Oct 28, 2015, 12:22 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
AA schedule changes - free flight change / cancellation / refund
The latest change policy may be read here (Thanks to MRP Alert for resource link.)
The above link appears to be broken. The latest change policy, as of June 13, 2023, can be found here.
As of March 2022:
NOTE: The Detailed Fare Rules for your ticket(s) details refundability, etc. You can read (and print to PDF, etc.) before you purchase. Regardless of fare title (Refundable, Flexible, etc.) you should read these prior to purchase.
Older posts may be read here.
The latest change policy may be read here (Thanks to MRP Alert for resource link.)
The above link appears to be broken. The latest change policy, as of June 13, 2023, can be found here.
As of March 2022:
- Limited changes allowed if schedule change is 60 minutes or less.
- More flexibility if schedule change is 61 minutes or more.
- Refunds on non-refundable fares typically require a schedule change of 241 minutes or more.
NOTE: The Detailed Fare Rules for your ticket(s) details refundability, etc. You can read (and print to PDF, etc.) before you purchase. Regardless of fare title (Refundable, Flexible, etc.) you should read these prior to purchase.
beachfan has shared:
I believe if it's an equipment swap, to a less desirable plane (I.e, 777 to 738) then yes, full refund, otherwise it's 120 minutes. One Mile at a Time blog covered this and referred to the contract of carriage (or whatever the linked document is called; it's titled general rules).
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...irplane-change
International Tariff (March 2023)
International General Rules
I believe if it's an equipment swap, to a less desirable plane (I.e, 777 to 738) then yes, full refund, otherwise it's 120 minutes. One Mile at a Time blog covered this and referred to the contract of carriage (or whatever the linked document is called; it's titled general rules).
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...irplane-change
International Tariff (March 2023)
International General Rules
Code:
SCHEDULE CHANGE IN THE EVENT, AFTER TICKET ISSUANCE, SCHEDULE CHANGES ARE MADE BY AA THAT: (I) AFFECT A PASSENGER'S DEPARTURE AND/OR ARRIVAL BY 2 OR MORE HOURS; (II) RESULT IN THE ADDITION OF AN INTERMEDIATE STOP ON THE PASSENGER'S ITINERARY; (III) RESULT IN A SUBSTITUTION OF EQUIPMENT NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER; OR (IV) IF A CANCELLATION OR A CHANGE IN EITHER AIR OR TOUR ITINERARY IS INITIATED EITHER BY AA OR IT'S TOUR OPERATORS WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF CANCELLING WITHOUT PENALTY, OR REROUTING ON DIFFERENT FLIGHTS TO/FROM THE SAME OR DIFFERENT DESTINATION. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER MUST PAY ANY ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS RESULTING FROM THE REROUTING.
AA schedule changes - flight change / cancellation / refund policy (consolidated)
Mar 13, 2017, 7:49 pm
#377
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 12
My wife and I are currently booked on a business/first award flight from CUN-CLT-MCI on May 8. When we initially booked we were scheduled to leave CUN at 2:45 and connect to an outbound flight in CLT at 7:50, arriving home at 9:11. Today we got notification that our CUN departure was moved up to 2:25 (though the arrival time stayed the same at 6:35) and our connecting flight at CLT was bumped back to 8:19.
Now the obvious downside to our current booking is that we're on a pair of LUS 321s for both legs of our 6 hours of flying. Is it worth a phone call to see if I could get AA to route us through ORD or DFW to get off of those 321 planes? There's an itinerary that goes through ORD that doesn't buy us any better times but is on a pair of 738s instead of the 321s. We also would consider going through DFW leaving at 12:55 with a 757/738 combo.
Now the obvious downside to our current booking is that we're on a pair of LUS 321s for both legs of our 6 hours of flying. Is it worth a phone call to see if I could get AA to route us through ORD or DFW to get off of those 321 planes? There's an itinerary that goes through ORD that doesn't buy us any better times but is on a pair of 738s instead of the 321s. We also would consider going through DFW leaving at 12:55 with a 757/738 combo.
