Big trap in American Airlines 24-hour refund policy
Jun 9, 2022, 11:17 pm
#16
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I'm saying that even if you put it on hold, after you purchase the same issue still exists (you still have 24hr to cancel).
So yes you can do it but it doesn't really "solve" the problem, in that there is still a 24hr period when you are due a refund. You've just moved that 24hr period forward (and the hold is only 5 days for awards; it's 1 day for cash fares, though they give you until the end of the next calendar day so you can theoretically get almost 48hr if you hold at the right time)
So yes you can do it but it doesn't really "solve" the problem, in that there is still a 24hr period when you are due a refund. You've just moved that 24hr period forward (and the hold is only 5 days for awards; it's 1 day for cash fares, though they give you until the end of the next calendar day so you can theoretically get almost 48hr if you hold at the right time)
Jun 10, 2022, 12:26 am
#17
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Yep, and it cuts both ways I think, as the new credit get's a new 12 months I think. Used to be that it inherited the expiration date (I think that was not the "flight credit" but another instrument.
Jun 10, 2022, 12:52 am
#18
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I thought that the OP was going to explain that this hold was the "trap," and it kind of is: Most airlines just offer the refund, so in those situations where AA denies it, many people assume that AA is not following the law.
Jun 10, 2022, 1:24 am
#19
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The DOT rule is that a reservation must be cancellable within 24 hours without penalty. Not a ticket, a reservation. New PNR = new reservation. I'd be pushing back.
Jun 10, 2022, 1:36 am
#20
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AA allows (b) ( unlike some airlines) plus often offers (A)
From https://www.transportation.gov/indiv...ection/refunds
Originally Posted by DOT
For airline tickets that are purchased at least seven days before a flight’s scheduled departure date and time, airlines are required to either:
allow consumers to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without a penalty for 24 hours, or
allow consumers to reserve a ticket (place it on hold) at the quoted prices without paying for the ticket for 24 hours.
Jun 10, 2022, 4:43 am
#21
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I don't think a DOT complaint will get you anywhere. As several others have pointed out, AA's policy follows DOT guidelines since AA offers the ability to hold for 24 hours. This is what I use when I'm planning to apply a credit but am not 100% certain I'm ready to book.
Jun 10, 2022, 6:09 am
#22
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This is a PSA announcement. Might be known to some people, but please be aware - if you book a flight and pay any portion, even $1, using flight credit, American Airlines will DENY you a refund to the original method of payment if you cancel within 24 hours.
They argue that the use of the flight credit, which would have been from some prior cancelled flight, makes the whole new booking ineligibkle for a refund, since you didn't cancel the new booking within 24 hours of the old booking. Yep, that is their logic.
They claim their customer service FAQ makes this clear, but I will post the FAQ below and let you judge yourself.
(From the AA website)
If I cancel my trip within 24 hours of purchase, can I get a full refund?ExpandYou have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket for a refund if you booked at least 2 days prior to departure. The 24-hour refund policy applies to all ticket types, but you have to cancel the trip to get a refund.* Reservations booked as part of group block do not qualify for the 24 hour refund.
Refunds will be issued in full amounts, less:
*If you bought your ticket through a travel agency or another booking source, contact them for a refund.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...rvice-faqs.jsp
They argue that the use of the flight credit, which would have been from some prior cancelled flight, makes the whole new booking ineligibkle for a refund, since you didn't cancel the new booking within 24 hours of the old booking. Yep, that is their logic.
They claim their customer service FAQ makes this clear, but I will post the FAQ below and let you judge yourself.
(From the AA website)
If I cancel my trip within 24 hours of purchase, can I get a full refund?ExpandYou have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket for a refund if you booked at least 2 days prior to departure. The 24-hour refund policy applies to all ticket types, but you have to cancel the trip to get a refund.* Reservations booked as part of group block do not qualify for the 24 hour refund.
Refunds will be issued in full amounts, less:
- Sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes
- Service charge for booking through Reservations
*If you bought your ticket through a travel agency or another booking source, contact them for a refund.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...rvice-faqs.jsp
Ma and Pa Kettle wouldn’t realize it, and I didn’t catch the meaning until seeing it in this thread. But the wording to protect AA is there, although it’s really not clear.
Jun 10, 2022, 6:36 am
#23
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Delta has this policy too, and actually when it was explained to me, it made total sense. They probably aren't used to dealing with $1, as this is more to prevent someone from buying a super expensive non-refundable ticket, using the flight credit for most of the payment, and a pittance on their credit card, and then try to get the whole cost refunded to their credit card during the 24 hour refund window.
Basically it stops people from converting flight credits to cash (or credit card).
Basically it stops people from converting flight credits to cash (or credit card).
