Mar 30, 23, 11:05 am
Last edit by: lowkeyflyer
Methods to bypass flight credit restrictions (primarily being unable to use them on Basic Economy tickets)
Inspired by United thread wiki: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...redit-ffc.html
Inspired by United thread wiki: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...redit-ffc.html
GUIDE to Trip Credit, Flight Credit, Travel Voucher, Gift Card, Refund
Oct 10, 20, 7:10 pm
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,267
I would have done the following
1) Used a travel agent, that has a relationship with AA. Travel agents have the ability to refund directly from their computers effectively bypassing American Airlines. When COVID struck, Swiss ( my national flag carrier) was among the first to remove this feature, along with the rest of Lufhansa Group.
2) Never accepted vouchers. Since you live in the US, you should not have to, since the Department of Transportation mandateed that material changes in flights need to be refunded.
3) The agent is correct, vouchers cannot be used for add collect ( i.e difference in fare) because the voucher's value is held by the ticket number. There are ways around this but a phone agent at a call center is not going to help you jump hoops to do this.
Cut your losses and ask American Airlines for your money back. When RONA is over, rebook. As for the voucher - well use that for the next American Airlines trip.
1) Used a travel agent, that has a relationship with AA. Travel agents have the ability to refund directly from their computers effectively bypassing American Airlines. When COVID struck, Swiss ( my national flag carrier) was among the first to remove this feature, along with the rest of Lufhansa Group.
2) Never accepted vouchers. Since you live in the US, you should not have to, since the Department of Transportation mandateed that material changes in flights need to be refunded.
3) The agent is correct, vouchers cannot be used for add collect ( i.e difference in fare) because the voucher's value is held by the ticket number. There are ways around this but a phone agent at a call center is not going to help you jump hoops to do this.
Cut your losses and ask American Airlines for your money back. When RONA is over, rebook. As for the voucher - well use that for the next American Airlines trip.
US law only requires a refund if the carrier cancels or significantly changes the schedule. Neither has occurred for any of OP's three e-tickets. Rather, he has chosen to change his flights. Similarly, had he booked through a TA (generally a poor idea), the TA would not have been able to refund either (unless the TA was prepared to pay the costs of the tickets).
In that event, he is due whatever the contract and fare rules provide along with the very generous Covid-19 waiver policy.
At this point, OP is better off simply hanging onto what he has and doing nothing until the date of his flight. At that point, if it has not been cancelled, he can cancel for a further credit. But, repeated rebooking is a poor idea.
Oct 11, 20, 7:24 am
#17
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,504
I would have done the following
1) Used a travel agent, that has a relationship with AA. Travel agents have the ability to refund directly from their computers effectively bypassing American Airlines. When COVID struck, Swiss ( my national flag carrier) was among the first to remove this feature, along with the rest of Lufhansa Group.
1) Used a travel agent, that has a relationship with AA. Travel agents have the ability to refund directly from their computers effectively bypassing American Airlines. When COVID struck, Swiss ( my national flag carrier) was among the first to remove this feature, along with the rest of Lufhansa Group.
Oct 11, 20, 8:02 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 242
To rebook international/partner airline flight, you will have to call Reservations. If the new booking is more than the original Flight Credit, then you have to pay the difference. If less, then you will be given a voucher.
Oct 12, 20, 2:44 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ZRH/LUX/LON
Programs: BA GGL/ VS Gold. Former: UA 1K (10 years+) , EY partners Plat, SQ PPS Club, SU Gold, LH SEN/HON
Posts: 748
No they do not. They are bound by fare rules and waivers. The only time they are “bypassing” is during the void period after the ticket is issued when they can void the sale out. After that void period, they are just submitting a refund request to the airline via GDS and it will still be subject to fare rules/waivers.
I wish the US airlines would send people who bought premium tickets outright to the EXP line ( or similar) instead of the regular line. That would be helpful for me.
Emirates and Etihad etc do this...
Oct 13, 20, 3:00 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 73
Hi, I had a booking made last September for a flight from Rio to Miami in June. Obviously with Covid I cancelled the booking to take up the option of using the booking code and value towards another trip in January. If I now don’t want to travel on that booking can I cancel again and retain the value of the ticket?
