Jan 18, 2021, 1:06 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Welcome to the archived 2021 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST: (This post can only be edited by moderators.)
FOR THE 2022 THREAD, SEE HERE: link
Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
Important links:
Link to American Airlines Conditions of Carriage
Link to AAdvantage Terms and Conditions
NOTE: See below for links to the archived older threads.
Q. How can I find information more easily than reading through all the threads? Now that I'm here, what do I do next?
Check out the following resources:
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
Forum basics: Now that the new AA has become by some measures "the world's largest airline", this new, combined has become a "mega-forum", very large, very active - and theoretically very difficult to find information and easy to lose one's place. Having to search for and sort through dozens - or more - of threads on baggage, airports, minimum connect times or the like could soon become unproductive and discouraging.
To prevent this from occurring, please note we try to:
Keep a few "sticky" threads: such as GUIDE posts, OSO / IROPS, etc. for urgent and quick reference, such as basic "where do I find" reasons
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"Popular" threads are likely to have a Wikipost at the head that will summarize important information and have resource links. These are "community property", and as any wiki are established, maintained and updated by the members (with 90 days of tenure and 90 posts on FlyerTalk).
You may find your question or post merged into one of those threads. Be sure that we will leave a link behind from your original thread, and to look up to see if there's a wiki with information. We apologize for any possible inconvenience or difference between this forum and others, but we think you'll like some of the resources and tools here to enable more convenient, comfortable travel on AA and greater knowledge sharing.
Keep it welcoming: We're proud the members of both FFPs have kept the brickbats to a minimum; we want this forum to be welcoming, civil and information rich, so name calling (including calling a member one disagrees with "AApologist") and snark are not tolerated. Posts with such are likely to be summarily deleted in their entirety; repeated such behavior may result in suspension of one's membership privileges or being banned from this forum. Let's keep it friendly and in accordance with the FT Rules.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)
NOTE: 2020 NEWBIE LOUNGE posts are here.
2019 NEWBIE LOUNGE older posts are here.
The 2018 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
The 2017 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
The 2016 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
Thanks for reading!
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST: (This post can only be edited by moderators.)
FOR THE 2022 THREAD, SEE HERE: link
Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
Welcome to Flyertalk!
The Newbie Lounge is a place for newer and less experienced members to ask their questions about American Airlines and the AAdvantage program and have answered by our more experienced and knowledgeable members. Feel free to ask any question related to American Airlines and AAdvantage here.
NOTE: This is a "flame free" thread; flaming, personal criticism for "failing to search" etc. is not allowed (if posted, the post will be summarily deleted, the poster subject to sanctions).
Advanced questions posed by veteran FT users may be moved and / or merged into existing master or GUIDE threads, most of which have Wikiposts at the top of the page that contain summaries of important information.
We volunteer Moderators monitor this "lounge" thread to assist you as well. When browsing the fora, look at the page tops of the various forums. There will be a menu, and often "sticky" threads, and threads with header "wiki posts" (created and maintained by the FlyerTalk community) with important information relating to that forum / topic.
Don't hesitate to contact a moderator or another member if you have any additional questions. You can PM the Moderators by clicking on
, which pops up a message box; the message goes to all this forum's Moderators. Note that unlike some sites with paid staff moderators, FlyerTalk Moderators are volunteers, and most work, travel, go on holiday, etc. You can Private Message us using the PM system (My Flyertalk) and our handles.
We're glad you've chosen to join the Flyertalk frequent flyer community!
Your American Airlines | AAdvantage Forum Moderation Team,
AZ Travels the World, aztimm, dstan, JDiver, JY1024, Microwave
(Our thanks to thread founder / "plank owner" HNL.)
The Newbie Lounge is a place for newer and less experienced members to ask their questions about American Airlines and the AAdvantage program and have answered by our more experienced and knowledgeable members. Feel free to ask any question related to American Airlines and AAdvantage here.
NOTE: This is a "flame free" thread; flaming, personal criticism for "failing to search" etc. is not allowed (if posted, the post will be summarily deleted, the poster subject to sanctions).