Jun 10, 2022, 6:38 am
#24
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Delta has this policy too, and actually when it was explained to me, it made total sense. They probably aren't used to dealing with $1, as this is more to prevent someone from buying a super expensive non-refundable ticket, using the flight credit for most of the payment, and a pittance on their credit card, and then try to get the whole cost refunded to their credit card during the 24 hour refund window.
Basically it stops people from converting flight credits to cash (or credit card).
Basically it stops people from converting flight credits to cash (or credit card).
Jun 10, 2022, 7:18 am
#25
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Delta has this policy too, and actually when it was explained to me, it made total sense. They probably aren't used to dealing with $1, as this is more to prevent someone from buying a super expensive non-refundable ticket, using the flight credit for most of the payment, and a pittance on their credit card, and then try to get the whole cost refunded to their credit card during the 24 hour refund window.
Basically it stops people from converting flight credits to cash (or credit card).
Basically it stops people from converting flight credits to cash (or credit card).
If I buy something at Best Buy partly with a gift card and partly with credit card and request a refund, they return a new gift card for the gift card portion and the remaining to my credit card. A major, $10B airline should have/invest in technology to do that.
Or they should make that crystal clear. "Saying refundable within 24 hour of purchase" doesn't make it clear at all to average reader they mean FIRST PURCHASE, more rationale/reasonable assumption is they mean the current purchase as everyone assumes everything just gets refunded to the original method of payment.
Jun 10, 2022, 7:22 am
#26
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It says “24 hours from the time you FIRST buy your ticket”, which to AA means the time you bought the first ticket for which you received a flight credit.
Ma and Pa Kettle wouldn’t realize it, and I didn’t catch the meaning until seeing it in this thread. But the wording to protect AA is there, although it’s really not clear.
Ma and Pa Kettle wouldn’t realize it, and I didn’t catch the meaning until seeing it in this thread. But the wording to protect AA is there, although it’s really not clear.
Jun 10, 2022, 7:41 am
#27
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I expect this is simply an IT limitation on AA's part as opposed to a policy. Logically they should recreate the flight credit with the same terms if you cancel a ticket within 24 hours but they probably can't figure out the programming.
Jun 10, 2022, 7:44 am
#28
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Just some advice: I would start a dispute with your credit card issuer.
The DoT may eventually rule in your favor, but the key word is "eventually". By the time they get around to your case, the flight credit will almost certainly have expired.
I had a pandemic-era dispute with an airline (the airline refused refund and only offered credit, when they cancelled the flight, which is against DoT rules requiring a refund for canceled flights). I filed a DoT complaint and also initiated a chargeback with my CC (documenting the DoT rules clearly for the CC company). After a couple rounds of back and forth with Chase/Visa, they sided with me and charged back the full amount. At that point I promptly forgot about the DoT until about a year later, I got a really nice letter and phone call from someone at DoT indicating they had found my complaint valid. Of course by then it was moot.
TLDR: the DoT enforcement was fair and polite, but took forever and if you actually want your money back your best option is the credit card company.
The DoT may eventually rule in your favor, but the key word is "eventually". By the time they get around to your case, the flight credit will almost certainly have expired.
I had a pandemic-era dispute with an airline (the airline refused refund and only offered credit, when they cancelled the flight, which is against DoT rules requiring a refund for canceled flights). I filed a DoT complaint and also initiated a chargeback with my CC (documenting the DoT rules clearly for the CC company). After a couple rounds of back and forth with Chase/Visa, they sided with me and charged back the full amount. At that point I promptly forgot about the DoT until about a year later, I got a really nice letter and phone call from someone at DoT indicating they had found my complaint valid. Of course by then it was moot.
TLDR: the DoT enforcement was fair and polite, but took forever and if you actually want your money back your best option is the credit card company.
Jun 10, 2022, 7:47 am
#29
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Seems to me OP thinks it is passenger’s choice on which option is to be provided when it is actually airline’s choice.
AA allows for reservation to be held. If passenger does not take advantage of this hold, AA is not required to (but not prohibited from) providing the alternative option of 24 hour cancel after ticketing.
14 CFR 259.5(b)(4)
AA allows for reservation to be held. If passenger does not take advantage of this hold, AA is not required to (but not prohibited from) providing the alternative option of 24 hour cancel after ticketing.
14 CFR 259.5(b)(4)
(4) Allowing reservations to be held at the quoted fare without payment, or cancelled without penalty, for at least twenty-four hours after the reservation is made if the reservation is made one week or more prior to a flight's departure;
Jun 10, 2022, 7:59 am
#30
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When you use a flight credit on a new itinerary, do you get a new ticket number?
If so, that's a pretty good argument that it's a new ticket with a new 24 hour timer.
If so, that's a pretty good argument that it's a new ticket with a new 24 hour timer.