cmcbugg

I tend to agree; but I would expect
A) Take the next AA flight with any seat available in F
+ or
C) full refund

In the case of involuntary cancellations and schedule changes - it shouldn't be necessary for a reward seat to be available.

IMH

These often amount to the same thing and I'm sure the AA agent wouldn't have limited her/his search to reward buckets. Although OP reported that F was available for one part of the two-segment re-route he was initially offered by AA, as noted above it's normal for F cabins on US domestic flights to be completely full.

What OP actually chose of course is option (C): push to get onto a direct flight with a different carrier and push to get that ticketed in Y to ensure s/he earned a wodge of Delta miles.

Going back to the beginning:

Drop it. You got where you needed to go on the day you needed to get there. That's my key goal whenever I'm flying short-haul and flights start getting cancelled on me and it would appear to have been yours on the day you describe.

At the end of the day you're down by at worst 5,000 Avios less whatever value the DL miles have to you in your particular requalification situation.

corporate-wage-slave

As a very frequent victim of AA's reshuffles I think you did quite well there. You can also have a go asking for some travel coupons from AA customer service. For downgrades its 10cents a mile, with a US$50 minima. I don't think it's right, but I'm clear in my mind that AA is the source of the problem.

YClass

Firstly, I'd say it never hurts to ask politely for the 15k Avios in full especially as a frequent flier of many competitors you could have chosen. I tend to agree that if you are downgraded and cancelled through no fault of your own, you are due the difference. You paid, one way or the other, to go from A to B at a specific time in a specific class.

In reality, what you calculate you are owed is 15k, but you got 10k and endorsed on Delta direct and on time (albeit Y), it doesn't seem too bad a result if they refuse the 15k.... I flew AY the other day, they cancelled the flight and put me on a bus. Haven't seen any compensation or apology from them (still fighting!).

No idea how long your flights were. If talking a 3hr+ flight I'd be particularly annoyed.

MichaelBaku

Was MSP/ORD in Y so bad...it's only 45 mins or so, isn't it? I think the airline were very flexible in rerouting you. You did, in effect, accept a voluntary downgrade - you could have refused it. I'd settle for the 10k plus the Delta miles you got. It's not the end of the world.