How to deal with schedule changes on award flights
 

I took advantage of this summer's promo to get enough Avios for a very specific redemption, namely CLT - TUS on AA in Y, in late January.

I booked three tickets, where both flights were non-stop CLT-TUS and TUS-CLT.

AA then changed its schedule. It no longer operates nonstops from CLT-TUS, and the only non-stop from TUS-CLT is a red eye, which isn't going to work for me. AA then rebooked us on an itinerary that looks like this: CLT-PHX-TUS, TUS-DFW-CLT.

When I visit My Bookings on the Iberia site, it asks me to accept these itinerary changes. I have not done this.

As it turns out, one member of my party cannot travel with us. I would like to use the Avios that I would have used for her ticket so that the remaining two of us who are traveling can fly in F in one direction or the other. There is award availability, and assuming that all of the Avios are redeposited, it would come out almost exactly the same.

So, what happens if I do not accept the itinerary changes? Are my Avios redeposited instantly and trip canceled? If not, how long does it take for Avios to be redeposited? Will they try to charge me a fee for redepositing Avios, even when the reason for cancelation is a schedule change?

How quickly were the miles restored?

Neither IB nor AA is obligated to do this and it is IB as the ticketing carrier which will handle the transaction.

I would suggest calling IB immediately. Have the new proposal ready, along with flight numbers, and ask the agent to reissue the tickets. IB may not be particularly helpful here and tell you that you will need to cancel and rebook, but you have lost nothing by asking.

Also worth noting that if the PHX-TUS segments are not convenient, that this is a <2 hour drive and, depending on where you are headed in Tucson, may be even less. Worth considering to avoid a micro-hop + connection.

I appreciate your thoughts. I'll get my act together and call IB -- it looks like they have a US office -- and see where it takes me. If there's a way that they could just rebook without having to wait for the Avios to redeposit, that would be ideal. I'd like to avoid driving PHX-TUS simply because I'm traveling with my four year-old and a 4:30 flight plus another two hours in the car makes a *very* long day, especially given the ridiculous rental car situation at PHX!

Thanks!

I have an IB avios ticket (075 ticket) on BA flight number and BA metal. The flight has just had a minor schedule change (+20 min). It was already a very late flight and now even later so keen to change. If I phone IB will they change the ticket to an earlier flight that day (also BA metal) given this schedule change? There is no award availability no the flight but assume that doesn't matter.
I know BA rules would allow rebooking in a +/- 2 day window (per published policy). Does IB have a similar policy? Would be great to know ahead of calling.
Thanks

AFAIK BA's policy covers 3+ hour schedule changes, not 20 minutes.

Besides that... if it were IB metal you'd have more flexibility, but IB+ is unlikely to move you into revenue inventory on a partner airline just because of a 20 minute schedule change. No harm in asking, but expect a "no".

For a data point, phoned them today and they happy moved my flight to the one previous flight following this 20min schedule change (there was no avios advailabtly so they rebooked into the lowest class advailable in the same cabin). No questions asked.
All very easy.