cbrown5294

For the first time I was booking a Fco-lax-Fco flight in Dec. i called to ask the fate rules and was told if I cancel then I will have credit but can only be used out of EU to the Us for future travel. I could not find that fine print in the fare rules but 2 agents said that’s the case. I am wondering if this is typical? Also considering it’s a $2k fare what if I rebook and my new ticket is say $1k? Then I have to keep using the credit for EU to USA flights ?

JJeffrey

Yes it is very typical, I book ex-EU all the time. You typically cannot change the country of origin and/or the currency of original issue.

Dave Noble

I would check carefully whether you would get credit if you cancel - just looking at the lowest 'O' fare , it is non refundable and no mention of credit; higher fares just have a cancellation penalty ( e.g. EUR100 ) and so you would get a refund minus the penalty - obviously there are also fares that have no cancellation penalty

cbrown5294

Can’t make heads or tails of these rules:

PENALTIES *SPECIAL EMERGENCY RULES *SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME - FOR TICKETING ON/BEFORE 31MAR21/FOR TRAVEL ON/AFTER 01MAR20 AND ON/BEFORE 31MAR21 IF TRAVEL ON THIS FARE COMPONENT MUST COMMENCE BY MIDNIGHT ON 31MAR22. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. TICKETS ISSUED ON/AFTER 01OCT20 ARE VALID FOR 1 YEAR FROM DATE OF ISSUE. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. THE ORIGINAL NON REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON REFUNDABLE. CHANGES PERMITTED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME OF EACH FLIGHT. ---- TICKETS AT THESE FARES MAY NOT BE REVALIDATED. TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED. FARE DIFFERENCE AND CHANGE FEE MUST BE PAID AND TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED WHEN ITINERARY IS REBOOKED. ---- A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT MODIFICATION. CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY AS FOLLOWS. 1/WHOLLY UNUSED TICKETS ARE VALID PROVIDED TRAVEL COMMENCES WITHIN 18MONTHS FROM THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE AND ALL TRAVEL COMPLETED BY 31MAR22 OR 2/ PARTIALLY USED TICKETS ARE VALID PROVIDED TRAVEL IS COMPLETED WITHIN 18MONTHS OR BY 31MAR22 WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE OUTBOUND TRAVEL DATE ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET. ----------------------------------------------- WHERE THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER FARE AND ONLY ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE PENALTY CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENT WILL APPLY. WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS BEING CHANGED THE HIGHEST PENALTY OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY. ----------------------------------------------- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE ADD COLLECTED AND THE CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY. ---- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE REFUNDED TO A TRAVEL VOUCHER FOR TRAVEL ON AA ONLY. ------------------------------------------------- CALCULATION FOR REISSUES //CHANGES BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE// THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED. OR REPRICE THE ITINERARY USING THE SAME FARE BASIS CODES AND RULES AS THOSE IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUANCE FOR UNCHANGED OUTBOUND FARE COMPONENTS AND USING FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF NEW TICKET ISSUANCE FOR ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS. -------------------------------------------------- //CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE// THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE. -------------------------------------------------- THE NEW ITINERARY MUST MEET ALL RULE PROVISIONS OF THE NEWLY TICKETED FARE - I.E. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS/TICKETING DEADLINE/MINIMUM/MAXIMUM STAY/BOOKING CLASS/SEASONALITY ETC. ------------------------------------------------ WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE OF EACH CANCELLED PRICING UNIT APPLIES GENERAL RULE - APPLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/ OR A TRAVELING COMPANION/THE SERVICE CHARGE MAY BE WAIVED OR THE TICKET REFUNDED. VISIT AA.COM FOR DETAILS. ------------------------------------------------ FOR TRAVEL AGENCY BOOKINGS MADE IN MEXICO / THE CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA - AA WILL ASSESS A USD 50.00 FEE ON ANY UNTICKETED RESERVATION NOT CANCELLED BEFORE DEPARTURE. ------------------------------------------------ WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE OF EACH CANCELLED PRICING UNIT APPLIES -WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION- WHEN COMBINING A REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A NON- REFUNDABLE FARE THE ENTIRE PRICING UNIT WILL BE NON-REFUNDABLE. ------------------------------------------------ TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. REISSUES/EXCHANGES NOT ALLOWED TO EOU/ERU FARE TYPES. -------------------------------------------------- THE CHANGE FEE APPLIES PER TRANSACTION AND PERSON. A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT MODIFICATION. CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF ORIGINAL TICKET. THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE. -------------------------------------------------- WHERE THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER FARE AND ONLY ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE PENALTY CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENT WILL APPLY. WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS BEING CHANGED THE HIGHEST PENALTY OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY. -------------------------------------------------- IN CASE OF UPGRADE TO A HIGHER FARE OR IF THE ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED -AND- THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE APPLIED. -------------------------------------------------- // NON-REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A CHANGE FEE // WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE APPLIED -AND- NO REFUND WILL BE MADE HOWEVER THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FORM OF A NON-REFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY AA ONLY. REFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY AA ONLY. -------------------------------------------------- // REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A CHANGE FEE // WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE APPLIED -AND- THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT WILL BE REFUNDED TO ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT. -------------------------------------------------- REISSUE/REVALIDATION MUST BE MADE AT THE SAME TIME THE RESERVATION IS CHANGED. -------------------------------------------------- IN CASE OF NO-SHOW - REFUND/CHANGE IS NOT PERMITTED. -------------------------------------------------- CALCULATION FOR REISSUES //CHANGES BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE// WHEN THE FIRST FLIGHT COUPON IS CHANGED THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED. ----- WHEN THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE FIRST FLIGHT COUPON BUT OTHER FLIGHT COUPONS ARE CHANGED THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE OR CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF TICKET REISSUE WHICHEVER IS LOWER. -------------------------------------------------- //CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE// THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE. -------------------------------------------------- THE NEW ITINERARY MUST MEET ALL RULE PROVISIONS OF THE NEWLY TICKETED FARE - I.E. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS/TICKETING DEADLINE/MINIMUM/MAXIMUM STAY/BOOKING CLASS/SEASONALITY ETC. PENALTIES *SPECIAL EMERGENCY RULES *SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME - FOR TICKETING ON/BEFORE 31MAR21/FOR TRAVEL ON/AFTER 01MAR20 AND ON/BEFORE 31MAR21 IF TRAVEL ON THIS FARE COMPONENT MUST COMMENCE BY MIDNIGHT ON 31MAR22. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. TICKETS ISSUED ON/AFTER 01OCT20 ARE VALID FOR 1 YEAR FROM DATE OF ISSUE. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. THE ORIGINAL NON REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON REFUNDABLE. CHANGES PERMITTED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME OF EACH FLIGHT. ---- TICKETS AT THESE FARES MAY NOT BE REVALIDATED. TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED. FARE DIFFERENCE AND CHANGE FEE MUST BE PAID AND TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED WHEN ITINERARY IS REBOOKED. ---- A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT MODIFICATION. CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY AS FOLLOWS. 1/WHOLLY UNUSED TICKETS ARE VALID PROVIDED TRAVEL COMMENCES WITHIN 18MONTHS FROM THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE AND ALL TRAVEL COMPLETED BY 31MAR22 OR 2/ PARTIALLY USED TICKETS ARE VALID PROVIDED TRAVEL IS COMPLETED WITHIN 18MONTHS OR BY 31MAR22 WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE OUTBOUND TRAVEL DATE ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET. ----------------------------------------------- WHERE THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER FARE AND ONLY ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE PENALTY CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENT WILL APPLY. WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS BEING CHANGED THE HIGHEST PENALTY OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY. ----------------------------------------------- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE ADD COLLECTED AND THE CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY. ---- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE REFUNDED TO A TRAVEL VOUCHER FOR TRAVEL ON AA ONLY. ------------------------------------------------- CALCULATION FOR REISSUES //CHANGES BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE// THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED. OR REPRICE THE ITINERARY USING THE SAME FARE BASIS CODES AND RULES AS THOSE IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUANCE FOR UNCHANGED OUTBOUND FARE COMPONENTS AND USING FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF NEW TICKET ISSUANCE FOR ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS. -------------------------------------------------- //CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE// THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE. -------------------------------------------------- THE NEW ITINERARY MUST MEET ALL RULE PROVISIONS OF THE NEWLY TICKETED FARE - I.E. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS/TICKETING DEADLINE/MINIMUM/MAXIMUM STAY/BOOKING CLASS/SEASONALITY ETC. ------------------------------------------------ WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE OF EACH CANCELLED PRICING UNIT APPLIES GENERAL RULE - APPLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/ OR A TRAVELING COMPANION/THE SERVICE CHARGE MAY BE WAIVED OR THE TICKET REFUNDED. VISIT AA.COM FOR DETAILS. ------------------------------------------------ FOR TRAVEL AGENCY BOOKINGS MADE IN MEXICO / THE CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA - AA WILL ASSESS A USD 50.00 FEE ON ANY UNTICKETED RESERVATION NOT CANCELLED BEFORE DEPARTURE. ------------------------------------------------ WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE OF EACH CANCELLED PRICING UNIT APPLIES -WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION- WHEN COMBINING A REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A NON- REFUNDABLE FARE THE ENTIRE PRICING UNIT WILL BE NON-REFUNDABLE. ------------------------------------------------ TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. REISSUES/EXCHANGES NOT ALLOWED TO EOU/ERU FARE TYPES. -------------------------------------------------- THE CHANGE FEE APPLIES PER TRANSACTION AND PERSON. A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT MODIFICATION. CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF ORIGINAL TICKET. THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE. -------------------------------------------------- WHERE THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER FARE AND ONLY ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE PENALTY CONDITIONS OF THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENT WILL APPLY. WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS BEING CHANGED THE HIGHEST PENALTY OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY. -------------------------------------------------- IN CASE OF UPGRADE TO A HIGHER FARE OR IF THE ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED -AND- THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE APPLIED. -------------------------------------------------- // NON-REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A CHANGE FEE // WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE APPLIED -AND- NO REFUND WILL BE MADE HOWEVER THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FORM OF A NON-REFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY AA ONLY. REFUNDABLE TRAVEL VOUCHER WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A TICKET VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION GOVERNED BY AA ONLY. -------------------------------------------------- // REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A CHANGE FEE // WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE APPLIED -AND- THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT WILL BE REFUNDED TO ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT. -------------------------------------------------- REISSUE/REVALIDATION MUST BE MADE AT THE SAME TIME THE RESERVATION IS CHANGED. -------------------------------------------------- IN CASE OF NO-SHOW - REFUND/CHANGE IS NOT PERMITTED. -------------------------------------------------- CALCULATION FOR REISSUES //CHANGES BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE// WHEN THE FIRST FLIGHT COUPON IS CHANGED THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED. ----- WHEN THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE FIRST FLIGHT COUPON BUT OTHER FLIGHT COUPONS ARE CHANGED THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE OR CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF TICKET REISSUE WHICHEVER IS LOWER. -------------------------------------------------- //CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE// THE ITINERARY MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE. -------------------------------------------------- THE NEW ITINERARY MUST MEET ALL RULE PROVISIONS OF THE NEWLY TICKETED FARE - I.E. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS/TICKETING DEADLINE/MINIMUM/MAXIMUM STAY/BOOKING CLASS/SEASONALITY ETC.

