But my question is: after I have started the trip, can I still make (free) changes to the return date? ..before 21 days of the new departure date of coz (say, Mar 2018)..
/Moderator
Jul 5, 2017, 8:47 pm
#185
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
AA Award change
Hey guys,
Think I messed up and any help is appreciated! Booked 2 separate AA award tickets (one way to origin and one way to destination) in Jan 2017 for travel in Nov 2017. I was under the impression there would be no change fee as long as origin, destination, fare class, etc. remains the same. The only thing I want to change is the date of travel (May 2018).
Called up AA to request the change and was told since I booked in Jan 2017 and my change is more than a year out from then (May 2018), I have to cancel both awards and pay redeposit fees for points ($150 x 2 totaling $300) and then have a new awards booked for the dates I want.
I was completely clueless to this 1 year out from booking issue. Is this really the case?? Shouldn't it be one year from date of travel? If this really is the case any suggestions??
Thanks,
J
Think I messed up and any help is appreciated! Booked 2 separate AA award tickets (one way to origin and one way to destination) in Jan 2017 for travel in Nov 2017. I was under the impression there would be no change fee as long as origin, destination, fare class, etc. remains the same. The only thing I want to change is the date of travel (May 2018).
Called up AA to request the change and was told since I booked in Jan 2017 and my change is more than a year out from then (May 2018), I have to cancel both awards and pay redeposit fees for points ($150 x 2 totaling $300) and then have a new awards booked for the dates I want.
I was completely clueless to this 1 year out from booking issue. Is this really the case?? Shouldn't it be one year from date of travel? If this really is the case any suggestions??
Thanks,
J
Jul 5, 2017, 8:51 pm
#186
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
1 year from date of Issue.
Hey guys,
Think I messed up and any help is appreciated! Booked 2 separate AA award tickets (one way to origin and one way to destination) in Jan 2017 for travel in Nov 2017. I was under the impression there would be no change fee as long as origin, destination, fare class, etc. remains the same. The only thing I want to change is the date of travel (May 2018).
Called up AA to request the change and was told since I booked in Jan 2017 and my change is more than a year out from then (May 2018), I have to cancel both awards and pay redeposit fees for points ($150 x 2 totaling $300) and then have a new awards booked for the dates I want.
I was completely clueless to this 1 year out from booking issue. Is this really the case?? Shouldn't it be one year from date of travel? If this really is the case any suggestions??
Thanks,
J
Think I messed up and any help is appreciated! Booked 2 separate AA award tickets (one way to origin and one way to destination) in Jan 2017 for travel in Nov 2017. I was under the impression there would be no change fee as long as origin, destination, fare class, etc. remains the same. The only thing I want to change is the date of travel (May 2018).
Called up AA to request the change and was told since I booked in Jan 2017 and my change is more than a year out from then (May 2018), I have to cancel both awards and pay redeposit fees for points ($150 x 2 totaling $300) and then have a new awards booked for the dates I want.
I was completely clueless to this 1 year out from booking issue. Is this really the case?? Shouldn't it be one year from date of travel? If this really is the case any suggestions??
Thanks,
J
Jul 5, 2017, 9:09 pm
#187
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 81
If I changed flights to December would that possibly do a reset and allow to change again?
Jul 5, 2017, 9:13 pm
#188
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Jul 5, 2017, 9:27 pm
#189
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
Hey guys,
Think I messed up and any help is appreciated! Booked 2 separate AA award tickets (one way to origin and one way to destination) in Jan 2017 for travel in Nov 2017. I was under the impression there would be no change fee as long as origin, destination, fare class, etc. remains the same. The only thing I want to change is the date of travel (May 2018).
Called up AA to request the change and was told since I booked in Jan 2017 and my change is more than a year out from then (May 2018), I have to cancel both awards and pay redeposit fees for points ($150 x 2 totaling $300) and then have a new awards booked for the dates I want.
