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)
Jan 17, 2022, 4:23 pm
#1081
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Choice Hotels
Posts: 762
I tend to book early for at least half of my trips, and they all end up with schedule changes. I have found that the Twitter team will basically do whatever I want after a scheduled change. As long as I'm not asking to cancel, they will give me any flights I want. There have been instances where they have given me significant changes despite a relatively small schedule change. They have even allowed me to fly out the next morning when an evening itinerary was no longer available the day before. My suggestion is to always try Twitter first. They seem to have more leeway, and it's fast and easy. All I do is include my name and the record locator in the message. I state that there was a schedule change, and I give them the new itinerary that I want. They have never said no.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
Jan 17, 2022, 5:17 pm
#1082
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Yes.
Posts: 516
I tend to book early for at least half of my trips, and they all end up with schedule changes. I have found that the Twitter team will basically do whatever I want after a scheduled change. As long as I'm not asking to cancel, they will give me any flights I want. There have been instances where they have given me significant changes despite a relatively small schedule change. They have even allowed me to fly out the next morning when an evening itinerary was no longer available the day before. My suggestion is to always try Twitter first. They seem to have more leeway, and it's fast and easy. All I do is include my name and the record locator in the message. I state that there was a schedule change, and I give them the new itinerary that I want. They have never said no.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
is this AA award on AA metal or partner too?
Jan 17, 2022, 5:19 pm
#1083
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Yes.
Posts: 516
Not sure what you mean by overbook? AS has space on the earlier flight just not x (saver). ie they have at least 2 seats for sale in coach
Jan 17, 2022, 5:31 pm
#1084
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Overbook means booking in an inventory that isn't available. If you have an award ticket and there's a schedule change that's four hours or more, or a flight cancellation, AA can rebook you on partner flights only if those flights have award inventory available, but they can rebook you on AA flights that have space in the cabin. So, if you have an award flight on AS in domestic first (booked in 'E'), AA can only move you to an AS flight that has either 'E' or 'T' (for a voluntary downgrade) available, but can book you in 'U' on an AA flight that has, say, J6 U0. They can overbook you in 'U' even though it isn't available.
Jan 17, 2022, 6:57 pm
#1085
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Choice Hotels
Posts: 762
Jan 30, 2022, 7:23 am
#1086
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Lawrence, KS
Programs: AA Gold, UA, DL
Posts: 270
I tend to book early for at least half of my trips, and they all end up with schedule changes. I have found that the Twitter team will basically do whatever I want after a scheduled change. As long as I'm not asking to cancel, they will give me any flights I want. There have been instances where they have given me significant changes despite a relatively small schedule change. They have even allowed me to fly out the next morning when an evening itinerary was no longer available the day before. My suggestion is to always try Twitter first. They seem to have more leeway, and it's fast and easy. All I do is include my name and the record locator in the message. I state that there was a schedule change, and I give them the new itinerary that I want. They have never said no.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
Jan 30, 2022, 7:44 am
#1088
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I tend to book early for at least half of my trips, and they all end up with schedule changes. I have found that the Twitter team will basically do whatever I want after a scheduled change. As long as I'm not asking to cancel, they will give me any flights I want. There have been instances where they have given me significant changes despite a relatively small schedule change. They have even allowed me to fly out the next morning when an evening itinerary was no longer available the day before. My suggestion is to always try Twitter first. They seem to have more leeway, and it's fast and easy. All I do is include my name and the record locator in the message. I state that there was a schedule change, and I give them the new itinerary that I want. They have never said no.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
It's convenient because I don't have to wait on the phone or wait for a call back. I just send my message, and a few hours later I get an email with the new itinerary and a message on Twitter saying it's done.
But after receiving the "We made the changes for you" Twitter message, I asked a question about an unrelated trip, and started down a familiar Twitter rabbit-hole where the replies ignored the context, answered a totally different question than what was asked, etc. I don't know if this is the luck of the draw and getting a super-helpful versus nonsensical response purely depends on which agent handles the Twitter message, or if it's a matter of schedule changes versus other questions.
Feb 11, 2022, 2:00 pm
#1089
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,966
I really hate having to apply for refunds each time and get the manual review. Lots of back and forth explaining to agents why a schedule change or routing change is going to work. Miss the days with AA twitter team and phone agents could help with these.