Oct 13, 20, 11:15 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 594
What are the chances they extend the 12/31/21 deadline, at least for international flights? I don't see borders broadly reopening any time soon, so it's possible there will only be very limited opportunities to use those flight credits, even with the existing extension.
Oct 20, 20, 12:15 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New York City
Programs: JGC
Posts: 436
Ridiculously low flight credit
I used Chase.com to book travel on AA (BA metal). Total paid was close to $3,000.
I canceled the booking in July at the height of the COVID pandemic as AA was telling me that I would be able to use the value of the ticket for a future booking.
Now I go back to try to use this credit and it shows me $105.14 is available. What in the world is going on?
The 105.14 seems to be a difference of "Passenger + Carrier Imposed Fees" minus "Taxes".
Am I really $2,900 in the hole? This is ridiculous.
I canceled the booking in July at the height of the COVID pandemic as AA was telling me that I would be able to use the value of the ticket for a future booking.
Now I go back to try to use this credit and it shows me $105.14 is available. What in the world is going on?
The 105.14 seems to be a difference of "Passenger + Carrier Imposed Fees" minus "Taxes".
Am I really $2,900 in the hole? This is ridiculous.
Oct 20, 20, 12:19 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,416
I used Chase.com to book travel on AA (BA metal). Total paid was close to $3,000.
I canceled the booking in July at the height of the COVID pandemic as AA was telling me that I would be able to use the value of the ticket for a future booking.
Now I go back to try to use this credit and it shows me $105.14 is available. What in the world is going on?
The 105.14 seems to be a difference of "Passenger + Carrier Imposed Fees" minus "Taxes".
Am I really $2,900 in the hole? This is ridiculous.
I canceled the booking in July at the height of the COVID pandemic as AA was telling me that I would be able to use the value of the ticket for a future booking.
Now I go back to try to use this credit and it shows me $105.14 is available. What in the world is going on?
The 105.14 seems to be a difference of "Passenger + Carrier Imposed Fees" minus "Taxes".
Am I really $2,900 in the hole? This is ridiculous.
Is that where you see the value you have indicated?
Have you contacted AA about this or Chase?
It is certainly worth complaining about as credits on AA tickets usually include the total cost of the ticket, except possibly seat fees.
Additionally, even without COVID, you generally got that same total minus whatever the change fee was.
This is certainly something I would contact the TA and/or the airline over.
Oct 20, 20, 12:23 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 10,183
Oct 20, 20, 12:57 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New York City
Programs: JGC
Posts: 436
Oct 21, 20, 8:33 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: AMS, JFK/EWR/LGA
Programs: Flying Blue/Platinum, TK/Elite Plus, QR/Platinum, LH/FTL, Marriott/Platinum
Posts: 289
So my LAX-HKG flights were cancelled and I was told that I will receive Flight Credit and should call Reservations to rebook, however, I will need to pay any fare difference even if the same booking class is available for the new dates.
According to this waiver policy (https://saleslink.aa.com/agencyreference/en/#/home) issued by AA: "In order to qualify for an even exchange, the new itinerary must be booked in the original ticketed inventory or equivalent RBD for the codeshare carrier. Reissue ticket at original ticketed fare" Doesn't this mean fare difference shall be waived if the same booking class (in my case, I class) is available for the new dates?
According to this waiver policy (https://saleslink.aa.com/agencyreference/en/#/home) issued by AA: "In order to qualify for an even exchange, the new itinerary must be booked in the original ticketed inventory or equivalent RBD for the codeshare carrier. Reissue ticket at original ticketed fare" Doesn't this mean fare difference shall be waived if the same booking class (in my case, I class) is available for the new dates?
Oct 21, 20, 2:30 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: MAD
Programs: UA, US, AA, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 373
Hi All - Hope this is the right place for this question. it's about an award I want to book using AA miles, J class, MAD>LHR>IAD. It's all on BA. I believe AA allows awards to be cancelled and miles redeposited without any penalty fee (e.g., $150). Is that also true when the award is on a partner carrier? Thanks.
