Feb 27, 2020, 12:59 pm
Last edit by: dstan
For tickets purchased Wednesday, April 8, 2020 or after, see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...020-after.html
More changes: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10:40 PM .
Official announcement from American Airlines: http://news.aa.com/news/news-details...3/default.aspx
American Airlines Announces Additional Schedule Changes in Response to Customer Demand Related to COVID-19
NOTE: also see AA Waiving Change Fees for Travel Purchased March 1 - May 31 (Coronavirus)
(information current as of April 15, 2020)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp
(Previous travel waivers require rebooked travel to start by the earlier of the stated date OR the 12-month validity of the original ticket)
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This thread is dedicated to discussion and questions pertaining to changing travel on AA motivated by COVID-19 novel Coronavirus but not covered by AA travel alerts or waivers.
For those destinations covered by AA Coronavirus-related travel alerts and waivers see Coronavirus COVID-19 AA paid & award China et al cancel / change / questions
Link to AA travel alerts
Link to thread AA schedule changes - free flight change / cancellation / refund (consolidated)
Link to thread AA 2020 schedule adjustments / changes due to coronavirus
AA agents have occasionally allowed passengers with booked travel wishing to cancel because of Coronavirus concerns to cancel without fees, but this is not AA official policy. Possible reasons:
Events, meetings, etc. you were to attend have been cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns, so your trip would be in vain.
You have documentable health conditions that your doctor feels are sufficient to cancel travel plans.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
New General Change Fee Waiver (released ≈April 7-15)
New Change Fee waiver for South Pacific (released ≈March 20?)
New Change Fee waiver for Canada, Caribbean, .Central and South America (released ≈March 20?)
New Change Fee waiver for Europe (released March 12, expanded to Middle East)
Change Fee Waiver for Flights Booked before March 1, 2020 for travel March 1 – May 31 (extended March 20)
Change Fee Waiver for Flights Booked before March 1, 2020 for travel March 10 – April 30 (released March 9)
• AA Award Travel - Per multiple first-hand accounts (including by dstan), under the above General Travel Waiver, AA Award Travel booked before March 1 for travel between March 1, 2020 – April 30, 2020 can be canceled for a full refund of all fees and taxes paid AND free redeposit of miles (reinstatement fee waived).
Change Fee Waiver for Flights Booked between March 1, 2020–March 30, 2020 (extended 3/5)
Change Fee Waiver for Flights Booked between March 1, 2020–March 16, 2020 (original 3/1)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...conditions.jsp
This waiver is valid only for tickets issued on American Airlines ticket stock. Tickets can be identified by a 13-digit ticket number beginning with American Airlines code ’001’. Tickets issued by other airlines with a different carrier code (ticket numbers not beginning with ‘001’) are subject to the waiver policy of that airline.
This policy excludes bookings through AAdvantage® award tickets.
American Airlines Vacations packages purchased between March 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CT and March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT, also qualify for the one-time change fee waiver. Changes must be made prior to the departure of your original flight. Any difference in fare or hotel rate will apply.
Contact American Airlines Vacations
Updated: March 9, 2020
More changes: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10:40 PM .
