Mar 30, 23, 12:05 pm
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
Jan 18, 21, 12:39 pm
#61
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Delta
Posts: 12
Refund Denied
Flight schedule from DTW to PVR, with connection at DFW, was changed and resulted in a five and a half layover. Since I am over age 70 and didn't want the risk (Covid) associated with hanging around DFW that long, I requested a refund via customer service (email). It was denied because the schedule change didn't exceed 241 minutes. I was given the standard credit for a future flight but this has to be used by the end of the year. I am not planning on flying anywhere until 2022 and asked for an extension on the credit, which was also denied. Have others heard of the 241 minute schedule change policy...seems very arbitrary to me, especially given the Covid threat. I would never have booked an itinerary that included a five and a half hour layover. Any thoughts on how to appeal this would be greatly appreciated.
Jan 18, 21, 12:54 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Unfortunately AA can be very strict on the 241 minute rule. Since it is international, did the aircraft change by any chance? That could be the basis for a refund. I would read the INTERNATIONAL (not domestic) contract of carriage so see if you fit into any loophole. And I am not 100% convinced that a cxld flight on an international itinerary isnt a basis for a refund. But double check the iNTERNATIONAL contract rules.
Flight schedule from DTW to PVR, with connection at DFW, was changed and resulted in a five and a half layover. Since I am over age 70 and didn't want the risk (Covid) associated with hanging around DFW that long, I requested a refund via customer service (email). It was denied because the schedule change didn't exceed 241 minutes. I was given the standard credit for a future flight but this has to be used by the end of the year. I am not planning on flying anywhere until 2022 and asked for an extension on the credit, which was also denied. Have others heard of the 241 minute schedule change policy...seems very arbitrary to me, especially given the Covid threat. I would never have booked an itinerary that included a five and a half hour layover. Any thoughts on how to appeal this would be greatly appreciated.
Jan 18, 21, 12:55 pm
#63
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,758
Flight schedule from DTW to PVR, with connection at DFW, was changed and resulted in a five and a half layover. Since I am over age 70 and didn't want the risk (Covid) associated with hanging around DFW that long, I requested a refund via customer service (email). It was denied because the schedule change didn't exceed 241 minutes. I was given the standard credit for a future flight but this has to be used by the end of the year. I am not planning on flying anywhere until 2022 and asked for an extension on the credit, which was also denied. Have others heard of the 241 minute schedule change policy...seems very arbitrary to me, especially given the Covid threat. I would never have booked an itinerary that included a five and a half hour layover. Any thoughts on how to appeal this would be greatly appreciated.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...f-carriage.jsp
Non-refundable tickets
We don't refund cash for non-refundable tickets. But if you cancel your trip before departure, you can use the value of your ticket toward future travel on American. You'll need to rebook and travel within 1 year and pay a change fee plus any difference in fare.We will refund a non-refundable ticket (or the value of the unused segment of your trip) to the original form of payment if:
- You cancel within 24 hours of booking (and booked at least 2 days before departure).
- We cancel your flight
- We make a schedule change that results in a change of more than 4 hours to your departure time
- A passenger or their travel companion dies. (Supporting paperwork is required)
- Military orders require you to cancel your trip. (Supporting paperwork is required)
Jan 18, 21, 12:56 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Unfortunately AA can be very strict on the 241 minute rule. Since it is international, did the aircraft change by any chance? That could be the basis for a refund. I would also read the INTERNATIONAL (not domestic) contract of carriage so see if you fit into any loophole. And I am not 100% convinced that a cxld flight on an international itinerary isnt a basis for a refund. But double check the iNTERNATIONAL contract rules.
Flight schedule from DTW to PVR, with connection at DFW, was changed and resulted in a five and a half layover. Since I am over age 70 and didn't want the risk (Covid) associated with hanging around DFW that long, I requested a refund via customer service (email). It was denied because the schedule change didn't exceed 241 minutes. I was given the standard credit for a future flight but this has to be used by the end of the year. I am not planning on flying anywhere until 2022 and asked for an extension on the credit, which was also denied. Have others heard of the 241 minute schedule change policy...seems very arbitrary to me, especially given the Covid threat. I would never have booked an itinerary that included a five and a half hour layover. Any thoughts on how to appeal this would be greatly appreciated.
Jan 18, 21, 12:58 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 11,626
Flight schedule from DTW to PVR, with connection at DFW, was changed and resulted in a five and a half layover. Since I am over age 70 and didn't want the risk (Covid) associated with hanging around DFW that long, I requested a refund via customer service (email). It was denied because the schedule change didn't exceed 241 minutes. I was given the standard credit for a future flight but this has to be used by the end of the year. I am not planning on flying anywhere until 2022 and asked for an extension on the credit, which was also denied. Have others heard of the 241 minute schedule change policy...seems very arbitrary to me, especially given the Covid threat. I would never have booked an itinerary that included a five and a half hour layover. Any thoughts on how to appeal this would be greatly appreciated.
Like a lot of things AA related this is a situation where it's better to call, a friendly agent would most likely have no problem issuing a refund as opposed to a flight credit in spite of the 241 minute rule. At the very least they could have explained your options before issuing a flight credit.
Unfortunately now that a flight credit has already been issued, I'm guessing it's going to be very hard to get that reversed and a full refund issued.
Jan 18, 21, 1:13 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Delta
Posts: 12
It sounds like you just emailed customer relations as opposed to actually requesting a refund through prefunds.aa.com?
Like a lot of things AA related this is a situation where it's better to call, a friendly agent would most likely have no problem issuing a refund as opposed to a flight credit in spite of the 241 minute rule. At the very least they could have explained your options before issuing a flight credit.
Unfortunately now that a flight credit has already been issued, I'm guessing it's going to be very hard to get that reversed and a full refund issued.
Like a lot of things AA related this is a situation where it's better to call, a friendly agent would most likely have no problem issuing a refund as opposed to a flight credit in spite of the 241 minute rule. At the very least they could have explained your options before issuing a flight credit.
Unfortunately now that a flight credit has already been issued, I'm guessing it's going to be very hard to get that reversed and a full refund issued.
BTW, the DTW-DFW segment did involve a change of aircraft and seat assignment. I didn't mention that in appealing, as I thought the key issue was the additional layover time, not the aircraft change.
Jan 18, 21, 1:57 pm
#68
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,523
How is the rule "We make a change of more than 4 hours to your departure time" interpreted? For either a departure or a connection? If you are traveling AAA-BBB dp 1000 ar 1200 BBB-CCC dp 1300 ar 1500, and then change the connection to lv 2000 ar 2200, they haven't changed your original departure.
Regarding the OP, is it possible that they cancelled the connecting flight, and that would be justification for a refund?
Regarding the OP, is it possible that they cancelled the connecting flight, and that would be justification for a refund?
Jan 18, 21, 2:19 pm
#70
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Prague CZ
Programs: KLM and AA
Posts: 147
Jan 18, 21, 2:25 pm
#72
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Orange County, CA (SNA)
Programs: Delta - PM , MM; Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Peon
Posts: 904
Jan 18, 21, 2:27 pm
#74
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,758
