Apr 13, 2020, 8:30 pm
Last edit by: beltway
AA does not charge any fees to change an award ticket, or to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the miles and refund any taxes and fees. This policy applies to all award tickets booked with AAdvantage miles on AA flights as well as all partner carriers.
In order to be eligible for a refund of the miles and taxes/fees you must cancel the award before the first flight on the itinerary departs.
For most awards canceled at aa.com the miles and taxes/fees are automatically refunded, however in some cases you may still have to call to have an agent manually process the redeposit and refund. Typically if you do not see the miles automatically redeposited within a few minutes you will have to call.
AA policy (see "Manage Your Award Travel" section)
In order to be eligible for a refund of the miles and taxes/fees you must cancel the award before the first flight on the itinerary departs.
For most awards canceled at aa.com the miles and taxes/fees are automatically refunded, however in some cases you may still have to call to have an agent manually process the redeposit and refund. Typically if you do not see the miles automatically redeposited within a few minutes you will have to call.
AA policy (see "Manage Your Award Travel" section)
Award Change and Miles Redeposit Fees, Issues, from 1 Jul 2020 (consolidated)
Apr 14, 2020, 7:46 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
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Apr 14, 2020, 9:45 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: PHL / SFO
Programs: free agent
Posts: 797
Quote from aa.com: "We’re giving you more flexibility with waived award reinstatement and change fees for awards booked by May 31, 2020, for travel through September 30, 2020."
Apr 14, 2020, 10:05 am
#33
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
When you say "existing rules", the way I read it is award travel booked prior to 5/31/2020 for travel thru 9/30/2020 can be changed/reinstated without penalty. Is that not right?
Quote from aa.com: "We’re giving you more flexibility with waived award reinstatement and change fees for awards booked by May 31, 2020, for travel through September 30, 2020."
Quote from aa.com: "We’re giving you more flexibility with waived award reinstatement and change fees for awards booked by May 31, 2020, for travel through September 30, 2020."
Last edited by siankaan1; Apr 14, 2020 at 10:10 am Reason: typo
Apr 14, 2020, 10:57 am
#34
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
AA just redeposited the miles for 4 old award tickets that I've been hanging on to, with no redeposit fee and refund of taxes. So at least for now they are treating the first sentence of yesterday's announcement as a stand-alone statement.
Apr 14, 2020, 11:11 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: CA & Europe
Programs: AA Life-Plat 5MM, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, UA, BA
Posts: 738
Called AA-Plat, answer in 30 seconds
Just to report that I called today AA-Plat to cancel flights -- answer in 30 seconds !! Never happened before.
I cancelled 2 one-way award international trips for May - no miles reinstatement fees.
I cancelled 1 paid-for domestic trip . Qualified for refund because just changed from direct to with-connection.
I cancelled 2 one-way award international trips for May - no miles reinstatement fees.
I cancelled 1 paid-for domestic trip . Qualified for refund because just changed from direct to with-connection.
Apr 14, 2020, 11:21 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,901
I've seen blogs describe the new elite discount on fees as a positive. Unless traveling alone, it's effectively ONLY a positive for Platinum Pro.
Most of my awards are with a companion, and I'd guess that's a common case. As platinum, the old fee was $150 to cancel. Now with the "discount" it's still $150 at day 59. One week out it goes to $200. Gold and Regular have it worse. EXP is unchanged at $0.
So none of those people are getting a discount, only Platinum Pro. If 3-4 people are on your PNR, the discount is wiped out for Platinum Pro too.
Most of my awards are with a companion, and I'd guess that's a common case. As platinum, the old fee was $150 to cancel. Now with the "discount" it's still $150 at day 59. One week out it goes to $200. Gold and Regular have it worse. EXP is unchanged at $0.
So none of those people are getting a discount, only Platinum Pro. If 3-4 people are on your PNR, the discount is wiped out for Platinum Pro too.
Apr 14, 2020, 11:38 am
#37
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Join Date: Jul 2000
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Edited to add: I see now that the subject refers to bookings after June 1. However, the first sentence of the posted quote refers to my situation (bookings before June). Hence, my confusion.
