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)
Feb 25, 2022, 4:05 am
#1096
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,287
Not as the wiki here (stated if > 2 hours, which is my case), anyways.. managed to get an agent to change it to a better timing albeit with an additional connection which does work for me.
Feb 25, 2022, 7:13 am
#1097
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Feb 28, 2022, 2:53 pm
#1099
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: HH Diamond, Kimpton IC, Marriott Plat, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 549
I just noticed that a Flagship Business (layflat) 777 flight I have in July from MIA to LAX changed to an A321neo (non-layflat). Schedule change was minimal, but I'm trying to get a supervisor to override and let me move to a Flagship Business flight. I specifically booked for the layflat seat...miles ticket.
Mar 1, 2022, 6:54 am
#1100
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I just noticed that a Flagship Business (layflat) 777 flight I have in July from MIA to LAX changed to an A321neo (non-layflat). Schedule change was minimal, but I'm trying to get a supervisor to override and let me move to a Flagship Business flight. I specifically booked for the layflat seat...miles ticket.
Mar 1, 2022, 7:48 am
#1101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Travel credit and rebook might result in a fare difference as AA went down from x4 to x1 daily wide-body on LAX-MIA for a long time period in late-spring and early-summer due to the shortage of wide-body aircraft.
Mar 28, 2022, 2:51 pm
#1102
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: STL
Programs: DL, AA, UA, WN, Hyatt, HHonors, Avis Pref+
Posts: 164
What's the current policy for changes AA makes to flights? We had a reservation for a nonstop flight that was changed a month ago to be 2:40 later (still nonstop) and then changed again last weekend to now have a connection. Our current itinerary leaves at the same time as the first change but arrives an additional 2 hours later (4:40 later than originally booked).
It is a web special award and current prices are a lot more miles. We still intend to take the trip but would be interested in shifting the flight a day or two if possible. The nonstop flight we were moved to after the first schedule change operates the day prior to our current reservation. Any chance they'd move us to that for no additional cost or should I try to find something better on the day of our original booking?
It is a web special award and current prices are a lot more miles. We still intend to take the trip but would be interested in shifting the flight a day or two if possible. The nonstop flight we were moved to after the first schedule change operates the day prior to our current reservation. Any chance they'd move us to that for no additional cost or should I try to find something better on the day of our original booking?
Mar 29, 2022, 5:15 pm
#1103
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
What's the current policy for changes AA makes to flights? We had a reservation for a nonstop flight that was changed a month ago to be 2:40 later (still nonstop) and then changed again last weekend to now have a connection. Our current itinerary leaves at the same time as the first change but arrives an additional 2 hours later (4:40 later than originally booked).
It is a web special award and current prices are a lot more miles. We still intend to take the trip but would be interested in shifting the flight a day or two if possible. The nonstop flight we were moved to after the first schedule change operates the day prior to our current reservation. Any chance they'd move us to that for no additional cost or should I try to find something better on the day of our original booking?
It is a web special award and current prices are a lot more miles. We still intend to take the trip but would be interested in shifting the flight a day or two if possible. The nonstop flight we were moved to after the first schedule change operates the day prior to our current reservation. Any chance they'd move us to that for no additional cost or should I try to find something better on the day of our original booking?
It's the same threshold for refunding a non-refundable ticket. See: https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...onrefundticket
That said, you can request a change and see if the agent goes for it. I wouldn't request more than one day difference.
Apr 4, 2022, 4:33 pm
#1104
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 264
Random DP/question: Was scheduled next month on AA 814, PHL-LAX, departing 320pm arriving 554pm. That flight no longer exists in May, so a schedule change automatically moved me to AA 956, departing 359pm arriving 647pm. I asked to be moved to AA 1011 (which is the next earlier flight, departing 149pm arriving 442pm) but they wouldn't do it voluntarily since there was no inventory left in the fare code I booked (I'm in R and they only have D left on the date I'm looking at). Is this a HUCA situation where I might get lucky with a different agent or am I SOL unless R opens up on that flight (or is the fare code completely irrelevant and I was mislead and/or the agent was just wrong)? On the date I'm looking at, EF says AA 1011 is J7 C7 D7 R0 I0, so I guess if I do in fact need R there's a possibility I'll get lucky but who knows.
Apr 5, 2022, 5:20 am
#1105
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: STL
Programs: DL, AA, UA, WN, Hyatt, HHonors, Avis Pref+
Posts: 164
An agent was able to move us one day prior, no problem. Maybe it helped that it was the same flight we had before the latest change, but I was prepared to mention the 4+ hour change in arrival time since original booking. Unfortunately, we were in MCE before by using some coupons from last year's AAdvantage game and although the agent could see that, we need to wait for coupons to redeposit to get MCE again. I'm not sure why the auto rebooking can keep MCE but the agents can't.
Apr 5, 2022, 5:25 am
#1106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Random DP/question: Was scheduled next month on AA 814, PHL-LAX, departing 320pm arriving 554pm. That flight no longer exists in May, so a schedule change automatically moved me to AA 956, departing 359pm arriving 647pm. I asked to be moved to AA 1011 (which is the next earlier flight, departing 149pm arriving 442pm) but they wouldn't do it voluntarily since there was no inventory left in the fare code I booked (I'm in R and they only have D left on the date I'm looking at). Is this a HUCA situation where I might get lucky with a different agent or am I SOL unless R opens up on that flight (or is the fare code completely irrelevant and I was mislead and/or the agent was just wrong)? On the date I'm looking at, EF says AA 1011 is J7 C7 D7 R0 I0, so I guess if I do in fact need R there's a possibility I'll get lucky but who knows.
Apr 5, 2022, 1:30 pm
#1108
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Random DP/question: Was scheduled next month on AA 814, PHL-LAX, departing 320pm arriving 554pm. That flight no longer exists in May, so a schedule change automatically moved me to AA 956, departing 359pm arriving 647pm. I asked to be moved to AA 1011 (which is the next earlier flight, departing 149pm arriving 442pm) but they wouldn't do it voluntarily since there was no inventory left in the fare code I booked (I'm in R and they only have D left on the date I'm looking at). Is this a HUCA situation where I might get lucky with a different agent or am I SOL unless R opens up on that flight (or is the fare code completely irrelevant and I was mislead and/or the agent was just wrong)? On the date I'm looking at, EF says AA 1011 is J7 C7 D7 R0 I0, so I guess if I do in fact need R there's a possibility I'll get lucky but who knows.
Refund still require a change of 241 minutes or more.
Apr 5, 2022, 1:41 pm
#1109
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 264
The official rule is same inventory (booking code) required for changes of less than 4 hours. However looks like AA recently loosened up and is allowing changes without requiring same inventory if change is 61 minutes or more. Whether you can find an agent to not enforce this rule is YMMV.
Refund still require a change of 241 minutes or more.
Refund still require a change of 241 minutes or more.
Apr 5, 2022, 1:55 pm
#1110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
But either way I'm probably screwed because my schedule was only changed by 53 minutes? (I've never been totally sure how to calculate the total time of a change, but that's the difference in arrival times.) Haven't had a chance to call back yet but will hopefully be able to later today and will give it one more shot.