missed connection on award ticket, chose not to continue
May 28, 2022, 9:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 34
missed connection on award ticket, chose not to continue
Good Day!
We had an award ticket from PTP to MIA then MIA to BWI. The flight out of PTP was delayed. Then a storm at MIA caused us to sit for 2 hrs in the plane waiting for a gate. We missed our connection, like literally saw them close the doors on us. They didn't have another flight to the area until 2 days later, so we booked with another carrier on our own. They said to call an AA agent to get a partial refund. Since its an award ticket, is it worth calling? What would the refund be? Taxes on the second flight?
We had an award ticket from PTP to MIA then MIA to BWI. The flight out of PTP was delayed. Then a storm at MIA caused us to sit for 2 hrs in the plane waiting for a gate. We missed our connection, like literally saw them close the doors on us. They didn't have another flight to the area until 2 days later, so we booked with another carrier on our own. They said to call an AA agent to get a partial refund. Since its an award ticket, is it worth calling? What would the refund be? Taxes on the second flight?
May 28, 2022, 9:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,700
just guessing. But I am thi if. An award PTP MIA would be the same miles as PTP BWI, so I doubt you will get miles back. Maybe just a customer service set of Miles.
Good Day!
We had an award ticket from PTP to MIA then MIA to BWI. The flight out of PTP was delayed. Then a storm at MIA caused us to sit for 2 hrs in the plane waiting for a gate. We missed our connection, like literally saw them close the doors on us. They didn't have another flight to the area until 2 days later, so we booked with another carrier on our own. They said to call an AA agent to get a partial refund. Since its an award ticket, is it worth calling? What would the refund be? Taxes on the second flight?
We had an award ticket from PTP to MIA then MIA to BWI. The flight out of PTP was delayed. Then a storm at MIA caused us to sit for 2 hrs in the plane waiting for a gate. We missed our connection, like literally saw them close the doors on us. They didn't have another flight to the area until 2 days later, so we booked with another carrier on our own. They said to call an AA agent to get a partial refund. Since its an award ticket, is it worth calling? What would the refund be? Taxes on the second flight?
May 28, 2022, 10:50 pm
#4
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: 4,550
I tend to disagree. I don't think they look at it that way. I base that on two prior experiences, one with US and one with AC. In both cases they offered a refund based on pro-rated distance. (In one case I negotiated a slightly better outcome.)
May 28, 2022, 10:58 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
PTP-MIA would cost the same as PTP-BWI on a sAAver award, but with web saver, I think it’s actually a debatable point
Jun 2, 2022, 6:02 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 34
Just an update, called and the agent I spoke with said she couldn't do anything since it was an award ticket and that i had to reach out to the AA advantage customer service via email, but since we took part of the trip she didn't think there would be any refund.
Jun 4, 2022, 4:03 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
[QUOTE=seawolf;34307397]Ask AA about Trip in Vain. Not sure if this qualifies for it.[/QUOTE
Definitely use the verbiage “Trip in vain”. This would work on a revenue trip that is interrupted. The question is whether it applies to an award flight.
Definitely use the verbiage “Trip in vain”. This would work on a revenue trip that is interrupted. The question is whether it applies to an award flight.
Jun 4, 2022, 4:08 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,579
[QUOTE=formeraa;34307479]This doesn't seem to be a trip in vain. If my understanfing is correct the trip in vain provision would entitle the person to be taken back to the origin and refunded, It doesn't seem to allow for just travelling part of the way and getting a refund,
Feb 23, 2023, 4:03 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: United Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 49
Had a similar situation as this last week. Revenue flight where we missed the connection on the outbound and opted to cancel the whole itinerary. Ended up receiving a partial refund roughly equal to the prorated distance flown. At least the refund was quick (received less than a week after the flight).
Feb 24, 2023, 6:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
I have twice invoked a "trip in vain," once on an award and once on a revenue flight. In both instances, I was made whole, meaning refunded the original price, as well as being flown back to my origin. On Delta, these words seemed to unlock a different computer screen for the agent. On AA, the Admirals Club handled the details without fuss.
First example was AA: MCI-CLT-PBI around 2016
Arriving in Charlotte, I misconnected and there were no seats to south Florida for the remainder of the day. But they could put me on the last jet back to KC, and they did. The AAngels got me the one remaining First seat back to KC. This was a J Class mileage award.
Second example was earlier, DL: DEN-ATL-BDL, around 2014. Similar story, but on a revenue ticket, also in domestic First. I was flown back that evening and had to chat with the gate agent a little, but was soon given the last seat in First on my way back to my origin, Denver. The person atop the upgrade waitlist looked pissed, but I had a paid First ticket, with whatever strange markings a trip-in-vain return endorsement also carries.
In both instances, the full original ticket price was also refunded (miles and money). It was if nothing ever happened, although I spent several hours flying around the country noshing on snacks and briefly visiting an overwhelmed hub.
First example was AA: MCI-CLT-PBI around 2016
Arriving in Charlotte, I misconnected and there were no seats to south Florida for the remainder of the day. But they could put me on the last jet back to KC, and they did. The AAngels got me the one remaining First seat back to KC. This was a J Class mileage award.
Second example was earlier, DL: DEN-ATL-BDL, around 2014. Similar story, but on a revenue ticket, also in domestic First. I was flown back that evening and had to chat with the gate agent a little, but was soon given the last seat in First on my way back to my origin, Denver. The person atop the upgrade waitlist looked pissed, but I had a paid First ticket, with whatever strange markings a trip-in-vain return endorsement also carries.
In both instances, the full original ticket price was also refunded (miles and money). It was if nothing ever happened, although I spent several hours flying around the country noshing on snacks and briefly visiting an overwhelmed hub.
Last edited by fastflyer; Feb 24, 2023 at 6:27 pm