Feb 16, 2022, 1:45 pm
#1090
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New York
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 166
Tried the Twitter route to rebook a cancelled flight that is five months away based on the comments in this thread. On net, this was a massive time saver. However, I would warn that it took an hour or two between each Twitter direct message. Since I wasn't worried about speed, this a pretty good alternative to the phone.
Feb 24, 2022, 7:06 am
#1091
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,281
Hi,
Just wanted to voice out my frustration with AA's inflexibility when they cancel/retime flights (> 2 hours) and are not flexible with rebooking options.
They used to be much more flexible, but my experience these days with them has been hellish after the long wait - they come back with either no, it's not possible (with the same inventory but with an additional stop) or the re-price is $XXX ( usually a large amount).
Cheers!
Just wanted to voice out my frustration with AA's inflexibility when they cancel/retime flights (> 2 hours) and are not flexible with rebooking options.
They used to be much more flexible, but my experience these days with them has been hellish after the long wait - they come back with either no, it's not possible (with the same inventory but with an additional stop) or the re-price is $XXX ( usually a large amount).
Cheers!
Feb 24, 2022, 7:16 am
#1092
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,477
Hi,
Just wanted to voice out my frustration with AA's inflexibility when they cancel/retime flights (> 2 hours) and are not flexible with rebooking options.
They used to be much more flexible, but my experience these days with them has been hellish after the long wait - they come back with either no, it's not possible (with the same inventory but with an additional stop) or the re-price is $XXX ( usually a large amount).
Cheers!
Just wanted to voice out my frustration with AA's inflexibility when they cancel/retime flights (> 2 hours) and are not flexible with rebooking options.
They used to be much more flexible, but my experience these days with them has been hellish after the long wait - they come back with either no, it's not possible (with the same inventory but with an additional stop) or the re-price is $XXX ( usually a large amount).
Cheers!
Feb 24, 2022, 7:42 am
#1093
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,281
Asked for other options which at least not give me too much unproductive time (= long connections or arriving at weird times) - and this time flights with the original inventories, came back with a large fare differences (take an earlier flight, spend a day in LA, and take the red eye to JFK, have some time to do downtown before my flight).
I asked why - and their response was, because what I was asking is voluntary change and not involuntary.
On the same day of my original flight, there is no other better options without a long layover in JFK before my connection to HEL.
Cheers!
Feb 24, 2022, 8:32 am
#1094
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
This was for a change on my inbound, originally it was SFO-JFK-HEL. The SFO flight moved > 2 hours earlier, departing at 6am. I requested to in this case, let me fly the day before SFO-LAX, and the next day connect to the LAX-JFK flight so I can connect to my flight to HEL. Answer was repriced is needed, since inventory was not available.
Asked for other options which at least not give me too much unproductive time (= long connections or arriving at weird times) - and this time flights with the original inventories, came back with a large fare differences (take an earlier flight, spend a day in LA, and take the red eye to JFK, have some time to do downtown before my flight).
I asked why - and their response was, because what I was asking is voluntary change and not involuntary.
On the same day of my original flight, there is no other better options without a long layover in JFK before my connection to HEL.
Cheers!
Asked for other options which at least not give me too much unproductive time (= long connections or arriving at weird times) - and this time flights with the original inventories, came back with a large fare differences (take an earlier flight, spend a day in LA, and take the red eye to JFK, have some time to do downtown before my flight).
I asked why - and their response was, because what I was asking is voluntary change and not involuntary.
On the same day of my original flight, there is no other better options without a long layover in JFK before my connection to HEL.
Cheers!
Feb 24, 2022, 12:42 pm
#1095
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 468
For the international tariff rule
is this applicable only to the international segments only, or the entire itinerary? Due to flight timings, I had to have a overnight layover on a return flight when originally ticketed. Flight times have changed such that I can make a domestic connection returning the same day, though time changes were under 2 hours. However, on the domestic segment, the aircraft changed from a 777 to a 738.
I won't be asking for any change in routing, just a change in the domestic return segment. It doesn't appear original "I" inventory is available, though "J" is, so I'm looking for a justification to allow me to rebook into a higher bucket without a reprice.
(III) RESULT IN A SUBSTITUTION OF EQUIPMENT NOT
ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER; OR
ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER; OR
I won't be asking for any change in routing, just a change in the domestic return segment. It doesn't appear original "I" inventory is available, though "J" is, so I'm looking for a justification to allow me to rebook into a higher bucket without a reprice.