American Airlines cancelation

[maxaroni]

American Airlines canceled the flights for a trip to Aruba in April. AA does not want calls unless traveling within 72 hours, so my question is, does anyone know if this will automatically be refunded to the CC used? If so, that’s what we want but not sure how this works.

Thanks

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

American Airlines canceled the flights for a trip to Aruba in April. AA does not want calls unless traveling within 72 hours, so my question is, does anyone know if this will automatically be refunded to the CC used? If so, that’s what we want but not sure how this works.

Thanks

If they indicated the money would be refunded, then yes, it will go back onto the original form of payment.

 

[Keetchino]

All the airlines have been trying to slither out of providing actual refunds lately, they want to issue you travel credits. According to the DOT though, if the airline is the one to cancel the flight then you are entitled to a refund. You may have to be firm about it.

 

[maxaroni]

Thanks. A travel credit would be fine, if it doesn’t need to be used 1 year from date of purchase. It’s my DS27s honeymoon that would have taken place in April. The wedding has been postponed, due to the coronavirus, with the new date in November. The original tickets were purchased in September. They had a better deal through the hotel and booked hotel & air separately. They are getting refunded for hotel and it will be “cleaner” to be able to just rebook again and see which way is a better deal this time. They said the flights just disappeared from their upcoming flights after logging into to Advantage account. The flights do not show anywhere, so the cancelation was on Americans side.

 

[SteveH]

IMHO I would take the refund over the credit. Depending on how long this goes on you may see some dramatic changes in the airline industry. I'm not saying they would fold, but you may find they no longer fly where you want to go.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Call them and insist on a refund to your credit card, and if they try to give you the run-around, dispute the charge.

 

[JimMIA]

Call them and insist on a refund to your credit card, and if they try to give you the run-around, dispute the charge.

Agree, but you have to understand that in a dispute the merchant is the one who makes the decision on how to resolve the dispute.

We had a situation with Kaplan test prep, and they just flat refused to refund despite the fact that their instructor didn't show up for half the classes -- $700 poof.

 

[Keetchino]

Thanks. A travel credit would be fine, if it doesn’t need to be used 1 year from date of purchase. It’s my DS27s honeymoon that would have taken place in April. The wedding has been postponed, due to the coronavirus, with the new date in November. The original tickets were purchased in September.

I’d go for the refund then, seems like a lot of airlines are saying that the vouchers must be used within a year of the original ticket *purchase* date

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

All the airlines have been trying to slither out of providing actual refunds lately, they want to issue you travel credits. According to the DOT though, if the airline is the one to cancel the flight then you are entitled to a refund. You may have to be firm about it.

Good to know. I just got an email from JetBlue saying that our flights were cancelled and that the funds would be available in a travel bank for a year from the date of notice. Um, no. I want my money back.

 

[Keetchino]

Good to know. I just got an email from JetBlue saying that our flights were cancelled and that the funds would be available in a travel bank for a year from the date of notice. Um, no. I want my money back.

Step 1: contact them and INSIST on a refund, per DOT regulations. Don’t accept the vouchers. Make sure you document everything

Step 2: if they still refuse, file DOT complaint

Step 3: DOT complaint may take some time, so file a charge back with your credit card company. Provide all documentation where THEY canceled your flight, not you, and any conversations you saved.

If you attached a frequent flyer number to your reservation I’d take it off before filing the charge back, I’ve heard rumors of airlines possibly retaliating by seizing any points you have and locking your account

 

[JimMIA]

There is a story on The Points Guy saying that American is offering a 20% bonus to accept future travel credit as an option to a refund.

The problem with that story is they are quoting "One Mile At A Time," who is one of our local Miami crybabies who hates American Airlines. I am very skeptical of just about everything that needy little person writes, so I'd have to hear it directly from AAL to believe it.

