I have the misfortune of getting a paper voucher due to flight change.
Reading this thread resets my expectation to see headache ahead when redeeming it.
Many had mentioned using it at AA counter at airport, how does that work?
I mean do I first book my reservation, put it on HOLD for 24 hours, then go to airport to pay for it with voucher? Confused!
Thanks.

Call reservations to book what you want. The agent will reserve the flights and hold them for ticketing. Then, either go to the airport or mail-in the voucher as instructed. It's not easy but not difficult either, just annoying.

paper in 2019? enough said. AA, please get your act together.

Consider yourself lucky.

Interesting incident on this topic. Was at DCA getting a gate pass to pick up my mom coming in from out of town when a person strolls up to counter agent next to me seeking to use the value of a voucher. Person had a picture of the voucher on his phone and had thrown away the paper voucher. Agent said - sorry Charlie - vouchers are treated like cash and you must present the actual, physical voucher to redeem the value on it.

I finished my business so I don't know how the rest of the other transaction worked out.

FWIW...flights today were -empty-. My mom came from SAN and both her segments were less than 50% full with her segment to DCA having about 25 people on board an E-175.

I was told once that they all go in a special folder and get sent to Dallas to be audited. Vouchers can be reissued if they get lost in the mail though.

It's why retailers still use gift cards. Gift card breakage adds to revenue because after a certain period retailers can take unused amounts back into revenue. It's not about technology. It's about using a system that will have the greatest non use of vouchers.

I'd strongly suggest that if you get a paper voucher to go to the airport to redeem it vs .mailing in.
I've had 3 paper vouchers over the past few years that I've mailed in. While none of them have been lost, I had one that was seriously delayed in processing.
AA did receive voucher like a week later, but the ticket wasn't in a ticketed state. Got to about 60 days before flight, I called in and was told that they were still busy and that they could take as long as up to 24 hours before departure before the booking was actually ticketed. Trying to get a flight changed when the ticket isn't issued also caused a whole bunch of issues. I was on the phone line with several different agents for the better part of 2+ hours (twice) and that's when I found out that the ticket was issued fully and may not be until 24 hours prior. Now, whether any of what the phone reps said was true, I don't know. Just know that I'll never mail one in again.

I agree it's a pain, but it really isn't that big of a deal. It's been a few years since I had one, but I have had plenty over the years. The process is really alot easier than most are making it out to be.

1) Find the trip you want on AA.com and put it on 24 hour hold
2) Drive to airport and redeem at ticket counter, pay difference with credit card (hint: go at a time where there are not multiple departures back to back, such as afternoons in my case)
3) Enjoy the free AA money.

Yes, it would be easier if it was AA gift cards, but it's not THAT big of a deal. An hour of my time and $5 in gas for usually a few hundred dollars (or more) of free travel - I'll take that any day of the week.

I redeemed one recently by mailing in, luckily with no issues. I didn't use the full value of the voucher, and amazingly they provided the remaining balance as an e-voucher 5-7 days after they received my paper voucher. So, it's not like they don't have the ability to issue them that way.

THIS +1

Ya the system is an old dog but all things considered it's not that bad. I've gotten 3 VDB's the summer, already used one and found the hardest part finding a stamp in my desk drawer :D

Baloney. It's an awful system in 2019. If wonder how many tickets AA would sell if all their you had to mail in a check or go to the airport to buy an AA ticket?

So if redeem my voucher for my child and don't use the full amount, does the residual voucher amount come back in my name or my child's?