AA & Weather Waivers
Jul 18, 2019, 12:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: IND
Programs: DL DM, UA & AA Peeon, Hilton/Starwood Gold
Posts: 875
AA & Weather Waivers
Hi all, I'm normally a DL flyer but based on a couple destinations I need to get to where ST doesn't fly, I'm hanging out with y'all a bit over the next few months! I also happened to be targeted for a Platinum Pro offer which I should have no trouble hitting.
I have a flight tomorrow through ORD and noticed that UA issued a waiver today for storms. I'm curious if AA generally follows suit on things like this or they end up taking a back seat. A waiver would allow for a more favorable flight routing right now.
Any anecdotes would be helpful--thanks!
I have a flight tomorrow through ORD and noticed that UA issued a waiver today for storms. I'm curious if AA generally follows suit on things like this or they end up taking a back seat. A waiver would allow for a more favorable flight routing right now.
Any anecdotes would be helpful--thanks!
Jul 18, 2019, 12:32 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
You need to check aa.com for any weather waivers. Usually it only allows you to change travel dates within a certain range not routing. Free of charge alternative routings are typically only granted if the actual flight cancels. I'm in the very, very crowded ORD AC and luckily the sun has finally reappeared.
Jul 18, 2019, 12:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
You need to check aa.com for any weather waivers. Usually it only allows you to change travel dates within a certain range not routing. Free of charge alternative routings are typically only granted if the actual flight cancels. I'm in the very, very crowded ORD AC and luckily the sun has finally reappeared.
Jul 18, 2019, 1:27 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Hmm. But practically is there any difference? "I want to change my travel to fly July 19 instead of July 19, and the flight's I'd like happen to connect through a different airport." I don't think there's a requirement that you switch to travel on a different day as long as it's before the end of the range.
Jul 18, 2019, 3:52 pm
#5
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
Hi all, I'm normally a DL flyer but based on a couple destinations I need to get to where ST doesn't fly, I'm hanging out with y'all a bit over the next few months! I also happened to be targeted for a Platinum Pro offer which I should have no trouble hitting.
I have a flight tomorrow through ORD and noticed that UA issued a waiver today for storms. I'm curious if AA generally follows suit on things like this or they end up taking a back seat. A waiver would allow for a more favorable flight routing right now.
Any anecdotes would be helpful--thanks!
I have a flight tomorrow through ORD and noticed that UA issued a waiver today for storms. I'm curious if AA generally follows suit on things like this or they end up taking a back seat. A waiver would allow for a more favorable flight routing right now.
Any anecdotes would be helpful--thanks!
Jul 18, 2019, 5:30 pm
#6
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
This is a YMMV situation but from experience AA isn’t as flexible with routing changes like UA and DL unless your flight cancels. Of course there are some agents out there that might jump through the hoops for you, but I would lower your expectations.
Routing restrictions is a huge sore point for me not just for weather delays but same day flight changes or an anticipated potential delay (I.e. inbound aircraft is significantly delayed).
I long for the day when AA will finally loosen this restriction. Might be never.
Routing restrictions is a huge sore point for me not just for weather delays but same day flight changes or an anticipated potential delay (I.e. inbound aircraft is significantly delayed).
I long for the day when AA will finally loosen this restriction. Might be never.
Jul 18, 2019, 7:23 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Which is just dumb. The point of issuing waivers is for the airline to ease their service recovery by getting ahead of things by routing patients through unaffected hubs that have unused capacity. Defeats the purpose if you don't allow routing changes, which might explain why AA takes forever to recover from any weather events.
Jul 18, 2019, 7:38 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MSP/BUF/BNA/LFT
Programs: AA Plat, Priority Club Gold, Choice Privileges Gold
Posts: 1,225
This is a YMMV situation but from experience AA isn’t as flexible with routing changes like UA and DL unless your flight cancels. Of course there are some agents out there that might jump through the hoops for you, but I would lower your expectations.
Routing restrictions is a huge sore point for me not just for weather delays but same day flight changes or an anticipated potential delay (I.e. inbound aircraft is significantly delayed).
I long for the day when AA will finally loosen this restriction. Might be never.
Routing restrictions is a huge sore point for me not just for weather delays but same day flight changes or an anticipated potential delay (I.e. inbound aircraft is significantly delayed).
I long for the day when AA will finally loosen this restriction. Might be never.
Jul 18, 2019, 7:39 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Which is just dumb. The point of issuing waivers is for the airline to ease their service recovery by getting ahead of things by routing patients through unaffected hubs that have unused capacity. Defeats the purpose if you don't allow routing changes, which might explain why AA takes forever to recover from any weather events.
I'm sick from flying AA; I'm sick of flying AA; I'm sick for still flying AA.
Jul 19, 2019, 8:01 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Which is just dumb. The point of issuing waivers is for the airline to ease their service recovery by getting ahead of things by routing patients through unaffected hubs that have unused capacity. Defeats the purpose if you don't allow routing changes, which might explain why AA takes forever to recover from any weather events.
Jul 19, 2019, 8:05 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,735
What I've found with AA is that in IRROPs the online change options do tend to stick to original routing, but if you call in, agents usually are willing to reroute. I wish AA had a more robust online change system, one that would recognize the difference between a normal same day change (where you do have to stick to the same routing) and one caused by a weather waiver, which should allow choice of routing.
Jul 19, 2019, 11:42 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I've had TAs deny me a re-route for example through a different hub for free. I've been told only if my original flight cancels. I know when I look at the options online anything other than the original routing on a different day within the allowed time span requires additional $$$. Yes it would make sense to allow flexibility to change ahead of time so that if cancellations do occur AA doesn't get slammed-and thus the very long phone wait times.
Jul 19, 2019, 2:25 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: IND
Programs: DL DM, UA & AA Peeon, Hilton/Starwood Gold
Posts: 875
Well, didn't see any waivers so came to airport to make the flight. Of course I am on hour #2 of delay, and for what reason, I can't tell, but it doesn't appear to be weather in ORD. Will be interesting to see how this works out--but I'm learning quickly that DL is miles ahead of AA when it comes to IRROPS and giving passengers options to handle when things don't quite go as planned.