Advanced questions posed by veteran FT users may be moved and / or merged into existing master or GUIDE threads, most of which have Wikiposts at the top of the page that contain summaries of important information.
We volunteer Moderators monitor this "lounge" thread to assist you as well. When browsing the fora, look at the page tops of the various forums. There will be a menu, and often "sticky" threads, and threads with header "wiki posts" (created and maintained by the FlyerTalk community) with important information relating to that forum / topic.
Don't hesitate to contact a moderator or another member if you have any additional questions. You can PM the Moderators by clicking on
, which pops up a message box; the message goes to all this forum's Moderators. Note that unlike some sites with paid staff moderators, FlyerTalk Moderators are volunteers, and most work, travel, go on holiday, etc. You can Private Message us using the PM system (My Flyertalk) and our handles.We're glad you've chosen to join the Flyertalk frequent flyer community!
Your American Airlines | AAdvantage Forum Moderation Team,
AZ Travels the World, aztimm, dstan, JDiver, JY1024, Microwave
(Our thanks to thread founder / "plank owner" HNL.)
Link to American Airlines Conditions of Carriage
Link to AAdvantage Terms and Conditions
NOTE: See below for links to the archived older threads.
Q. How can I find information more easily than reading through all the threads? Now that I'm here, what do I do next?
Check out the following resources:
- GUIDE: FT - AA Forum, LOUNGE DASHBOARD and OSO / IRROPS (Links to most important threads, "Help Desk" assistance threads, the thread with resources for off-schedule operations / irregular operations (including links to AA weather policy and tools), hub airport threads, AA lounge Dashboard for all lounges and lounge related issues.)
- FAQ: American Airlines and AAdvantage - Please check here first! (Our FAQ were originally written for the pre-merger AA forum, but there's still a lot of useful information there.)
- New and uncertain where to start here, and it's about American Airlines? Start in our "NEWBIE LOUNGE" thread, here: link.
- Do you have questions about other travel related issues that do not pertain to AA and are unsure where to start? Visit our Information Desk Forum here: U]link.
- Especially useful to new members: FAQs (How to post like a pro and more)
- The NEW FlyerTalk: Helpful Hints, Tips and Suggestions to Enhance Your Experience (Information Desk Forum)
- FlyerTalk Glossary (What is all this jargon?)
- Airport Code Guide (How do I decode an airport code / find one for a city?)
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
- Canarsie's Using the Search Feature on FlyerTalk: The Definitive Thread has relocated to the Information Desk Forum; it can be found there.
- One can search FlyerTalk with Google with this web form.
- Or, if you are used to Google search, use Google Advanced Search and insert www.flyertalk.com in the "site or domain" box.
Forum basics: Now that the new AA has become by some measures "the world's largest airline", this new, combined has become a "mega-forum", very large, very active - and theoretically very difficult to find information and easy to lose one's place. Having to search for and sort through dozens - or more - of threads on baggage, airports, minimum connect times or the like could soon become unproductive and discouraging.
To prevent this from occurring, please note we try to:
Keep a few "sticky" threads: such as GUIDE posts, OSO / IROPS, etc. for urgent and quick reference, such as basic "where do I find" reasons
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"Popular" threads are likely to have a Wikipost at the head that will summarize important information and have resource links. These are "community property", and as any wiki are established, maintained and updated by the members (with 90 days of tenure and 90 posts on FlyerTalk).
You may find your question or post merged into one of those threads. Be sure that we will leave a link behind from your original thread, and to look up to see if there's a wiki with information. We apologize for any possible inconvenience or difference between this forum and others, but we think you'll like some of the resources and tools here to enable more convenient, comfortable travel on AA and greater knowledge sharing.
Keep it welcoming: We're proud the members of both FFPs have kept the brickbats to a minimum; we want this forum to be welcoming, civil and information rich, so name calling (including calling a member one disagrees with "AApologist") and snark are not tolerated. Posts with such are likely to be summarily deleted in their entirety; repeated such behavior may result in suspension of one's membership privileges or being banned from this forum. Let's keep it friendly and in accordance with the FT Rules.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)
NOTE: 2020 NEWBIE LOUNGE posts are here.