Official announcement from American Airlines: http://news.aa.com/news/news-details...3/default.aspx
American Airlines Announces Additional Schedule Changes in Response to Customer Demand Related to COVID-19
NOTE: also see AA Waiving Change Fees for Travel Purchased March 1 - May 31 (Coronavirus)
Current AA Travel Waivers for COVID-19
(information current as of April 15, 2020)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp
- All Pre-May 31 Bookings (announced 4/7) - change fees waived, tickets booked on/before May 31, travel Mar 1–Sep 30, rebooked travel start by Dec 31, 2021
Previous AA Travel Waivers for COVID-19
(Previous travel waivers require rebooked travel to start by the earlier of the stated date OR the 12-month validity of the original ticket)
- South Pacific - change fees waived, tickets booked on/before March 16, travel March 16–May 31, rebooked travel start by Dec 31
- Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America - change fees waived, tickets booked on/before March 17, travel March 16–May 31, rebooked travel start by Dec 31
- Europe and the Middle East (announced 3/12, expanded to Middle East) - change fees waived, tickets booked on/before March 11, travel March 11–May 31, rebooked travel start by Dec 31
- All Pre-March 1 Bookings (announced 3/9, extended 3/20) - change fees waived, tickets booked on/before March 1, travel March 11–May 31
April 30, rebooked travel start by Dec 31 - All March 1–March 30 Bookings (announced 3/1 , extended 3/5, extended 4/7) - change fees waived, tickets booked March 1–April 30 (originally March 16, then March 30), travel Mar 1, 2020–Jan 30, 2021, rebooked travel complete within 12-month ticket validity
- Italy - refund or change fees waived, tickets booked on/before Feb 27, travel Feb 27–Apr 24, rebooked travel Feb 27–June 30
- South Korea (ICN) - refund or change fees waived, tickets booked on/before Feb 24, travel Feb 24–May 1, rebooked travel Feb 24–June 30
- Hong Kong (HKG) - refund or change fees waived, tickets booked on/before Jan 28, travel Jan 28–July 1, rebooked travel Jan 28–Aug 31
- China (PEK, PVG) - refund or change fees waived, tickets booked on/before Jan 24, travel Jan 24–Oct 23, rebooked travel Feb 1–Dec 31
- Wuhan, China (WUH) - refund only, tickets booked on/before Jan 23, travel Jan 23–Mar 31
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This thread is dedicated to discussion and questions pertaining to changing travel on AA motivated by COVID-19 novel Coronavirus but not covered by AA travel alerts or waivers.
For those destinations covered by AA Coronavirus-related travel alerts and waivers see Coronavirus COVID-19 AA paid & award China et al cancel / change / questions
Link to AA travel alerts
Link to thread AA schedule changes - free flight change / cancellation / refund (consolidated)
Link to thread AA 2020 schedule adjustments / changes due to coronavirus
AA agents have occasionally allowed passengers with booked travel wishing to cancel because of Coronavirus concerns to cancel without fees, but this is not AA official policy. Possible reasons:
Events, meetings, etc. you were to attend have been cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns, so your trip would be in vain.
You have documentable health conditions that your doctor feels are sufficient to cancel travel plans.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
New General Change Fee Waiver (released ≈April 7-15)
No change fee if you bought your ticket before May 31, 2020
Information current as of April 15, 2020
Keep in mind:
Travel must be completed on or before December 31, 2021. The change fee will be waived but you may still owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
Information current as of April 15, 2020
If you're traveling to / through / from:
All cities served by AmericanThe change fee is waived if you:
- Booked an American Airlines flight
- Bought your ticket on or before May 31, 2020
- Are scheduled to travel March 1 - September 30, 2020
- Can travel on or before December 31, 2021
Change your trip or cancel and rebook later
You’re allowed to make changes to your trip once. You can change it now, or cancel and rebook later.Keep in mind:
Travel must be completed on or before December 31, 2021. The change fee will be waived but you may still owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
New Change Fee waiver for South Pacific (released ≈March 20?)
Novel Coronavirus - South Pacific
Information current as of March 20, 2020
Keep in mind:
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Information current as of March 20, 2020
If you're traveling to / through / from airports in:
AustraliaThe change fee is waived if you:
- Booked an American Airlines flight
- Bought your ticket on or before March 16, 2020
- Are scheduled to travel March 16 - May 31, 2020
- Can travel March 16 - December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
Change your trip or cancel and rebook later
You’re allowed to make changes to your trip once. You can change it now, or cancel and rebook later.Keep in mind:
- Travel must start by December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
- The change fee will be waived but you may still owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
Change or cancel online
Here's how:- Find your trip
- If your trip is eligible, you'll see 'Change trip' or ‘Cancel trip’ in the top toolbar
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Call to rebook
After you cancel your trip online, please call Reservations when you’re ready to rebook. You’ll need:- Your ticket number (American tickets have a 13-digit number that begins with ’001’)
- Your 6-character confirmation (also called a ‘Record Locator’)
New Change Fee waiver for Canada, Caribbean, .Central and South America (released ≈March 20?)
