Mar 21, 20, 1:58 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA Waiving Change Fees for Travel Purchased on or before 7 Apr for travel through 7 Sep 2020 (Coronavirus)
Download PDF (English)PDF Format (opens in new window)American Airlines is providing customers additional flexibility for customers in light of concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19).
PREVIOUSLY
AA just posted this: http://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2020/American-Airlines-Extending-Change-Fee-Waivers-for-Customers-With-Travel-Plans-Through-May-OPS-DIS-03/ FORT WORTH, Texas American Airlines is providing customers additional flexibility in light of concerns around coronavirus (COVID-19).
American has extended its offer to waive change fees for customers who purchased tickets prior to March 1 for travel through May 31. The offer is available for any of Americans fares and customers have until December 31 to rebook travel for future flights. Additional updates on existing travel alerts, including international travel waivers that are available for travel through May 31, can be found on aa.com/travelalerts.
American Airlines Providing More Flexibility for Customers Traveling This Summer link
Tuesday, April 07, 2020, 7:00 PMDownload PDF (English)PDF Format (opens in new window)American Airlines is providing customers additional flexibility for customers in light of concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19).
For existing travel
American has extended its offer to waive change fees for customers who have summer travel through Sept. 30, 2020. The offer is available for any of Americans fares, and customers will have until Dec. 31, 2021, for future travel. Fare rules may apply depending on the ticket.- Any ticket purchased on or before April 7, 2020, for travel through Sept. 30, 2020, will not incur change fees prior to travel. Customers must pay any fare difference, if applicable, at time of ticketing of the new fare.
- All AAdvantage award tickets are included in this offer.
- Customers are allowed to change their origin and destination cities as part of this new offer.
- Travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 2021.
For new travel purchases
American has also extended its offer to waive change fees for customers who purchase new travel through May 31, 2020. Customers will have even more flexibility since any ticket purchased by May 31, 2020, will not incur change fees prior to travel. The offer is available for any of Americans published nonrefundable fares.- Any ticket purchased from March 1 at 4:30 p.m. CT through May 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. CT will not incur change fees prior to travel.
- This is available for any of Americans nonrefundable published fares.
PREVIOUSLY
AA just posted this: http://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2020/American-Airlines-Extending-Change-Fee-Waivers-for-Customers-With-Travel-Plans-Through-May-OPS-DIS-03/ FORT WORTH, Texas American Airlines is providing customers additional flexibility in light of concerns around coronavirus (COVID-19).
American has extended its offer to waive change fees for customers who purchased tickets prior to March 1 for travel through May 31. The offer is available for any of Americans fares and customers have until December 31 to rebook travel for future flights. Additional updates on existing travel alerts, including international travel waivers that are available for travel through May 31, can be found on aa.com/travelalerts.
- Any ticket purchased prior to March 1 will not incur change fees prior to travel. Customers must pay any fare difference, if applicable, at time of ticketing of the new fare.
- This is available for any of Americans fares for travel through May 31.
- Customers are allowed to change their origin and destination cities as part of this offer.
- The new ticket must be reissued on/before December 31 or 12 months from the original ticket date (whichever is earlier). Travel must also commence on/before December 31 or one year from original issue date whichever is sooner.
AA waive change fees p. thru 7 Apr for travel through 31 Sep (Coronavirus)
Mar 2, 20, 9:20 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,802
I agree with Kacee. The 14 day advanced notice is not very helpful if the intent here is to alleviate fears of having booked travel to places when there are coronavirus outbreaks.
I mean, let's say you were travelling to Seattle today. Did you know 14 days ago that Seattle would be having an outbreak?? Does anyone have any idea where in 14 days you would want to avoid travel??
For me this isn't helping me pull the trigger and book anything at all. I already have worries that I have sunk 6K in tickets over the summer that may be hard to get value back on if I need/want to cancel those trips due to COVID19 outbreaks right before I go.
Right now, there are only two scenarios that can play out: Either the virus is so widespread already that in a couple of months travel restrictions are meaningless, or outbreaks will occur (seemingly at random) city to city where no one will know one week to the next where it is safe to travel, let alone if they will be able to return home without disruptions/quaranteens, etc (until at some point either the widespread scenario takes hold or we have widespread vaccinations).
AA has no way to win this, but if it wants people to take a risk and book, I would think they would need to eliminate the 14 day advanced notice.
I mean, let's say you were travelling to Seattle today. Did you know 14 days ago that Seattle would be having an outbreak?? Does anyone have any idea where in 14 days you would want to avoid travel??
For me this isn't helping me pull the trigger and book anything at all. I already have worries that I have sunk 6K in tickets over the summer that may be hard to get value back on if I need/want to cancel those trips due to COVID19 outbreaks right before I go.
Right now, there are only two scenarios that can play out: Either the virus is so widespread already that in a couple of months travel restrictions are meaningless, or outbreaks will occur (seemingly at random) city to city where no one will know one week to the next where it is safe to travel, let alone if they will be able to return home without disruptions/quaranteens, etc (until at some point either the widespread scenario takes hold or we have widespread vaccinations).
AA has no way to win this, but if it wants people to take a risk and book, I would think they would need to eliminate the 14 day advanced notice.
Mar 2, 20, 9:41 am
#18
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: US Platinum, United 1k, HHonors Diamond, Avis CC, Priority Club Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 7,994
Mar 2, 20, 11:20 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,474
I say this because BE are definitely published fares which seems to be the only rule for fare type eligibility (no opaque or consolidator fares).
