Booked a flight with BA points, refund in AA miles
Sep 6, 2019, 10:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 58
Booked a flight with BA points, refund in AA miles
Hi there,
I booked a reward flight through the BA site with BA points, but flew AA. I was flying Dubrovnik - Philadelphia - San Diego. The first leg was cancelled and we were delayed over 48 hours. AA has offered 40,000 AA miles, which are quite frankly useless to me, as I collect with BA. Is there any way I can try and get them to refund me in the BA points instead?
Thanks!
I booked a reward flight through the BA site with BA points, but flew AA. I was flying Dubrovnik - Philadelphia - San Diego. The first leg was cancelled and we were delayed over 48 hours. AA has offered 40,000 AA miles, which are quite frankly useless to me, as I collect with BA. Is there any way I can try and get them to refund me in the BA points instead?
Thanks!
Sep 6, 2019, 11:00 am
#2
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No, as AA don’t issue Avios. The operating carrier is always the one reimbursing you. You could ask for cash, though. What was the reason for cancellation, and are you claiming also under EC261?
Sep 6, 2019, 11:02 am
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
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Are you looking for a refund or for compensation? Did you eventually fly from Dubrovnik to San Diego with AA? If you were only delayed then I don't see how you're owed any refund. You're owed compensation (in cash, not AA miles). Can you please clarify what you're seeking a refund for? If you did not fly on that ticket at all, then you can get a refund from BAEC of course.
Sep 6, 2019, 11:08 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 58
One of the pilots cut his foot open (seriously) and they couldn't get us out for another two days. We did end up flying on the ticket, but arrived over 50 hours late. We fully intend on claiming under EC261. We've been proactively offered 40,000 miles, but I would prefer BA miles or cash. Sounds like BA miles aren't possible, so I will ask for cash. will I only get the 600 euros from EC261, or is there any chance we can get more?
Sep 6, 2019, 11:24 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Posts: 29,536
Hi there,
I booked a reward flight through the BA site with BA points, but flew AA. I was flying Dubrovnik - Philadelphia - San Diego. The first leg was cancelled and we were delayed over 48 hours. AA has offered 40,000 AA miles, which are quite frankly useless to me, as I collect with BA. Is there any way I can try and get them to refund me in the BA points instead?
Thanks!
I booked a reward flight through the BA site with BA points, but flew AA. I was flying Dubrovnik - Philadelphia - San Diego. The first leg was cancelled and we were delayed over 48 hours. AA has offered 40,000 AA miles, which are quite frankly useless to me, as I collect with BA. Is there any way I can try and get them to refund me in the BA points instead?
Thanks!
Sep 6, 2019, 11:36 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
compensation under EU261 is a fixed amount.
i see the AA miles aa a customer service gesture, A passenger can accept miles in lieu of cash but it’s the passenger decision (plus it needs to be a reasonable offer) to accept them or not,
i see the AA miles aa a customer service gesture, A passenger can accept miles in lieu of cash but it’s the passenger decision (plus it needs to be a reasonable offer) to accept them or not,
Sep 6, 2019, 11:42 am
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,683
Get both the EU compensation in cash and the AA miles!
Sep 6, 2019, 2:16 pm
#9
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Location: Bregenz, Austria
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The EC261 case is far from a slam dunk. The airline will almost certainly contend that a pilot being injured in what was presumably a freak accident, at an outstation where they can't be expected to have replacement crew immediately available, constitutes an extraordinary circumstance beyond their control. Does anyone know of any relevant precedents?
They are, of course on the hook for Duty of Care. This means hotel, food and communications for the duration of your delay. I am assuming they paid for this. If they didn't, it's a different story.
In this case, I would personally be inclined to accept the 40k AA miles and use them on OneWorld flights, as long as this is being offered in addition to Duty of Care.
They are, of course on the hook for Duty of Care. This means hotel, food and communications for the duration of your delay. I am assuming they paid for this. If they didn't, it's a different story.
In this case, I would personally be inclined to accept the 40k AA miles and use them on OneWorld flights, as long as this is being offered in addition to Duty of Care.
Sep 6, 2019, 8:53 pm
#11
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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The likely alternative to the AA miles (which are helpful if you are doing non Reward Flight Saver flights outside of (mainly) Europe) is a voucher for a US dollar amount of spend on an AA booking. Though this can be used on many BA services, nevertheless this has done via AA, is slightly fiddly to book, and the likely context is a US based itinerary. I doubt the cash amount would be that high but searching the AA forum may give you a hint about that.
As this is a customer service gesture, I too would open up an account just to churn the miles.
As this is a customer service gesture, I too would open up an account just to churn the miles.
Sep 6, 2019, 11:13 pm
#12
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Sep 6, 2019, 11:18 pm
#13
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Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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The EC261 case is far from a slam dunk. The airline will almost certainly contend that a pilot being injured in what was presumably a freak accident, at an outstation where they can't be expected to have replacement crew immediately available, constitutes an extraordinary circumstance beyond their control. Does anyone know of any relevant precedents?
They are, of course on the hook for Duty of Care. This means hotel, food and communications for the duration of your delay. I am assuming they paid for this. If they didn't, it's a different story.
In this case, I would personally be inclined to accept the 40k AA miles and use them on OneWorld flights, as long as this is being offered in addition to Duty of Care.
They are, of course on the hook for Duty of Care. This means hotel, food and communications for the duration of your delay. I am assuming they paid for this. If they didn't, it's a different story.
In this case, I would personally be inclined to accept the 40k AA miles and use them on OneWorld flights, as long as this is being offered in addition to Duty of Care.
Sep 6, 2019, 11:36 pm
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,552
One of the pilots cut his foot open (seriously) and they couldn't get us out for another two days. We did end up flying on the ticket, but arrived over 50 hours late. We fully intend on claiming under EC261. We've been proactively offered 40,000 miles, but I would prefer BA miles or cash. Sounds like BA miles aren't possible, so I will ask for cash. will I only get the 600 euros from EC261, or is there any chance we can get more?
You may find that the offer of 40,000 miles will disappear once you ask for EUR600 - I suspect it will be an either/or
Based on price I pay for AA miles, I would rate them as worth about USD730 -
Sep 7, 2019, 12:41 am
#15
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I can also see that happening, and a two day delay presumably relates to the less than daily service from DBV. However I don't think a delay beyond 24 hours is tenable since there are many other ways to get to SAN quicker than that. So I think it fails the "all reasonable measures" test, and is therefore open to EC261 if the OP wants to go that route.