Novel Coronavirus - Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America
Information current as of March 20, 2020
Keep in mind:
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Information current as of March 20, 2020
If you're traveling to / through / from airports in these countries:
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Brazil
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Panama
- Peru
- St. Maarten
- Uruguay
The change fee is waived if you:
- Booked an American Airlines flight
- Bought your ticket on or before March 17, 2020
- Are scheduled to travel March 16 - May 31, 2020
- Can travel March 16 - December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
Change your trip or cancel and rebook later
You’re allowed to make changes to your trip once. You can change it now, or cancel and rebook later.Keep in mind:
- Travel must start by December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
- The change fee will be waived but you may still owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
Change or cancel online
Here's how:- Find your trip
- If your trip is eligible, you'll see 'Change trip' or ‘Cancel trip’ in the top toolbar
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Call to rebook
After you cancel your trip online, please call Reservations when you’re ready to rebook. You’ll need:- Your ticket number (American tickets have a 13-digit number that begins with ’001’)
- Your 6-character confirmation (also called a ‘Record Locator’)
Novel Coronavirus - Europe and the Middle East
Information current as of March 20, 2020
Keep in mind:
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Information current as of March 20, 2020
If you're traveling to / through / from airports in these countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- UK
The change fee is waived if you:
- Booked an American Airlines flight
- Bought your ticket on or before March 16, 2020
- Are scheduled to travel March 11 - May 31, 2020
- Can travel March 11 - December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
Change your trip or cancel and rebook later
You’re allowed to make changes to your trip once. You can change it now, or cancel and rebook later.Keep in mind:
- Travel must start by December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
- The change fee will be waived but you may still owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
Change or cancel online
Here's how:- Find your trip
- If your trip is eligible, you'll see 'Change trip' or ‘Cancel trip’ in the top toolbar
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Call to rebook
Please call Reservations when you’re ready to rebook. You’ll need:- Your ticket number (American tickets have a 13-digit number that begins with ’001’)
- Your 6-character confirmation (also called a ‘Record Locator’)
No change fee if you bought your ticket before March 1 Expand Information current as of March 20, 2020
Keep in mind:
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
If you're traveling to / through / from:
All cities served by AmericanThe change fee is waived if you:
- Booked an American Airlines flight
- Bought your ticket on or before March 1, 2020
- Are scheduled to travel March 1 - May 31, 2020
- Can travel March 1 - December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier
Change your trip or cancel and rebook later
You’re allowed to make changes to your trip once. You can change it now, or cancel and rebook later.Keep in mind:
- Travel must start by December 31, 2020 or within 1 year of date the ticket was issued, whichever is earlier.
- The change fee will be waived but you may still owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
Change or cancel online
Here's how:- Find your trip
- If your trip is eligible, you'll see 'Change trip' or ‘Cancel trip’ in the top toolbar
We’ll send an email that includes your ticket number after you cancel your trip. Keep this handy so you can refer to it when you call to rebook.
Call to rebook
After you cancel your trip online, please call Reservations when you’re ready to rebook. You’ll need:- Your ticket number (American tickets have a 13-digit number that begins with ’001’)
- Your 6-character confirmation (also called a ‘Record Locator’)
• AA Award Travel - Per multiple first-hand accounts (including by dstan), under the above General Travel Waiver, AA Award Travel booked before March 1 for travel between March 1, 2020 – April 30, 2020 can be canceled for a full refund of all fees and taxes paid AND free redeposit of miles (reinstatement fee waived).
Change Fee Waiver for Flights Booked between March 1, 2020–March 30, 2020 (extended 3/5)
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...conditions.jsp
Terms and conditions
If you purchased a ticket on American Airlines between March 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CT and March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT, you may change your flight once without paying a change fee. Tickets must be purchased for travel between March 1, 2020 and January 30, 2021.Exception policy
- We will waive the change fee only on published Non-Refundable Fare tickets.
- Tickets must be purchased between March 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CT and March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT, with original travel between March 1, 2020 and January 30, 2021.
- Changes must be made prior to the departure of your original flight.
- New travel must be completed within 1 year of original ticket issue date.
- Any difference in fare will apply.
- Change your trip online or by calling Reservations.
This waiver is valid only for tickets issued on American Airlines ticket stock. Tickets can be identified by a 13-digit ticket number beginning with American Airlines code ’001’. Tickets issued by other airlines with a different carrier code (ticket numbers not beginning with ‘001’) are subject to the waiver policy of that airline.