2019 NEWBIE LOUNGE older posts are here.
The 2018 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
The 2017 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
The 2016 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
Thanks for reading!
NEWBIE LOUNGE 2021: Ask AA newbie questions here - flame-free thread
Oct 31, 2021, 6:43 pm
#976
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,652
I have a flight on AA from MDT to DFW in two weeks for an appointment I can’t miss. I can’t trust AA with this booking given mass cancellations (I was impacted this last summer by this and rebooked on my own in another airline after AA couldn’t get me home in 4 days and wouldn’t let me fly to BWI or PHL … ).
Oct 31, 2021, 7:34 pm
#977
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 253
When your standby flight on the app gets cancelled, why doesn’t the app discontinue it and let you pick another flight to standby on ?
the flight was canceled yet it still showed the waiting list for that flight and I was stuck on it.
the flight was canceled yet it still showed the waiting list for that flight and I was stuck on it.
Oct 31, 2021, 9:11 pm
#978
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Camp Hill, Pa.
Posts: 229
You should be fine in two weeks, as it will be the middle of the month. Today is the last day of the bidding month and AA ran out of flight attendants. Most bases have few if any reserves available; they have all maxed out. That is unlikely to occur in the middle of the month. In addition, 1,800 flight attendants are returning from leave tomorrow.
Oct 31, 2021, 9:47 pm
#979
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,652
Subject to FAA duty limits and rest requirements, flight attendants can fly as many hours as they desire. However, the company cannot schedule flight attendants to fly more than 90 hours in a month - that's from the time that the doors close at one airport to the time that they open at the destination. The same goes for flight attendants on reserve duty. Anything above that is voluntary. Today is the last day of the bid month. Many flight attendants are at their contractual limits. Tomorrow is the first day of the next month. The clock starts anew.
Nov 1, 2021, 9:39 am
#980
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 169
Another newbie question here: is it possible to bid for an upgrade, for example from Y to PE? Even for the O fare? If yes, from your experience is this approach is more cost efficient than buying PE upfront (except from the fact that you end up losing the extra miles)? Thanks!
Nov 1, 2021, 9:52 am
#981
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Another newbie question here: is it possible to bid for an upgrade, for example from Y to PE? Even for the O fare? If yes, from your experience is this approach is more cost efficient than buying PE upfront (except from the fact that you end up losing the extra miles)? Thanks!
Nov 1, 2021, 1:00 pm
#982
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 253
I bought a one way ticket a-b-c. First leg is commuter plane.
stuck in dfw for 2 days. Just want to go b back to a but aa refuses as I didnt buy a round trip ticket , told me to buy a ticket…
stuck in dfw for 2 days. Just want to go b back to a but aa refuses as I didnt buy a round trip ticket , told me to buy a ticket…
Nov 1, 2021, 1:14 pm
#983
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,604
Edited to add: My answer assumes that DFW was a mere connecting point on your A=>C ticket; if you booked an intentional stopover at DFW, then the agent might be correct, but then you should be entitled to a refund of the DFW-C fare.
Last edited by guv1976; Nov 1, 2021 at 1:36 pm
Nov 1, 2021, 7:31 pm
#984
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 253
Assuming that you're "stuck" in DFW due to flight cancellations, cite AA's "trip in vain" policy. If the agents at DFW don't help, call AA Reservations.
Edited to add: My answer assumes that DFW was a mere connecting point on your A=>C ticket; if you booked an intentional stopover at DFW, then the agent might be correct, but then you should be entitled to a refund of the DFW-C fare.
Edited to add: My answer assumes that DFW was a mere connecting point on your A=>C ticket; if you booked an intentional stopover at DFW, then the agent might be correct, but then you should be entitled to a refund of the DFW-C fare.
Nov 1, 2021, 8:58 pm
#985
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Assuming that you're "stuck" in DFW due to flight cancellations, cite AA's "trip in vain" policy. If the agents at DFW don't help, call AA Reservations.
