Cancel Partner Award Return: Surgery
May 8, 2011, 6:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
Cancel Partner Award Return: Surgery
Hi all,
So I am in NY to get surgery tomorrow, and it seems as if the procedure might be a little more serious than was expected. Using my Dividend Miles, I booked a UA PS First Class award ticket. If I have to cancel my return segment for the reason listed above, will US redeposit the 25,000 miles used?
Thanks so much!
So I am in NY to get surgery tomorrow, and it seems as if the procedure might be a little more serious than was expected. Using my Dividend Miles, I booked a UA PS First Class award ticket. If I have to cancel my return segment for the reason listed above, will US redeposit the 25,000 miles used?
Thanks so much!
May 8, 2011, 7:10 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
From website, (emphasis mine)
Partner travel
•Changes to origin, destinations, class of service, award level, dates and times are not permitted once travel has commenced.
•An award itinerary, or a portion thereof may be cancelled at any time without penalty; cancellation, however, will not result in the re-deposit of miles or the refund of any fees paid.
•One en route stopover per itinerary is permitted for select international travel awards.
•Award travel on Royal Jordanian and Virgin Atlantic must originate from a valid US Airways operated city.
•Flights operated by a non-partner airline with a partner airline code are not eligible for award travel.
•US Airways is the final authority in choosing routing and the Dividend Miles partner to provide award travel, including the right to choose the most efficient routings and partners based on the desired origin and destination.
•US Airways is responsible only for Dividend Miles program awards. US Airways does not assume responsibility for the program awards of any participating partner.
•Specific Dividend Miles partners and destinations may change with or without notice.
•Changes to origin, destinations, class of service, award level, dates and times are not permitted once travel has commenced.
•An award itinerary, or a portion thereof may be cancelled at any time without penalty; cancellation, however, will not result in the re-deposit of miles or the refund of any fees paid.
•One en route stopover per itinerary is permitted for select international travel awards.
•Award travel on Royal Jordanian and Virgin Atlantic must originate from a valid US Airways operated city.
•Flights operated by a non-partner airline with a partner airline code are not eligible for award travel.
•US Airways is the final authority in choosing routing and the Dividend Miles partner to provide award travel, including the right to choose the most efficient routings and partners based on the desired origin and destination.
•US Airways is responsible only for Dividend Miles program awards. US Airways does not assume responsibility for the program awards of any participating partner.
•Specific Dividend Miles partners and destinations may change with or without notice.
May 9, 2011, 4:59 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Philly
Programs: US, CO, Marriott
Posts: 217
Good Luck with the surgery - losing 25K miles is nothing compared to your health!
Z
Z
May 9, 2011, 4:03 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
They don't have to do it, but might anyway given the circumstances. There's little downside to a call to make that determination. You would certainly be able to provide documentation if they wanted it and you're willing to share it with them.
May 9, 2011, 4:18 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Westfield, NY (BUF)
Programs: USAirways, SPG gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 451
Good luck on your surgery. I sure hope you don't need to cancel your award - that would mean great news! But, if you do, please let us know how US handles your situation, I'd call now and see what they say. Don't wait till after the surgery to inquire. If they'll do it, it will be a quick call to cancel and if they won't, it's just a courtesy, so they might seat someone else.
God Bless,
Eileen
God Bless,
Eileen
May 9, 2011, 4:45 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PIT/YYZ
Programs: US Silver, OW Ruby
Posts: 256
It doesn't hurt to try.
Also from website:
I've been able to redeposit partner awards as a CP (for free), but I don't know how it works for non-status members.
Also from website:
Award ticket redeposit
Fully unused award tickets are eligible for redeposit into your account within 1 year from the date of issue once the reservation is canceled. A redeposit fee (payable by credit card only) will apply per ticket.
All canceled paper award tickets must be returned unused to the Dividend Miles Service Center before miles will be redeposited into your account.
When a voluntary change in itinerary results in a lower award level or class of service (i.e. coach class), the additional banked miles may be redeposited into your account prior to travel commencement. A redeposit fee (payable by credit card only) will apply. This will be processed at the member's request.
Once travel has commenced on an award ticket, the award is considered used. Mileage for any unused portion will not be redeposited into your account.
The redeposit fee is $150.
Fully unused award tickets are eligible for redeposit into your account within 1 year from the date of issue once the reservation is canceled. A redeposit fee (payable by credit card only) will apply per ticket.
All canceled paper award tickets must be returned unused to the Dividend Miles Service Center before miles will be redeposited into your account.
When a voluntary change in itinerary results in a lower award level or class of service (i.e. coach class), the additional banked miles may be redeposited into your account prior to travel commencement. A redeposit fee (payable by credit card only) will apply. This will be processed at the member's request.
Once travel has commenced on an award ticket, the award is considered used. Mileage for any unused portion will not be redeposited into your account.
The redeposit fee is $150.
May 9, 2011, 4:59 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: London
Posts: 878
How about moving the return to a later date?
May 9, 2011, 7:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,558
Try moving the return to an alternate date.
They may give over - I would at least try.
They may give over - I would at least try.
May 9, 2011, 8:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: Amanjunkie
Posts: 752
I tried to move a return flight due to sickness. Called several times and always got the same answer: no change under any circumstances.
good luck with the surgery !
good luck with the surgery !
May 9, 2011, 11:19 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PIT/YYZ
Programs: US Silver, OW Ruby
Posts: 256
May 10, 2011, 5:29 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,304
May 10, 2011, 7:26 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
The rules indeed clearly state that, but on two occasions in the past five years I have been able to get the return legs of partner awards changed by preferred desk agents with the change fee after the outbounds had been used. In both cases, family medical emergencies forced the matter, and I was prepared to buy tickets and toss the award return leg, but I was extremely grateful for their flexibility.
They don't have to do it, but I still say it's worth the try.
They don't have to do it, but I still say it's worth the try.
May 10, 2011, 8:27 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,304
May 12, 2011, 5:58 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: PIT/YYZ
Programs: US Silver, OW Ruby
Posts: 256
Sorry, I didn't see that the OP had already commenced travel (I thought it was an entire award trip that the OP was looking to move, which would fall under the usual change fee). DCAorBust's post is correct. Good luck with the surgery!
May 13, 2011, 9:06 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,304
I was thinking about this rule and trying to figure out the reason for it. It is not just revenue protection, as that can be much more easily protected by charging a fee (and US never misses an opportunity to collect ancillary fees).
The best I can come up with is the likelihood that even if changes were permitted a passenger on a partner reward ticket in many far flung places not served by US may in practice be unable to change the return because no partner has any reward inventory available. And thus, rather than explain to the passenger "you could pay $150 to change to another return flight where award inventory exists, but there are no such flights, we don't service MRU, and therefore you are stranded" US just lays down a blanket policy from the outset that changes are not permitted. Any other thoughts?
The best I can come up with is the likelihood that even if changes were permitted a passenger on a partner reward ticket in many far flung places not served by US may in practice be unable to change the return because no partner has any reward inventory available. And thus, rather than explain to the passenger "you could pay $150 to change to another return flight where award inventory exists, but there are no such flights, we don't service MRU, and therefore you are stranded" US just lays down a blanket policy from the outset that changes are not permitted. Any other thoughts?
Last edited by safetymom; May 13, 2011 at 9:52 am Reason: removed comment on deleted post