The Points Guy is a reputable site, and they contacted American directly. American would not confirm or deny the report -- said it depends. Here's the link --

https://thepointsguy.com/news/incentives-travel-credits-refunds/

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Step 1: contact them and INSIST on a refund, per DOT regulations. Don’t accept the vouchers. Make sure you document everything

Step 2: if they still refuse, file DOT complaint

Step 3: DOT complaint may take some time, so file a charge back with your credit card company. Provide all documentation where THEY canceled your flight, not you, and any conversations you saved.

If you attached a frequent flyer number to your reservation I’d take it off before filing the charge back, I’ve heard rumors of airlines possibly retaliating by seizing any points you have and locking your account

Thanks for the tips! Good news is that when I finally could log onto Jet Blue (the site wasn't working for me yesterday), when checking my booking I was directed to a "survey" that asked me how I wanted my refund: travel voucher or original payment method. Obviously, I chose the latter. That was a relief as the email only mentioned the travel voucher as the way I would get refunded, and I really didn't want that. No confirmation email of cancellation or refund, though, so I'll just have to wait and see when/if the money shows up. I guess they're doing the survey tomkeep people off the phone lines, which makes sense. Glad it seems they're doing the right thing by offering the refund.

 

[Sandisw]

I got an email from Frontier that said if I canceled my May trip and if I did, they’d give me not only a travel credit for what I paid, but an extra $50

 

[JimMIA]

I got an email from Frontier that said if I canceled my May trip and if I did, they’d give me not only a travel credit for what I paid, but an extra $50

Big spenders, lol. But it's free money -- nothing wrong with that.

 

[Sandisw]

Big spenders, lol. But it's free money -- nothing wrong with that.

I just thought it was funny. I’m not canceling because if they do, I’ll take the refund

 

[HashberryOTG]

With Disney's canceling until "further notice", it is time for us to bite the bullet and cancel our April trip. Anyone have any experience with American? They appear to be offering re-scheduling for free, through Dec 2020 and cancellations if your flight was scheduled before 4/15. Ours is 4/18, we already have a Sept Disney trip, flight already paid, that was made before all the craziness. Using another flight before Dec is next to impossible. There is so much information out there, it's confusing. Anyone have experience with American during this?

 

[holden]

We canceled a 4/9 flight on American. We received a credit (tied to our original record locator number) for the dollar amount we paid. The credit is for use on a future flight through 12/31/20, however, when DH called the rep said that if we couldn't use the credit by that date American would be flexible (i.e. allow another six months or so beyond the 12/31/20 date).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Call them and insist on a refund to your credit card, and if they try to give you the run-around, dispute the charge.

Step 1: contact them and INSIST on a refund, per DOT regulations. Don’t accept the vouchers. Make sure you document everything

If you are going to insist, please BE POLITE. Schmooze. Reason. Don't yell, demand, blame, attack, etc. Don't threaten ("I'll have you fired!"; "Do you know who I am???"; "You're stupid, give me what I want NOW!"; and especially, "I will never do business with you again!" and/or its companion, "I will tell everyone I know and every social media site what a rotten/horrid/cheap/thieving company you are!!"

The person you're talking to did not set policies. They have probably been yelled at, cursed at, threatened, blamed, cursed (different from cursed at)... Be nice. Be deferent. Especially, be polite. They have likely spoken with hundr eds of people since this started.

 

[GoingSince1990]

If you are going to insist, please BE POLITE. Schmooze. Reason. Don't yell, demand, blame, attack, etc. Don't threaten ("I'll have you fired!"; "Do you know who I am???"; "You're stupid, give me what I want NOW!"; and especially, "I will never do business with you again!" and/or its companion, "I will tell everyone I know and every social media site what a rotten/horrid/cheap/thieving company you are!!"

The person you're talking to did not set policies. They have probably been yelled at, cursed at, threatened, blamed, cursed (different from cursed at)... Be nice. Be deferent. Especially, be polite. They have likely spoken with hundr eds of people since this started.

Indeed. When I said "insist", of course I meant "politely insist". Even if the agent refuses to give you a refund despite you being entitled to one, thank him or her for their time and politely say goodbye. Then dispute the charge with your credit card company.

 

[Keetchino]

Oh yeah no doubt, don’t be a jerk, I should’ve probably said “be firm” instead