Edited to add: My answer assumes that DFW was a mere connecting point on your A=>C ticket; if you booked an intentional stopover at DFW, then the agent might be correct, but then you should be entitled to a refund of the DFW-C fare.
Edited to add: My answer assumes that DFW was a mere connecting point on your A=>C ticket; if you booked an intentional stopover at DFW, then the agent might be correct, but then you should be entitled to a refund of the DFW-C fare.
Nov 1, 2021, 9:50 pm
#986
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,604
Nov 1, 2021, 10:05 pm
#987
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
If we or our airline partner fails to operate or delays your arrival more than 4 hours, our sole obligation is to refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees according to our involuntary refunds policy.
If your flight was delayed or canceled and you don’t accept our alternative arrangements, or none were available, we’ll refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees according to our involuntary refunds policy. Beyond that, we have no further contractual obligation.
Both of those... Yikes!!!
Nov 1, 2021, 10:16 pm
#988
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,604
Their new CoC...
If we or our airline partner fails to operate or delays your arrival more than 4 hours, our sole obligation is to refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees according to our involuntary refunds policy.
If your flight was delayed or canceled and you don’t accept our alternative arrangements, or none were available, we’ll refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees according to our involuntary refunds policy. Beyond that, we have no further contractual obligation.
Both of those... Yikes!!!
If we or our airline partner fails to operate or delays your arrival more than 4 hours, our sole obligation is to refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees according to our involuntary refunds policy.
If your flight was delayed or canceled and you don’t accept our alternative arrangements, or none were available, we’ll refund the remaining ticket value and any optional fees according to our involuntary refunds policy. Beyond that, we have no further contractual obligation.
Both of those... Yikes!!!
Nov 2, 2021, 2:30 am
#989
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
https://saleslink.aa.com/en-US/docum...ip-in-Vain.pdf
Trip in Vain
When a customer is flown to an intermediate point, through stop point or land in a diversion city due to an irregular operation, which may not get them to their final destination, they may choose to discontinue their journey and return back to their origination city.
Example:
Customer is flown to their connection point; the connection flight is subsequently cancelled Diverted to another city; flight canceled or delayed
Due to the cancellation causing them to miss their reason for travel (i.e. meeting, wedding…etc.)
Trip in Vain provides the option of returning to their origination point and seek a potential refund Trip in Vain requests may not be submitted via the online refund form.
These requests should be directed to American Reservations with an active PNR for review and appropriate documentation.
Updated: October 25, 2016
Nov 2, 2021, 7:41 am
#990
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,604
Actual policy...
https://saleslink.aa.com/en-US/docum...ip-in-Vain.pdf
Trip in Vain
When a customer is flown to an intermediate point, through stop point or land in a diversion city due to an irregular operation, which may not get them to their final destination, they may choose to discontinue their journey and return back to their origination city.
Example:
Customer is flown to their connection point; the connection flight is subsequently cancelled Diverted to another city; flight canceled or delayed
Due to the cancellation causing them to miss their reason for travel (i.e. meeting, wedding…etc.)
Trip in Vain provides the option of returning to their origination point and seek a potential refund Trip in Vain requests may not be submitted via the online refund form.
These requests should be directed to American Reservations with an active PNR for review and appropriate documentation.
Updated: October 25, 2016
https://saleslink.aa.com/en-US/docum...ip-in-Vain.pdf
Trip in Vain
When a customer is flown to an intermediate point, through stop point or land in a diversion city due to an irregular operation, which may not get them to their final destination, they may choose to discontinue their journey and return back to their origination city.
Example:
Customer is flown to their connection point; the connection flight is subsequently cancelled Diverted to another city; flight canceled or delayed
Due to the cancellation causing them to miss their reason for travel (i.e. meeting, wedding…etc.)
Trip in Vain provides the option of returning to their origination point and seek a potential refund Trip in Vain requests may not be submitted via the online refund form.
These requests should be directed to American Reservations with an active PNR for review and appropriate documentation.
Updated: October 25, 2016