Last edited by ILuvParis; Apr 14, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Apr 14, 2020, 12:44 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,015
Hello all, I read the posts above. AA"s announcement is a little confusing.
I purchased an Award ticket in January-2020 (all flights on QR), for travel in November-2020.
I will most likely have to cancel this trip (even though its months away).
The flights are still on schedule. No schedule changes, etc.
I am not sure if I can cancel this without any penalty based on today's announcement.
Looks like the announcement only refers to travel before Sept-30??
Miles came from AA-Platinum elite.
I purchased an Award ticket in January-2020 (all flights on QR), for travel in November-2020.
I will most likely have to cancel this trip (even though its months away).
The flights are still on schedule. No schedule changes, etc.
I am not sure if I can cancel this without any penalty based on today's announcement.
Looks like the announcement only refers to travel before Sept-30??
Miles came from AA-Platinum elite.
Apr 14, 2020, 12:56 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
Hello all, I read the posts above. AA"s announcement is a little confusing.
I purchased an Award ticket in January-2020 (all flights on QR), for travel in November-2020.
I will most likely have to cancel this trip (even though its months away).
The flights are still on schedule. No schedule changes, etc.
I am not sure if I can cancel this without any penalty based on today's announcement.
Looks like the announcement only refers to travel before Sept-30??
Miles came from AA-Platinum elite.
I purchased an Award ticket in January-2020 (all flights on QR), for travel in November-2020.
I will most likely have to cancel this trip (even though its months away).
The flights are still on schedule. No schedule changes, etc.
I am not sure if I can cancel this without any penalty based on today's announcement.
Looks like the announcement only refers to travel before Sept-30??
Miles came from AA-Platinum elite.
Apr 14, 2020, 1:28 pm
#40
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,015
Yes..i also feel there will be a fee. I am going to wait for a month or two...maybe something will change.....or a massive schedule change will happen.
Apr 14, 2020, 5:59 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CMH
Programs: w/+1: AS MVPG; IHG/Marriott Plat; Hilton/BW Diamond; Hertz Prez; SG Silver
Posts: 1,188
Cancelling Award After 6/1/20
I have a OW award ticket for 2 pax for travel on 7/29/20 to Tokyo which I want to cancel.I do not have status so I would incur $175 in fees if I cancel before 6/1 when the new no fee policy takes effect. To cancel for free after 6/1, travel must be more than 60 days out, AA has a rule that you can change your award ticket for up to 21 days for no fee. If I move my ticket just a few days later, then can't I cancel for free? If so, what is the best way to contact AA for this?
Apr 14, 2020, 7:36 pm
#42
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,464
AA Twitter support is ridiculous. My booking wasn't covered under any of the waivers, nor is it under the new policy as it was ticketed last year.
"Hi Twitter support, I have booking X can you cancel and give me back my miles?"
"Sure, done. You'll have them within 72hrs."
And they're already back in my account. I wish all companies had agents who just did what you asked regardless of actual policy.
"Hi Twitter support, I have booking X can you cancel and give me back my miles?"
"Sure, done. You'll have them within 72hrs."
And they're already back in my account. I wish all companies had agents who just did what you asked regardless of actual policy.
Apr 14, 2020, 9:25 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
"We’re giving you more flexibility with waived award reinstatement and change fees for awards booked by May 31, 2020, for travel through September 30, 2020."
Apr 14, 2020, 10:51 pm
#44
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,663
Apr 15, 2020, 8:26 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 27
So I'm a little confused about their new policy.
What happens if I make an award booking today, for travel next March?
I don't fall under the policy of booking made before May for travel to Sept.
I also don't fall under the policy about bookings made after June 1, 2020.
Or do they mean any tickets booked to fly on or after June 1?
What happens if I make an award booking today, for travel next March?
I don't fall under the policy of booking made before May for travel to Sept.
I also don't fall under the policy about bookings made after June 1, 2020.
Or do they mean any tickets booked to fly on or after June 1?