Dave Noble

The key bit is "CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND"

There is nothing in the fare rules that allows for credit to be held should the cancellation occur
There is provision to allow changes without penalty
If the rebooked journey is cheaper, then a credit for the fare difference will be offered

ade99

I had a similar situation earlier this year. I booked CDG>LHR>JFK through the UK website and paid in Ł. Had to cancel and received my credit but was told I could only use it for a flight that originated in the country that you paid for it in as the credit had to be used in the same currency. What I couldn't understand is that I hadn't paid euros and the cancellation page on the UK website didn't have the currency rule on it at the time. So spent a long time on the phone but they were able to allow me to use for another flight in Ł.

It's a tricky condition so beware.

VSLover

it isnt quite tied to currency yet, as i had a few flights which were originally in euro converted to a new flight in GBP and vice-versa. they can do it.

what they cannot do is make credits applicable from the US to UK/EU etc--presumably this has to do with accounting issues since presumably AA are booking sales and any revenues into their EU entity which would explain why they cannot "move" credits across different world regions. there have been plenty of EU residents that were burned during covid because there was no chance they could use up any US domestic credit before they were set to originally expire.

golfer20

I'll add that this issue happened to me once on a domestic Turkish Airlines ticket. So, it's not just an AA thing.

JMN57

The fares are generally better for TATL originating EU than US for TATL flights. I just "returned" to Italy 2 weeks ago and will start a new trip out of CDG in early September.

If you cancel an entire flight, it is correct that you need to use the credit originating ex-EU. During Covid I originated out of MXP in Jan '20 with a planned return in April '20. That flight got cancelled and I received a credit. Interestingly, the ONLY way I could use the credit was for a return to EU. I ultimately was able to apply the credit in August 2021 for a return. Pricing it was difficult as there is no way to price returns of a RT, mid-itinerary, on the web. I had to call and get an agent to check different flights, etc. Ultimately was able to rebook, same class (PE) at no extra cost (I think I actually got some credit back).

xliioper

Note that the currency and country of origin requirements are actually covered in the international Contract of Carriage (which is on AA website) and not by the fare rules. You are bound by both fare and CoC rules which purchasing a fare and not everything is covered in fare rules. Also, fare rules can be displayed on ITA Matrix website if you can look up fare there and the formatting is much better in terms of readability (ExpertFlyer is another option if you have an account there).

VegasGambler

If your flight was cancelled shouldn't you have gotten a partial refund rather than a credit?

JMN57

As I recall, it became a credit when the original flight was cancelled. When I went to use the credit, I recall getting a refund was an option but it was tied to a well-priced PE RT ($1000 EU-US RT) and was able to apply it for a well-priced return in 2021.

VegasGambler

So did you book nested round trips? I don't see how else to use a credit that has to be used ex-EU if you don't live in the EU (given that OWs are generally prohibitively expensive)

JMN57

We have a house in Italy (am here now) so many years ago we flipped our TATL direction (EU-US-EU) as fares are generally asymmetrically priced.

VegasGambler

Smart. I've always wanted to do that for places I visit frequently but I can never plan that far ahead.