Mar 13, 2017, 8:52 pm
#378
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
Computerized Re-booking to tight connections
Thanks to the latest round of flight number changes, the AA computer system automatically re-booked us on 2 flights with tight connections. One was a 40 minute connection at DFW (Montrose - CR900 /DFW/ LGA -A321) which has a pretty bad on-time arrival and the other was a 55 minute connection from LGA/DFW/KOA.
The original flights we had booked were still available but did not appreciate that we did not receive any notice of the flight changes or the need to call to get back on our original flights. Same aircraft, just different flight numbers.
I typically like to book additional time to reduce the stress if something should go sideways. Our original bookings provided 1 1/2 hours between flights which we did no purpose. The AA system really does need to handle these changes a bit better.
The original flights we had booked were still available but did not appreciate that we did not receive any notice of the flight changes or the need to call to get back on our original flights. Same aircraft, just different flight numbers.
I typically like to book additional time to reduce the stress if something should go sideways. Our original bookings provided 1 1/2 hours between flights which we did no purpose. The AA system really does need to handle these changes a bit better.
Mar 13, 2017, 9:30 pm
#379
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 17
I enjoy being able to swap flights, I have a flight on may 22nd from MIA-CMH it was a nonstop flight on a 175, but they made an equipment change to a 145, so my first class ticket was bumped down to economy, and i also have 2 other PAX on the reservation, so i was able to get it switched last month when i was notified of the equipment change I was able to get a flight from MIA-CLT-CMH first leg on an A319 and 2nd leg on the 175. Plus I looked at the value of the F ticket, I originally paid 240, but the leg I am flying now is around 380 dollars. not bad 
Mar 14, 2017, 3:43 am
#380
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold HH Diamond
Posts: 210
Well, that went ok, an entirely reasonable telephone experience when compared to many. So, so far so good and now in the system for a 'manual review'. Acid test will be when/if the refund hits my cc account. chf1,850 so not an insubstantial amount.
Apr 4, 2017, 8:57 pm
#381
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 30
Hi,
I bought a flight with thankyou points via the Citi online travel agent, Connexions. It was originally scheduled for 8:30pm and has now been pushed back to 9pm (JFK - SEA). American airlines have pushed me back to the agent because it's a block booking and they can't modify the details themselves. Connexions claim that because the schedule change is less than 1hr, I'm not eligible to change to an earlier flight without penalty.
Is this their normal policy? If it was 30mins in the afternoon I'd be fine with it, but this delay changes the arrival time from before midnight to around 12:30am, which is much more inconvenient for me. I'm guessing there's nothing I can do, but thought I'd ask here anyway
Thanks
I bought a flight with thankyou points via the Citi online travel agent, Connexions. It was originally scheduled for 8:30pm and has now been pushed back to 9pm (JFK - SEA). American airlines have pushed me back to the agent because it's a block booking and they can't modify the details themselves. Connexions claim that because the schedule change is less than 1hr, I'm not eligible to change to an earlier flight without penalty.
Is this their normal policy? If it was 30mins in the afternoon I'd be fine with it, but this delay changes the arrival time from before midnight to around 12:30am, which is much more inconvenient for me. I'm guessing there's nothing I can do, but thought I'd ask here anyway
Thanks
Apr 5, 2017, 7:46 am
#382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Hi,
I bought a flight with thankyou points via the Citi online travel agent, Connexions. It was originally scheduled for 8:30pm and has now been pushed back to 9pm (JFK - SEA). American airlines have pushed me back to the agent because it's a block booking and they can't modify the details themselves. Connexions claim that because the schedule change is less than 1hr, I'm not eligible to change to an earlier flight without penalty.
