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)
Jul 14, 2022, 4:26 pm
#1157
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,445
Has usually worked for me as well, but in the past year, it’s taking more HUCAs. I actually don’t know if it’s because the agents are purposely trying to drive pax away, in the hopes that mgt will do better, or not knowing the rules, or being told no longer to deviate from them, which happened at UA after the CO takeover. And the reason I left UA for AA.
Jul 14, 2022, 5:18 pm
#1158
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 264
OP I had the same issue with the Twitter team earlier in the year. Called in, had no wait, and they immediately changed me to the flight I wanted without any pushback or issue whatsoever. The Twitter team has been basically perfect for me otherwise but I do wonder if they're being more stingy with schedule changes (maybe a memo went out internally or something, who knows).
Jul 14, 2022, 5:44 pm
#1159
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
I’ve never been refused, but it has also often had the same booking class available. Ie- I haven’t waited until the day before departure to ask for my basic eco ticket to get rebooked in full Y. I imagine this is more of a problem if you let them pile up to try to use it as a free change waiver close to departure.
Last edited by TravelerMSY; Jul 14, 2022 at 5:50 pm
Jul 14, 2022, 5:50 pm
#1160
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
This departs significantly from “book whatever you want after a schedule change as an even exchange” based on this language for basic economy. Specifically, only up to H class. It does also mention automation auto opening basic eco space for elite members after sked changes, so there can be a huge variation in how American treats you after a schedule change based on who you are. There is always been a sort of X factor with AA’ on why people are treated differently for the same query. This explains it.
AA*/JB flights with a schedule change that is greater than 1 hour (61+ minutes)
may book the 1st available flight before/after the affected flight in the original
ticketed inventory or up to H inventory is allowed
AA*/JB flights with a schedule change that is greater than 1 hour (61+ minutes)
may book the 1st available flight before/after the affected flight in the original
ticketed inventory or up to H inventory is allowed
Last edited by TravelerMSY; Jul 14, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Jul 14, 2022, 6:31 pm
#1162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,268
This departs significantly from “book whatever you want after a schedule change as an even exchange” based on this language for basic economy. Specifically, only up to H class. It does also mention automation auto opening basic eco space for elite members after sked changes, so there can be a huge variation in how American treats you after a schedule change based on who you are. There is always been a sort of X factor with AA’ on why people are treated differently for the same query. This explains it.
AA*/JB flights with a schedule change that is greater than 1 hour (61+ minutes)
may book the 1st available flight before/after the affected flight in the original
ticketed inventory or up to H inventory is allowed
AA*/JB flights with a schedule change that is greater than 1 hour (61+ minutes)
may book the 1st available flight before/after the affected flight in the original
ticketed inventory or up to H inventory is allowed
Jul 14, 2022, 7:03 pm
#1163
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,425
Jul 14, 2022, 7:27 pm
#1165
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
The way I read it is that they don’t allow (travel agents) to open anything. If your ticketed booking class isn’t available, they can rebook you in higher inventory up to H but not above. If that results in no flights available, then I guess you have to take the refund or they have to escalate to American for a waiver code. That little section I quoted above was for basic economy tickets.
Jul 15, 2022, 1:27 am
#1167
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,695
I had a "supervisor" tell me the same thing last night. No changes on award tickets for a large schedule change unless its the same number of miles. Award tickets already have the ability to refund in full so basically there is no additional rights during a schedule change.
Jul 15, 2022, 3:09 am
#1168
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
So, I had a schedule change about 3 weeks ago that was a bit vexxing. I'll give some examples (flight numbers and cities are theoretical):
Flight #555 departing DCA at 8:00 AM and arriving MIA at 10:45 AM
Flight #999 departing MIA at 12:45 PM and arriving AUA at 3:45 PM
I picked this pair because A) it was a cheap award special at 22,500 miles and I always like a little spacing between my international flights (#1 to account for delays and #2 for an hour at the Centurion Lounge) and B) two friends coming from different cities were planning on meeting up in MIA and were booked on the same MIA-AUA flight (AA 999).
AA did one of its famous Sunday schedule changes, and my itinerary was changed as follows:
Flight #555 departing DCA at 7:40 AM and arriving MIA at 10:25 AM
Flight #1645 departing MIA at 11:16 AM and arriving AUA at 2:20 PM
Looking at the change, AA changed the time of AA 555 by about 20 minutes. No issues there. But then AA arbitrarily switched me to an earlier MIA-AUA flight (AA 16450 that 1) had a 50-minute (albeit legal) connection time in MIA, and 2) got me into AUA 1.5 hour earlier than initially booked. But, I was now separated from my friends who were still on AA 999. Going onto AA.com, I found that AA's scheduled flight times for AA 999 did not change at all, but now if I wanted AA 555 and AA 999, that routing was now 33,500 miles.
After confirming that both friends were still on AA 999, I called and asked to be put back onto AA 999. I told the agent that the change to AA 555 was fine, but I wanted to be back on AA 999. Agent said ticket redemption rate had changed (i.e., no longer a web special), but she'd check into it. After about a 5-minute hold, the ticket was rebooked and I was back on the original two flights.
So, in my case, I got the change I wanted....
Flight #555 departing DCA at 8:00 AM and arriving MIA at 10:45 AM
Flight #999 departing MIA at 12:45 PM and arriving AUA at 3:45 PM
I picked this pair because A) it was a cheap award special at 22,500 miles and I always like a little spacing between my international flights (#1 to account for delays and #2 for an hour at the Centurion Lounge) and B) two friends coming from different cities were planning on meeting up in MIA and were booked on the same MIA-AUA flight (AA 999).