This policy excludes bookings through AAdvantage® award tickets.
American Airlines Vacations packages purchased between March 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CT and March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT, also qualify for the one-time change fee waiver. Changes must be made prior to the departure of your original flight. Any difference in fare or hotel rate will apply.
Contact American Airlines Vacations
Updated: March 9, 2020
AA Trip Cancellation & Coronavirus: Discussion & Questions
Feb 10, 2020, 12:33 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Thailand
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 1,150
Had planned 3 weeks DLM - SIN - SGN - HUI - HAN - DLM at end March and April but Mrs Spike has indicated her lack of interest as of now. No tickets booked yet thank goodness. Just the hotel in Hanoi which I can cancel or change before mıd-March. (Which is ok because I have no intention of missing the first F1 Grand Prix in Hanoi for which I have already bought a rather expensive ticket!).
Notwithstanding having pointed out to Mrs S., as a comparison with coronavirus, that UK Gov figures show that in e.g. 2018/2019 flu season, in England only, 26,408 deaths associated with influenza were recorded, of which 22,237 were in our age group, 65+.
Notwithstanding having pointed out to Mrs S., as a comparison with coronavirus, that UK Gov figures show that in e.g. 2018/2019 flu season, in England only, 26,408 deaths associated with influenza were recorded, of which 22,237 were in our age group, 65+.
F1 is looking at the Asian races and i wouldn't be surprised if races are cancelled or postponed
Feb 10, 2020, 12:50 pm
#17
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: La Jolla, CA, USA
Posts: 765
We're booked to fly SFO to NRT to GIM (Korea) on May 1/2 (Japan Airlines). Then leave Korea for Canton on 5/17, Canton to Lijiang on 5/18 (both on China Southern), LJG to Shanghai on May 22 (China Eastern), then Shanghai to LAX on 5/28 (Delta). Sitting tight right now with fingers crossed. I'm assuming the airlines will waive penalties if we can't travel. Will be watching for State Department travel warnings. Right now Korea is OK and China is off the table.
One note: Booked expensive restaurant in Shanghai for 5/26, 50% prepaid with normally big cancellation penalties. Restaurant notified me yesterday that all cancel penalties will be waived regardless of when cancellation takes place.
One note: Booked expensive restaurant in Shanghai for 5/26, 50% prepaid with normally big cancellation penalties. Restaurant notified me yesterday that all cancel penalties will be waived regardless of when cancellation takes place.
Feb 10, 2020, 1:20 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 246
I'm curious about how you are making this assessment. My number show influenza kills about 1 in 1,000 (from the CDC), wheras so far this kills about 2.2% which is about 1 in 45. If I had to choose which to get, I'd choose the flu for sure.....
Feb 10, 2020, 1:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: United, AA, KrisFlyer
Posts: 179
We cancelled out of a March 7th trip that would have been SFO-BKK-SIN-HND-SFO, mostly all in JAL business. We decided that since Thailand was still accepting regular commercial flights from China on a daily basis that it might not be in our best interest to go at this time. As I'm caucasian, I'm less concerned. My wife is ethnic Chinese from Singapore, so she is much more concerned.
Feb 10, 2020, 1:37 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
We have a Philippines trip in a month and the big issue is not whether we want to cancel over the virus, but just trying to get there.
So far our outbound has gone from IAD-HKG-CEB (CX with AA miles) cancelled due to the Philippines putting restrictions on China/HKG flights, to an itinerary via BOS and IST (TK w UA) that was cancelled due to TK randomly canceling the one BOS flight and a mess made with the auto-rebooking to the next day, to a flight via JFK/TPE (BR w UA).
This morning it was inadvertently said that the Philippines is restricting travelers coming from/through Taiwan, but that was said in error. Apparently there's a meeting on Wednesday for the Philippines to figure out next steps so my fingers are crossed!
Return flight has already been changed from MNL-HKG-JFK (first flights cancelled) to TPE-HKG-JFK and now with the latest cancellations/flight changes we're supposed to have a 21 hour layover in HKG which not going to work for us. I have enough miles across OW/*A to get home in some way, but with options changing daily it is not easy to do!