I was completely clueless to this 1 year out from booking issue. Is this really the case?? Shouldn't it be one year from date of travel? If this really is the case any suggestions??
Thanks,
J
Think I messed up and any help is appreciated! Booked 2 separate AA award tickets (one way to origin and one way to destination) in Jan 2017 for travel in Nov 2017. I was under the impression there would be no change fee as long as origin, destination, fare class, etc. remains the same. The only thing I want to change is the date of travel (May 2018).
Called up AA to request the change and was told since I booked in Jan 2017 and my change is more than a year out from then (May 2018), I have to cancel both awards and pay redeposit fees for points ($150 x 2 totaling $300) and then have a new awards booked for the dates I want.
I was completely clueless to this 1 year out from booking issue. Is this really the case?? Shouldn't it be one year from date of travel? If this really is the case any suggestions??
Thanks,
J
If you originally booked in January 2017, you can not travel after (the date you booked in) January 2018.
Canceling both awards if they are from the same account and are redeposited at the same time may cost $175, iirc,
Jul 5, 2017, 9:30 pm
#190
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Jul 5, 2017, 9:55 pm
#191
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select, Accor Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,228
e.g. I made a booking in Oct 2016. One of the partner flight numbers changed, so AA reissued in Feb 2017. Another of the partner flight numbers changed, so AA reissued again in May 2017. The only date mentioned online is the most recent issue date, so could I change it out to May 2018?
Jul 5, 2017, 9:57 pm
#192
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
As it is one year from ticket issuance, does that mean that every time AA reissues a ticket it extends the validity?
e.g. I made a booking in Oct 2016. One of the partner flight numbers changed, so AA reissued in Feb 2017. Another of the partner flight numbers changed, so AA reissued again in May 2017. The only date mentioned online is the most recent issue date, so could I change it out to May 2018?
e.g. I made a booking in Oct 2016. One of the partner flight numbers changed, so AA reissued in Feb 2017. Another of the partner flight numbers changed, so AA reissued again in May 2017. The only date mentioned online is the most recent issue date, so could I change it out to May 2018?
Jul 11, 2017, 11:36 am
#193
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: AAdvantage, Continental OnePass, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 29
Changing class on a MileSAAver Award
I am looking to book an award flight on BA with AA miles. Currently only Economy MileSAAver seats are available. If a Business MileSAAver seat becomes available on the same flight is there a charge to upgrade? I am AA Gold
I am getting mixed information from AA:
Website
Changes that require a different award type (Is this considered a different award?)
"Changes to the itinerary which involve different AAdvantage awards than originally ticketed require a reinstatement of the original award ticket, payment of the applicable award reinstatement fee, and a new award ticket issued"
Twitter
On sending a DM to AA on Twitter I got this response:
"If you book a Main Cabin award and a higher cabin becomes available, the original award is reinstated for no cost, the taxes are refunded, and a new award is claimed. If there's any more taxes, you'll pay them but there's no change charge collected."
Anyone have experience on this?
I am getting mixed information from AA:
Website
Changes that require a different award type (Is this considered a different award?)
"Changes to the itinerary which involve different AAdvantage awards than originally ticketed require a reinstatement of the original award ticket, payment of the applicable award reinstatement fee, and a new award ticket issued"
On sending a DM to AA on Twitter I got this response:
"If you book a Main Cabin award and a higher cabin becomes available, the original award is reinstated for no cost, the taxes are refunded, and a new award is claimed. If there's any more taxes, you'll pay them but there's no change charge collected."
Anyone have experience on this?
Jul 11, 2017, 11:52 am
#194
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,425
Yes, I have done this. Upgrading class is done at no cost. There is an exception for the redeposit fee for non-EXPs.
You should also be able to change routing at the same time as long as the origin and destination stay the same.
You should also be able to change routing at the same time as long as the origin and destination stay the same.
Jul 11, 2017, 11:57 am
#195
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
Correct. Upgrading class of service on saver award should NOT require any change/reinstatement fee for AAdvantage member at any level.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek