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)
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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, 6:40 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Raleigh-Durham
Programs: HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; AA Platinum
Posts: 758
My only concern is a potential quarantine period during/after visiting China, not yet worried about Thailand or Vietnam.
Thus, I rebooked a DFW-PEK-CAN-BKK-HAN-CAN-LAX-DFW itinerary to DFW-NRT-BKK-HAN-NRT-DFW to eliminate the stop in China.
Both AA and CZ were very liberal about providing full refunds and rerouting, even allowing me to cancel the LAX-DFW (booked separately from CAN-LAX) as a trip in vain.
Thus, I rebooked a DFW-PEK-CAN-BKK-HAN-CAN-LAX-DFW itinerary to DFW-NRT-BKK-HAN-NRT-DFW to eliminate the stop in China.
Both AA and CZ were very liberal about providing full refunds and rerouting, even allowing me to cancel the LAX-DFW (booked separately from CAN-LAX) as a trip in vain.
JuliusFlies666 - when were you scheduled to fly!l? I called AA to see if I could change my award tickets to NOT fly back for PEK April 14 and they said I would have to pay the change fee...
Feb 10, 2020, 8:49 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,886
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.
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.
I think this will affect travel esp for Americans for years and esp the cruise industry. It's one thing to be on the ground and independent and to gge able to consider options and quite another to be on a ship with no freedom of movement. Reading that medjet the evacuation company was willing to evacuate policy holders but was not allowed to by either the ship or the port authorities is very concerning. It's not surprising infection would spread in a confined space like a ship. Otoh I think there will be considerable bargains to be had in the near future for those with a higher risk tolerance.
Feb 10, 2020, 10:54 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
We have a Seabourn cruise out of Sydney 3/8. We had J awards on CX SFO-HKG-SYD. The cruise line will not accept any passengers transiting mainland China or HKG. CX could find no award for us on any partner airline.
Out of the blue I found QF flights from SFO - BNE-SYD for 80K AA miles on the very date I needed - couldn't believe my eyes.
I think this flight just started a few days ago - better lucky than good.
CX is waiving fees now for changes/cancellations till 2/29 - I bet they will extend that.
Out of the blue I found QF flights from SFO - BNE-SYD for 80K AA miles on the very date I needed - couldn't believe my eyes.
I think this flight just started a few days ago - better lucky than good.
CX is waiving fees now for changes/cancellations till 2/29 - I bet they will extend that.
Feb 11, 2020, 1:30 am
#37
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,482
We have a Seabourn cruise out of Sydney 3/8. We had J awards on CX SFO-HKG-SYD. The cruise line will not accept any passengers transiting mainland China or HKG. CX could find no award for us on any partner airline.
Out of the blue I found QF flights from SFO - BNE-SYD for 80K AA miles on the very date I needed - couldn't believe my eyes.
I think this flight just started a few days ago - better lucky than good.
CX is waiving fees now for changes/cancellations till 2/29 - I bet they will extend that.
Out of the blue I found QF flights from SFO - BNE-SYD for 80K AA miles on the very date I needed - couldn't believe my eyes.
I think this flight just started a few days ago - better lucky than good.
CX is waiving fees now for changes/cancellations till 2/29 - I bet they will extend that.
Feb 11, 2020, 2:23 am
#38
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
You are correct -no waiver of fees for cancelation (as yet). I am hoping that that may be the case by the time I need to cancel by 3/3. Not a big deal as I will be looking for a CX award from DPS to SFO for 2021 in a couple of months and will use those miles for that trip (with the cancelation fee, if necessary).
Feb 11, 2020, 2:30 am
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Still in wait and see mode. I have a few coming up
May: Hong Kong, Singapore, Borabodur, Komodo Islands, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur
June: Guangzhou
July: Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hong Kong
Nov: Philippines, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Japan
I would say June is almost certainly out. In fact it was an insane AY J MR ($550 rtrip) and they aren’t operating the route now and who knows when they will again.
Will decide by March re the May trip and continue to wait and see for July as that’s a routing taking me US-Asia-Europe so i’d need to rejigger if no more Asia.
the Nov trip is built around a friend’s wedding. Would really like to go but again we’ll see. Can’t take unnecessary risk.
May: Hong Kong, Singapore, Borabodur, Komodo Islands, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur
June: Guangzhou
July: Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hong Kong
Nov: Philippines, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Japan
I would say June is almost certainly out. In fact it was an insane AY J MR ($550 rtrip) and they aren’t operating the route now and who knows when they will again.
Will decide by March re the May trip and continue to wait and see for July as that’s a routing taking me US-Asia-Europe so i’d need to rejigger if no more Asia.
the Nov trip is built around a friend’s wedding. Would really like to go but again we’ll see. Can’t take unnecessary risk.
Feb 11, 2020, 4:03 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Looking at the relevant CX Virus thread, "meltdown" seems a bit overstated. Mainland China is right out, of course, but HKG flights are being cancelled due to reduced demand, and countries (Philippines) which won't accept visitors from HKG.
To answer the original question, I booked a March AA award TPA-DFW-NRT-MNL,SGN-HKG-ORD-TPA with JL- and CX-operated flights of course. CX has changed my SGN-HKG flight but otherwise all is good. I expect I will try to have a proper mask to wear during the HKG transit.
To answer the original question, I booked a March AA award TPA-DFW-NRT-MNL,SGN-HKG-ORD-TPA with JL- and CX-operated flights of course. CX has changed my SGN-HKG flight but otherwise all is good. I expect I will try to have a proper mask to wear during the HKG transit.
Feb 11, 2020, 4:12 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
I had an MR LAX-PEK that I rescheduled to Feb and then rescheduled to Apr 24. Let's see how this works out in the next few days. No change fees and I had an agent re-route me from DFW-PEK for no cost.
Also, have a leather fair in Hong Kong that has now been postponed to June so will have to adjust my plans for that.
Later in June, have a family vacation to Japan/Thailand/Cambodia which we probably aren't going to cancel unless this really gets out of hand.
Also, have a leather fair in Hong Kong that has now been postponed to June so will have to adjust my plans for that.
Later in June, have a family vacation to Japan/Thailand/Cambodia which we probably aren't going to cancel unless this really gets out of hand.
Feb 11, 2020, 6:38 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: phoenix
Programs: AA , 3MM, CK, Marriott Titanim
Posts: 64
I was in Japan last week
must have been over 95 percent of people with masks on street.
I was not worried about it at all...flights were a different story....but I just wore a mask from NRT to DFW
must have been over 95 percent of people with masks on street.
I was not worried about it at all...flights were a different story....but I just wore a mask from NRT to DFW
