Nonrefundable seat upgrade charges when award flight canceled
Jun 18, 2019, 1:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
Nonrefundable seat upgrade charges when award flight canceled
I had to cancel two international TAL award flights later this summer, and opted to have the miles deposited into my AA account ($175 fee for each flight for the two of us). We had upgraded to better seats on two flight segments, essentially the overnight portions. These upgrade charges are not refundable, as I understand it. What would happen if I dispute the charges for the upgrades with the credit card used? AA is unable to deliver the services that were paid for.
Jun 18, 2019, 1:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 550
I believe that in that case the seat charges are refundable. You should be able to submit for a refund at https://prefunds.aa.com/refunds/
Jun 18, 2019, 2:11 pm
#3
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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I had to cancel two international TAL award flights later this summer, and opted to have the miles deposited into my AA account ($175 fee for each flight for the two of us). We had upgraded to better seats on two flight segments, essentially the overnight portions. These upgrade charges are not refundable, as I understand it. What would happen if I dispute the charges for the upgrades with the credit card used? AA is unable to deliver the services that were paid for.
The credit card chargeback issue is something else. If you agree to buy something that is nonrefundable, it would be wrong to attempt a credit card chargeback in order to obtain a refund, and you would probably be unsuccessful as the company you purchased the non refundable item from would simply provide the card issuer with the published information stating this.
Jun 18, 2019, 3:35 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
I believe that in that case the seat charges are refundable. You should be able to submit for a refund at https://prefunds.aa.com/refunds/
Originally Posted by AA
Paid Seats Terms And Conditions
In the following paid seats terms and conditions, a Main Cabin Extra seat and a Preferred seat will both be referred to as a paid seat.
•Paid seats are non-refundable if you change, cancel or miss your flight.
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.
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In the following paid seats terms and conditions, a Main Cabin Extra seat and a Preferred seat will both be referred to as a paid seat.
•Paid seats are non-refundable if you change, cancel or miss your flight.
.
.
.
Jun 18, 2019, 7:24 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
I had to cancel two international TAL award flights later this summer, and opted to have the miles deposited into my AA account ($175 fee for each flight for the two of us). We had upgraded to better seats on two flight segments, essentially the overnight portions. These upgrade charges are not refundable, as I understand it. What would happen if I dispute the charges for the upgrades with the credit card used? AA is unable to deliver the services that were paid for.
I think this falls into the category of never cancel up front - wait it out
If you get a schedule change, you can easily say that the flights no longer work and you can get a full refund - which includes the seat fees as it was their fault for the schedule change
Sep 27, 2019, 11:45 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
Update on Chargeback Request for Seat Upgrade Fees on Canceled Award Trip
I requested the credit card issuer to do a chargeback for the AA seat upgrade charges connected with our canceled award trip. As mentioned above, AA canceled our award travel for a fee of $175, and redeposited our miles. However, there was some difference of opinion as to whether we should also receive a refund of the associated seat upgrade charges.
90 days have passed, and the charges in question have not been reposted to my credit card account.
I felt the chargeback was warranted, since the airline was no longer able to provide the services in question once they canceled the underlying award trip.
It seems in some cases the chargeback system works in the consumer's favor.
90 days have passed, and the charges in question have not been reposted to my credit card account.
I felt the chargeback was warranted, since the airline was no longer able to provide the services in question once they canceled the underlying award trip.
It seems in some cases the chargeback system works in the consumer's favor.
Last edited by Reindeerflame; Sep 27, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Sep 27, 2019, 12:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,227
AA didn't cancel the trip. You cancelled it. There's a massive difference. If AA had cancelled the trip then I'd have assumed that there would be no charge to redeposit the miles, and any ancillary charges (seating, co-pay etc.) would also be refunded. I think it's disingenuous at best to have reclaimed the seat charges via a charge back against your credit card.
Sep 27, 2019, 12:18 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,198
AA didn't cancel the trip. You cancelled it. There's a massive difference. If AA had cancelled the trip then I'd have assumed that there would be no charge to redeposit the miles, and any ancillary charges (seating, co-pay etc.) would also be refunded. I think it's disingenuous at best to have reclaimed the seat charges via a charge back against your credit card.
Sep 27, 2019, 2:52 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,186
Sep 27, 2019, 4:29 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
I have even seen card companies that have a fee applicable to cardholder for failed disputes
What good reason is there for the card company to pay for the purchase that the cardholder is liable for
Sep 27, 2019, 5:14 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,186
The NYT article estimates this costs lenders $10 to $40 per dispute, so if the questionable transaction costs less than that, the bank may cut its losses just to save time and maybe a few bucks. They won’t contact the merchant at all, instead just assuming the customer is right, and cover the charge themselves.
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/what-...t-card-charge/
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/what-...t-card-charge/
Last edited by GFrye; Sep 27, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Sep 27, 2019, 5:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 3,198
Often, if the disputed charge is less than a certain amount and the cardholder is not an habitual disputer, the CC issuer eats the charge as it would cost more to research it. The merchant still gets paid.
Sep 27, 2019, 7:41 pm
#14
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I think the AA rules in this situation allow AA to refund the money.
The credit card chargeback issue is something else. If you agree to buy something that is nonrefundable, it would be wrong to attempt a credit card chargeback in order to obtain a refund, and you would probably be unsuccessful as the company you purchased the non refundable item from would simply provide the card issuer with the published information stating this.
The credit card chargeback issue is something else. If you agree to buy something that is nonrefundable, it would be wrong to attempt a credit card chargeback in order to obtain a refund, and you would probably be unsuccessful as the company you purchased the non refundable item from would simply provide the card issuer with the published information stating this.
Sep 27, 2019, 8:42 pm
#15
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"They" canceled?
You're playing very loosely with the facts. To put it kindly.