Mar 2, 20, 11:22 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,231
I agree with Kacee. The 14 day advanced notice is not very helpful if the intent here is to alleviate fears of having booked travel to places when there are coronavirus outbreaks.
I mean, let's say you were travelling to Seattle today. Did you know 14 days ago that Seattle would be having an outbreak?? Does anyone have any idea where in 14 days you would want to avoid travel??
For me this isn't helping me pull the trigger and book anything at all. I already have worries that I have sunk 6K in tickets over the summer that may be hard to get value back on if I need/want to cancel those trips due to COVID19 outbreaks right before I go.
Right now, there are only two scenarios that can play out: Either the virus is so widespread already that in a couple of months travel restrictions are meaningless, or outbreaks will occur (seemingly at random) city to city where no one will know one week to the next where it is safe to travel, let alone if they will be able to return home without disruptions/quaranteens, etc (until at some point either the widespread scenario takes hold or we have widespread vaccinations).
AA has no way to win this, but if it wants people to take a risk and book, I would think they would need to eliminate the 14 day advanced notice.
I mean, let's say you were travelling to Seattle today. Did you know 14 days ago that Seattle would be having an outbreak?? Does anyone have any idea where in 14 days you would want to avoid travel??
For me this isn't helping me pull the trigger and book anything at all. I already have worries that I have sunk 6K in tickets over the summer that may be hard to get value back on if I need/want to cancel those trips due to COVID19 outbreaks right before I go.
Right now, there are only two scenarios that can play out: Either the virus is so widespread already that in a couple of months travel restrictions are meaningless, or outbreaks will occur (seemingly at random) city to city where no one will know one week to the next where it is safe to travel, let alone if they will be able to return home without disruptions/quaranteens, etc (until at some point either the widespread scenario takes hold or we have widespread vaccinations).
AA has no way to win this, but if it wants people to take a risk and book, I would think they would need to eliminate the 14 day advanced notice.
Mar 2, 20, 11:26 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,231
I have not seen the actual rules beyond the marketing put out there, but it appears you could change the ticket and pay the difference (if needed). Inventory or fare class doesn't matter, just the fare difference as applicable for whatever is available. I don't suspect making the change would be easy unless they made a significant programming change - there will probably be a lot of overriding by the phone agents.
I say this because BE are definitely published fares which seems to be the only rule for fare type eligibility (no opaque or consolidator fares).
I say this because BE are definitely published fares which seems to be the only rule for fare type eligibility (no opaque or consolidator fares).
Mar 2, 20, 4:47 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,280
Delta issued a similar waiver for international flights only which is much more generous, booking for the whole month and tickets can be changed/rebooked within a year (not flown, you can fly them later than that).
Last edited by nk15; Mar 2, 20 at 6:00 pm
Mar 2, 20, 4:59 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 25
We have been holding out buying summer travel tickets and watching prices. Right after AA announced this, the fare went up by $75 round trip. I am wondering if they are going people won’t check fares and just book because of the “offer”.
I also agree the 14 days change isn’t very helpful. This really smells like a marketing promotion.
I also agree the 14 days change isn’t very helpful. This really smells like a marketing promotion.
Mar 2, 20, 6:07 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Programs: AA EXP, BA Gold
Posts: 25
https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...t-change-fees/
Mar 2, 20, 7:36 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 93
We have been holding out buying summer travel tickets and watching prices. Right after AA announced this, the fare went up by $75 round trip. I am wondering if they are going people wont check fares and just book because of the offer.
I also agree the 14 days change isnt very helpful. This really smells like a marketing promotion.
I also agree the 14 days change isnt very helpful. This really smells like a marketing promotion.
Mar 2, 20, 10:48 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 15
Would I be able to take advantage of this policy if I booked my AA flight with Chase Ultimate Rewards points? Chase uses Expedia for their flight bookings and Expedia has a notice about this policy on their page, so presumably booking with Expedia gets you this same no-fee change policy. Just wondering if that applies to Chase UR bookings too.
Mar 3, 20, 1:36 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,254
I presume this waiver gets a bit messy with award tickets, as some changes are actually considered "changes" (where I'd expect those fees would be waived too), while other changes require reinstatement and reissuing of the ticket (and there's nothing listed about reinstatement fees being waived, right?)
James
Mar 3, 20, 12:48 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 157
So...prior to the emergence of COVID-19 I was pondering a trip to France this summer, and I'm wondering how I can use this new policy to my benefit. Some of these might be dumb questions, but I would appreciate some help:
1) "Change" does not mean "cancel and refund," correct?
2) If I were to book the overseas trip, could I change to a domestic itinerary provided I met the "New travel must be completed within 1 year of original ticket issue date" restriction?
3) If I did 2), where the domestic trip would presumably be cheaper, how would the fare difference be treated? Lost value, refund, or voucher?
4) If 3) results in a voucher, what would the expiration date on the voucher be?
1) "Change" does not mean "cancel and refund," correct?
2) If I were to book the overseas trip, could I change to a domestic itinerary provided I met the "New travel must be completed within 1 year of original ticket issue date" restriction?
3) If I did 2), where the domestic trip would presumably be cheaper, how would the fare difference be treated? Lost value, refund, or voucher?
4) If 3) results in a voucher, what would the expiration date on the voucher be?