Is this their normal policy? If it was 30mins in the afternoon I'd be fine with it, but this delay changes the arrival time from before midnight to around 12:30am, which is much more inconvenient for me. I'm guessing there's nothing I can do, but thought I'd ask here anyway
Thanks
I bought a flight with thankyou points via the Citi online travel agent, Connexions. It was originally scheduled for 8:30pm and has now been pushed back to 9pm (JFK - SEA). American airlines have pushed me back to the agent because it's a block booking and they can't modify the details themselves. Connexions claim that because the schedule change is less than 1hr, I'm not eligible to change to an earlier flight without penalty.
Is this their normal policy? If it was 30mins in the afternoon I'd be fine with it, but this delay changes the arrival time from before midnight to around 12:30am, which is much more inconvenient for me. I'm guessing there's nothing I can do, but thought I'd ask here anyway
Thanks
Apr 5, 2017, 1:40 pm
#383
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 30
This is a problem when you involve more people with the process. I'd get back to Connexions and ask if their 1 hour rule is their's or what they think AA enforces. If you push back they may check with AA and find out if it's ok. Just like many CSRs, if they can get you to go away without having to do any work, they will, even if that means arguing longer than it would take to do the work.
I only went through Connexions as I get 1.6cent thank you point redemptions on AA flights through my prestige card. I suppose this is the trade off!
Apr 5, 2017, 3:34 pm
#384
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Thanks for the reply. I actually got them to call AA, although they refused to conference me in. They claim that it is AA's policy not to allow a change. I'm pretty sure Connexions don't make any mention of schedule changes being allowed (I'm sure AA do on their site, but that's irrelevant here since I didn't go through them).
I only went through Connexions as I get 1.6cent thank you point redemptions on AA flights through my prestige card. I suppose this is the trade off!
I only went through Connexions as I get 1.6cent thank you point redemptions on AA flights through my prestige card. I suppose this is the trade off!
So using TYPs really didn't hurt you here.
Apr 5, 2017, 3:52 pm
#385
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
With agent shopping huca, I've gotten full refunds, full voucher refunds, and waived award redeposits on far less significant schedule changes.
It's not like this "rule" asserted is programmed into the agent's software. It just a matter of a few keystrokes for an agent.
It's not like this "rule" asserted is programmed into the agent's software. It just a matter of a few keystrokes for an agent.
Apr 5, 2017, 4:05 pm
#386
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
AA's policy is definitely not to allow full refunds on 30 minute later departure. The travel agent needs to abide by AA's policies
Apr 5, 2017, 5:58 pm
#387
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: AAdvantage (Platinum)
Posts: 470
From what I've been told there's a non-trivial difference in what AA can do for violations of policy. An AAgent is likely to get at most get a slap on the wrist, while a TA (or their company) can be assessed financial charges (e.g., the change/cancel fees, fare difference, etc. that should have been assessed for the change).
Apr 5, 2017, 6:16 pm
#388
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
I realize my post had some ambiguity. The agent I was referencing was the AA reservations telephone agent, not any 3rd-party travel agent.
The poster above me said using Citi Thank You Points didn't matter. I disagree, because many AA reservations telephone agents would pretty easily grant the request to change to a new flight in response to a 30-minute schedule change.
The poster above me said using Citi Thank You Points didn't matter. I disagree, because many AA reservations telephone agents would pretty easily grant the request to change to a new flight in response to a 30-minute schedule change.
Apr 5, 2017, 6:24 pm
#389
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 30
https://ssc.aa.com/prmportal_enu/Age...e%20Change.pdf
I dont see where it says no changes are allowed for a schedule change of less than 60mins
Thanks
Apr 6, 2017, 12:15 pm
#390
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 335
Schedule/Equipment Change on ORD->NRT
How likely is it for my flight from ORD->NRT to have a schedule change in Feb of 2018. I have a JAL ticket operated by AA (AA 153), and I'm hoping that something will go wrong, so I can be rebooked on a JAL 777 that's departing an hour and a half earlier. I know this is an AA forum, but does anyone know how does JAL handle a code share schedule change?