Aug 31, 2020, 3:00 pm
Last edit by: chrisny2
Effective immediately, AA has implemented a number of changes mostly beneficial to flyers. — link
* No more change fees. Change fees for all domestic and short-haul international flying on Premium Cabin fares and most Main Cabin fares will be eliminated.
* Fly standby for free. All customers will have the ability to fly standby on earlier flights for the same destination on the same day at no charge starting Oct. 1, 2020.
* More to Basic Economy. Basic Economy fares now come with the ability to tailor your travel experience including upgrades, Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats, priority boarding and same-day flight changes.
* Same AAdvantage® benefits during your journey, no matter the fare. AAdvantage® elite members will be able to apply their current travel benefits on all tickets, including when purchasing a Basic Economy fare.
NB: Basic economy fares will no longer earn elite qualifying miles, dollars, or segments effective Jan 1, 2021. This is no longer applicable with the introduction of Loyalty Points.
See post # 1 for screen shots of the AA release and features.
See post # 99 for change fee waiver for ALL flights purchased by 31 Dec 2020
* No more change fees. Change fees for all domestic and short-haul international flying on Premium Cabin fares and most Main Cabin fares will be eliminated.
* Fly standby for free. All customers will have the ability to fly standby on earlier flights for the same destination on the same day at no charge starting Oct. 1, 2020.
* More to Basic Economy. Basic Economy fares now come with the ability to tailor your travel experience including upgrades, Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats, priority boarding and same-day flight changes.
* Same AAdvantage® benefits during your journey, no matter the fare. AAdvantage® elite members will be able to apply their current travel benefits on all tickets, including when purchasing a Basic Economy fare.
See post # 1 for screen shots of the AA release and features.
See post # 99 for change fee waiver for ALL flights purchased by 31 Dec 2020
AA Drops Many Change Fees, Enhances Basic Economy, Other Benefits,
Oct 29, 2020, 10:39 am
#106
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 113
I don't see the option to use my 500 mile upgrades for my basic economy reservation I just got (Platinum here), so not sure what's going on there. Going to call after the 24 hour cancellation period passes (been rebooking every day since prices keep going down!)
Oct 29, 2020, 10:52 am
#107
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I believe that if the reservation was created before 10/1 that flight won't be eligible. But I could be wrong.
Oct 29, 2020, 11:25 am
#108
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 113
Oct 29, 2020, 12:09 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Nov 22, 2020, 11:23 am
#111
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Valencia, Spain
Posts: 806
Not sure if this has been posted in another thread, but as of November 19, AA has eliminated change fees indefinitely on all international tickets, "when travel originates in North or South America."
Newsroom - Flexibility Without the Fee: American Airlines Eliminates Change Fees on International Tickets - American Airlines Group, Inc.
Not much help for those of us who may need to book flights originating in Europe! (Unless we book prior to Dec 31 using the Covid waiver.)
Newsroom - Flexibility Without the Fee: American Airlines Eliminates Change Fees on International Tickets - American Airlines Group, Inc.
Not much help for those of us who may need to book flights originating in Europe! (Unless we book prior to Dec 31 using the Covid waiver.)
Nov 22, 2020, 12:03 pm
#112
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
Not sure if this has been posted in another thread, but as of November 19, AA has eliminated change fees indefinitely on all international tickets, "when travel originates in North or South America."
Newsroom - Flexibility Without the Fee: American Airlines Eliminates Change Fees on International Tickets - American Airlines Group, Inc.
Not much help for those of us who may need to book flights originating in Europe! (Unless we book prior to Dec 31 using the Covid waiver.)
Newsroom - Flexibility Without the Fee: American Airlines Eliminates Change Fees on International Tickets - American Airlines Group, Inc.
Not much help for those of us who may need to book flights originating in Europe! (Unless we book prior to Dec 31 using the Covid waiver.)
Jan 4, 2021, 3:29 pm
#113
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,626
Under the new no change fee rules, can a customer make multiple fee free changes to a ticket and retain the full value of the ticket? For example. Assume a customer cancels ticket #1 and receives a flight credit for the value of ticket #1 and then uses that flight credit plus fare difference to purchase ticket #2. Customer then cancels ticket #2. Does the customer get a new flight credit for the value of ticket #2, which he/she can then apply to a future ticket #3? I assume so and that the value of the ticket just retains as a flight credit with no limitation/restriction except that it be used by a specified date.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Mar 21, 2021, 10:38 pm
#114
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
Is the no change fee policy still in effect? The press release didn’t give an end date as in the case of UA requiring booking by March 31 2021. Planning an April trip. There is possibility that I might have to cancel depending on the effects of Spring Break on COVID cases.
Apr 28, 2021, 7:12 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 1
Under the new no change fee rules, can a customer make multiple fee free changes to a ticket and retain the full value of the ticket? For example. Assume a customer cancels ticket #1 and receives a flight credit for the value of ticket #1 and then uses that flight credit plus fare difference to purchase ticket #2. Customer then cancels ticket #2. Does the customer get a new flight credit for the value of ticket #2, which he/she can then apply to a future ticket #3? I assume so and that the value of the ticket just retains as a flight credit with no limitation/restriction except that it be used by a specified date.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jul 12, 2021, 1:38 pm
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,398
Is the no change fee policy still in effect? The press release didn’t give an end date as in the case of UA requiring booking by March 31 2021. Planning an April trip. There is possibility that I might have to cancel depending on the effects of Spring Break on COVID cases.
"You're allowed to make a change to your trip once, and the change fee will be waived. You can cancel your trip online and rebook later when you’re ready, including Basic Economy fares bought between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021."
key word here is "once"... so if I make one change, that's it? Can I still cancel for free even after I make one change?
Jul 16, 2021, 7:10 am
#117
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
Jan 19, 2022, 7:04 am
#118
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,426
Not sure if this is the right old thread to bump, but it seems like the recent Loyalty Point announcements change the math on buying BE. Prior to the change, the inability to earn EQM/EQD was a big disincentive, but I believe it was confirmed that all BE fares will earn loyalty points. And the prior announcement grants elite benefits on BE fares (seat selection, checked bags, boarding group, etc). So is the only downside of a BE fare now the inability to make changes? Anything I am missing?
Mar 18, 2022, 5:51 am
#119
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
With Loyalty Points now in play, is there any real downside to booking a BE fare as a Plat Pro? I still get my baggage allowance, tickets are still refundable (I believe under COVID protocols), I still seem to be able to pick my seat in advance, and my LP earn rate is the same regardless of what coach fare bucket I buy into.
What's the negative here?
What's the negative here?
Mar 18, 2022, 6:05 am
#120
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
With Loyalty Points now in play, is there any real downside to booking a BE fare as a Plat Pro? I still get my baggage allowance, tickets are still refundable (I believe under COVID protocols), I still seem to be able to pick my seat in advance, and my LP earn rate is the same regardless of what coach fare bucket I buy into.
What's the negative here?
What's the negative here?
Basic Economy fares bought on or after April 1, 2021 are non-refundable and non-changeable.