AA did one of its famous Sunday schedule changes, and my itinerary was changed as follows:
Flight #555 departing DCA at 7:40 AM and arriving MIA at 10:25 AM
Flight #1645 departing MIA at 11:16 AM and arriving AUA at 2:20 PM
Looking at the change, AA changed the time of AA 555 by about 20 minutes. No issues there. But then AA arbitrarily switched me to an earlier MIA-AUA flight (AA 16450 that 1) had a 50-minute (albeit legal) connection time in MIA, and 2) got me into AUA 1.5 hour earlier than initially booked. But, I was now separated from my friends who were still on AA 999. Going onto AA.com, I found that AA's scheduled flight times for AA 999 did not change at all, but now if I wanted AA 555 and AA 999, that routing was now 33,500 miles.
After confirming that both friends were still on AA 999, I called and asked to be put back onto AA 999. I told the agent that the change to AA 555 was fine, but I wanted to be back on AA 999. Agent said ticket redemption rate had changed (i.e., no longer a web special), but she'd check into it. After about a 5-minute hold, the ticket was rebooked and I was back on the original two flights.
So, in my case, I got the change I wanted....
Jul 15, 2022, 6:23 am
#1169
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
So, I had a schedule change about 3 weeks ago that was a bit vexxing. I'll give some examples (flight numbers and cities are theoretical):
Flight #555 departing DCA at 8:00 AM and arriving MIA at 10:45 AM
Flight #999 departing MIA at 12:45 PM and arriving AUA at 3:45 PM
I picked this pair because A) it was a cheap award special at 22,500 miles and I always like a little spacing between my international flights (#1 to account for delays and #2 for an hour at the Centurion Lounge) and B) two friends coming from different cities were planning on meeting up in MIA and were booked on the same MIA-AUA flight (AA 999).
AA did one of its famous Sunday schedule changes, and my itinerary was changed as follows:
Flight #555 departing DCA at 7:40 AM and arriving MIA at 10:25 AM
Flight #1645 departing MIA at 11:16 AM and arriving AUA at 2:20 PM
Looking at the change, AA changed the time of AA 555 by about 20 minutes. No issues there. But then AA arbitrarily switched me to an earlier MIA-AUA flight (AA 16450 that 1) had a 50-minute (albeit legal) connection time in MIA, and 2) got me into AUA 1.5 hour earlier than initially booked. But, I was now separated from my friends who were still on AA 999. Going onto AA.com, I found that AA's scheduled flight times for AA 999 did not change at all, but now if I wanted AA 555 and AA 999, that routing was now 33,500 miles.
After confirming that both friends were still on AA 999, I called and asked to be put back onto AA 999. I told the agent that the change to AA 555 was fine, but I wanted to be back on AA 999. Agent said ticket redemption rate had changed (i.e., no longer a web special), but she'd check into it. After about a 5-minute hold, the ticket was rebooked and I was back on the original two flights.
So, in my case, I got the change I wanted....
Flight #555 departing DCA at 8:00 AM and arriving MIA at 10:45 AM
Flight #999 departing MIA at 12:45 PM and arriving AUA at 3:45 PM
I picked this pair because A) it was a cheap award special at 22,500 miles and I always like a little spacing between my international flights (#1 to account for delays and #2 for an hour at the Centurion Lounge) and B) two friends coming from different cities were planning on meeting up in MIA and were booked on the same MIA-AUA flight (AA 999).
AA did one of its famous Sunday schedule changes, and my itinerary was changed as follows:
Flight #555 departing DCA at 7:40 AM and arriving MIA at 10:25 AM
Flight #1645 departing MIA at 11:16 AM and arriving AUA at 2:20 PM
Looking at the change, AA changed the time of AA 555 by about 20 minutes. No issues there. But then AA arbitrarily switched me to an earlier MIA-AUA flight (AA 16450 that 1) had a 50-minute (albeit legal) connection time in MIA, and 2) got me into AUA 1.5 hour earlier than initially booked. But, I was now separated from my friends who were still on AA 999. Going onto AA.com, I found that AA's scheduled flight times for AA 999 did not change at all, but now if I wanted AA 555 and AA 999, that routing was now 33,500 miles.
After confirming that both friends were still on AA 999, I called and asked to be put back onto AA 999. I told the agent that the change to AA 555 was fine, but I wanted to be back on AA 999. Agent said ticket redemption rate had changed (i.e., no longer a web special), but she'd check into it. After about a 5-minute hold, the ticket was rebooked and I was back on the original two flights.
So, in my case, I got the change I wanted....
This was done without issue several weeks ago. This thread is suggesting there is a change in policy.
Jul 15, 2022, 8:51 am
#1170
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I think I could understand AA changing people to an earlier flight when a schedule change resulted in the "connection" now being more than four hours for a domestic itinerary, assuming that the original ticket wasn't a broken fare.
OTOH, if someone purchased a somewhat longer connection than necessary, the flight is still operating, and it's still a legal connection, I don't see how AA could insist on the rebooked tight connection. I suspect that DOT would disapprove even if it's not used as a way to avoid VDBs/IDBs.
OTOH, if someone purchased a somewhat longer connection than necessary, the flight is still operating, and it's still a legal connection, I don't see how AA could insist on the rebooked tight connection. I suspect that DOT would disapprove even if it's not used as a way to avoid VDBs/IDBs.