AA needs to fix their paper Voucher program
Apr 12, 2019, 5:26 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
What they need to do is to be like Alaska. Load it into your AAdvantage account wallet and let you use it online. Why does there need to be any paper involved in this process? Alaska uses SABRE so it can actually be done at AA.
Why is AA such a laggard in the ticketing arena -- from paper vouchers to taking days and weeks to "ticket" a reservation???
Why is AA such a laggard in the ticketing arena -- from paper vouchers to taking days and weeks to "ticket" a reservation???
Apr 12, 2019, 7:59 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,901
They also have evouchers. The paper ones have benefits compared to other airlines.
Transportation Voucher / vouchers / "MCO" FAQ and master thread
Transportation Voucher / vouchers / "MCO" FAQ and master thread
Last edited by rrgg; Apr 13, 2019 at 6:12 am
Apr 13, 2019, 3:33 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
It would be an interesting trivial fact to know the "spoilage" percentage of paper versus e vouchers..suspect a fairly big gulf separates the two--something AA's financial folks are fully aware of
Apr 13, 2019, 3:34 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
I recently took a very last minute trip from LAX-HKG using an expiring paper voucher. On the way to LAX to take the flight, I stopped by another smaller airport with an AA ticket counter and redeemed the voucher+cash to book the travel for that night and then called to get a confirm SWU. Was an easy process and didn’t have to deal with the mail.
Apr 13, 2019, 6:14 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,901
I saw something in the paper voucher about recovering a lost one for a fee ($100?). Not sure if that's really the case since I never tried. I always take photos of these vouchers upon receiving.
Apr 13, 2019, 7:52 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: AA PLT PRO, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plt. Premier
Posts: 587
I had a flight go MX last one of the day and of course we waited till about 3 AM before they cancelled it went to a hotel and came back the next morning, after I put my claim in AA called and siad they would give me a $300 voucher instead. The 1st thing I asked was is it a paper voucher, if so just give me the money, I hate those things.
Apr 13, 2019, 8:37 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
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I recently took a very last minute trip from LAX-HKG using an expiring paper voucher. On the way to LAX to take the flight, I stopped by another smaller airport with an AA ticket counter and redeemed the voucher+cash to book the travel for that night and then called to get a confirm SWU. Was an easy process and didn’t have to deal with the mail.
it would be even easier if you could just do it online. Or the vouchers were already attached to your FFQ number. When Uber gives me a credit, it automatically shows up in my app and can be used with a single button click
Apr 13, 2019, 9:28 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: DL Gold, AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 253
This is exactly what I thought. They know the utilization of the paper vouchers will be less than that of the e-vouchers so they'd much prefer to issue those.
Apr 13, 2019, 5:28 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus
Posts: 61
I appreciate all the feedback everyone! I should have taken this as a sign the trip was no good because overall we ended up getting delayed on the rebooking, spent a night in Chicago, then got cancelled altogether. However, our bags are still on their way to the destination but we are back home.
Apr 13, 2019, 8:32 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,967
it is relatively easy IF you have the time and easy access to an airport. Or you are at an airport and have to make a last minute booking.
it would be even easier if you could just do it online. Or the vouchers were already attached to your FFQ number. When Uber gives me a credit, it automatically shows up in my app and can be used with a single button click
it would be even easier if you could just do it online. Or the vouchers were already attached to your FFQ number. When Uber gives me a credit, it automatically shows up in my app and can be used with a single button click
Sep 7, 2019, 4:30 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1
Biggest PITA ever
My paper voucher has become the absolute bane of my existence. It was quicker and easier to get my masters degree than to deal with AA’s ridiculously antiquated system of nonsensical rules that many of the AA Customer Service phone reps and airline counter agents, don’t totally understand themselves! (One gave me misinformation that almost caused me to lose it entirely. Argh!) It becomes more of a pain in the ... to deal with every year I extend it as it’s about to expire. (It’s a rather large credit that I haven’t been able to use up so the only way to extend the balance is to keep buying cheap one-way flights I don’t take to extend it another year.) As much as I want to save it for when I can get enough time off from work to take my European dream vacation, I’m starting to think I’d get more pleasure out of burning the damn thing!
Sep 7, 2019, 8:30 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,203
My paper voucher has become the absolute bane of my existence. It was quicker and easier to get my masters degree than to deal with AA’s ridiculously antiquated system of nonsensical rules that many of the AA Customer Service phone reps and airline counter agents, don’t totally understand themselves! (One gave me misinformation that almost caused me to lose it entirely. Argh!) It becomes more of a pain in the ... to deal with every year I extend it as it’s about to expire. (It’s a rather large credit that I haven’t been able to use up so the only way to extend the balance is to keep buying cheap one-way flights I don’t take to extend it another year.) As much as I want to save it for when I can get enough time off from work to take my European dream vacation, I’m starting to think I’d get more pleasure out of burning the damn thing!
Sep 7, 2019, 8:40 am
#28
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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Posts: 52,563
Any process that involves snail-mailing anything is a bad process, period.
Personally, I've had a lot of AA paper vouchers over the years and never had an issue using them at the airport. (Better were the days of Platinum Service Centers and CTO's - but an airport agent will suffice.)
AA's process is 2nd worst only to Spirit. And when you're being compared to Spirit for, well, anything, that's not good.
Personally, I've had a lot of AA paper vouchers over the years and never had an issue using them at the airport. (Better were the days of Platinum Service Centers and CTO's - but an airport agent will suffice.)
AA's process is 2nd worst only to Spirit. And when you're being compared to Spirit for, well, anything, that's not good.
Sep 7, 2019, 9:46 am
#30
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Not quite correct. pmAA was the one who had the current mail-in voucher system. I know this with certainity, because I had to use it in 2011 and 2012 with AA, which predated the merger. pmUS, on the other hand, allowed you to call in with their paper vouchers and provide the code, then they'd redeem it on the spot. No need to mail anything in.