So far our outbound has gone from IAD-HKG-CEB (CX with AA miles) cancelled due to the Philippines putting restrictions on China/HKG flights, to an itinerary via BOS and IST (TK w UA) that was cancelled due to TK randomly canceling the one BOS flight and a mess made with the auto-rebooking to the next day, to a flight via JFK/TPE (BR w UA).
This morning it was inadvertently said that the Philippines is restricting travelers coming from/through Taiwan, but that was said in error. Apparently there's a meeting on Wednesday for the Philippines to figure out next steps so my fingers are crossed!
Return flight has already been changed from MNL-HKG-JFK (first flights cancelled) to TPE-HKG-JFK and now with the latest cancellations/flight changes we're supposed to have a 21 hour layover in HKG which not going to work for us. I have enough miles across OW/*A to get home in some way, but with options changing daily it is not easy to do!
Feb 10, 2020, 2:18 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 26
New cases in mainland China - I know the Chinese government are not exactly transparent about things like this and aren't the most trustworthy source, but its what we have:
2/1 - 2,589
2/2 - 2,825
2/3 - 3,233
2/4 - 3,886
2/5 - 3,694
2/6 - 3,143
2/7 - 3,385
2/8 - 2,652
2/9 - 2,973
To me seems to have hit its apex of new cases early last week and now its slowly starting to decline (2/9 is 23% down from an high on 2/4). Also we should start seeing the recovery totals start rising in the next two weeks which will give a more accurate estimate of the survival vs recovery rate. Of course, anything can change but recent trends show that the spread is starting to slow down somewhat.
2/1 - 2,589
2/2 - 2,825
2/3 - 3,233
2/4 - 3,886
2/5 - 3,694
2/6 - 3,143
2/7 - 3,385
2/8 - 2,652
2/9 - 2,973
To me seems to have hit its apex of new cases early last week and now its slowly starting to decline (2/9 is 23% down from an high on 2/4). Also we should start seeing the recovery totals start rising in the next two weeks which will give a more accurate estimate of the survival vs recovery rate. Of course, anything can change but recent trends show that the spread is starting to slow down somewhat.
Feb 10, 2020, 2:40 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP/2MM, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,185
I'm going ahead with work visits to Taiwan and Japan next week, all on JL. I'll probably limit time spent in crowded spaces and avoid buffets, but otherwise both countries don't seem like especially high risks.
Feb 10, 2020, 2:53 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 542
Time will tell but as of today this is not the case. And these are just the reported/confirmed cases.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Feb 10, 2020, 3:53 pm
#26
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
You're comparing apples to oranges. The CDC figure reflects deaths in the U.S. from influenza, and is not at all reflect of deaths in China. If you wanted to compare the lethality of the Wuhan coronavirus to the seasonal flu, you would compare death rates in China.
Feb 10, 2020, 4:22 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
If your flight touches or goes through China or Hong Kong, it should be pretty easy. Anything outside of there will be tougher without the airline you're flying having a waiver that covers you.
Feb 10, 2020, 5:08 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MSP/BUF/BNA/LFT
Programs: AA Plat, Priority Club Gold, Choice Privileges Gold
Posts: 1,224
Im in SE Asia right now and it is quite pleasant without the PRC tour groups. I personally think this is all a bit overblown. My plans did not involve the PRC or HKG in anyway so I did not feel the need to cancel anything. I did bring a couple masks for the flights since SIN/BKK/NRT/KUL are still accepting flights from China but that is about it.
Feb 10, 2020, 6:15 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Fll/mia/bkk
Programs: AA explt, 5 million miler
Posts: 206
I arrived in Bangkok last week. I’ll be here for 2 months, with side trip to Vietnam. I flew over on Cathay. Flight less than half full.
Unless your reading online you would never know anything is going on. Some fast masks, mostly Asians. Biggest thing you do notice is no Chinese tour groups or big tour busses. bangkok seems a little quiet. Lots of Westerners here and nobody seems overly concerned.
Though washing hands a lot and just stay aware of things.
Unless your reading online you would never know anything is going on. Some fast masks, mostly Asians. Biggest thing you do notice is no Chinese tour groups or big tour busses. bangkok seems a little quiet. Lots of Westerners here and nobody seems overly concerned.
Though washing hands a lot and just stay aware of things.