I’m not making a statement on whether whether a 24 hour change should be allowed or not. I’m merely stating an AA flight credit is aka an unused ticket.

That is the way it works. You applied/exchange the prior ticket (aka flight credit) and and get a new ticket number as a result of the exhange.

There is nothing to theorize about as it is a fact. As stated earlier in this message, a flight credit is simply an unused ticket. You can use multiple unused tickets for an exchange to a new ticket. The new ticket (eg the result of exchanging flight credit) has a different number. This has been how it worked even during paper ticket days.

Again I’m not making a comment on whether the 24 hour rule applies or not. I’m simply answering prior post that a flight credit is AA’s aka for unused ticket/coupons.

I'm not making that statement above either. What I am pointing out is that what you said may be the mechanism that AA's system uses, but that aspect is not mentioned, clarified or stated anywhere. Also, if you use multiple credits.. which unused ticket is it?

Agreed, and AA lets people put tickets on hold and pay for them (during the 24-hour hold period) with flight credits and doesn’t honor the fare that was placed on hold.

Is that compliant with DOT requirements- whether having either a 24-hour hold or refund period, or avoiding deceptive or unclear practices?

My one concern with raising this to the DOT is that AA will honor 24-hour holds and refunds but then re-impose $200 change fees.

They can try that if they want, but since every other domestic airline offers free changes that seems like it would be a huge competitive disadvantage.

True but other airlines could also re-impose change fees.

If you call AA and tell them you have 3 flight credits to use (assuming the first two provided does not already exceed the new itinerary amount), any excess amount (from the 3rd) gets kicks out as trip credit. All (prior) flight credit/coupons used will change from an OPEN status to EXCHANGED status. That's the mechanics of it.

Whether this should be subject to 24 hour DOT requirement or needs to be "mentioned, clarified or stated anywhere" on AA website is unrelated as I was simply answering the following post:

There's a distinction between trip credit (can use up to 8) with flight credit (can only use 2 online, but the website says you can call in to use more).

I paid for a $79 Basic Economy ticket - $40 on a trip credit and $39 on a credit card. If I cancel my flight within 24 hours, do I get a refund of the $39 and my $40 trip credit returned? Do I lose the $39 I paid on the credit card and get a $79 trip credit? Do I lose the $40 trip credit and get a $79 refund?

It'd seem from reading this thread that I'd lose the $39 since AA would refuse to refund the cash portion since I partially paid with a trip credit?

that is my understanding. You'd get $79 as a trip credit.

Curious if theyve changed that policy. Hopefully it has, since "original form of payment" is not entirely a credit.

I received the $40 back as a trip credit and they refunded the $39.

So they refunded the money you paid back to your credit card? How long did it take for them ti respond? I am in the same situation.