We were scheduled for two weeks in SXM starting 10/9. I called American last night to cancel and they did with no questions asked with full refund.

Thanks for posting. I have to assume other airlines will follow suit.

Our friends called Delta and was told their flight was still scheduled to leave SEA tomorrow and arrive Saturday. Our friends know that is not going to happen. They just want to get home. Our home is their home as long as they need to stay.

That's ridiculous. Did they ask to speak to a supervisor? The airport is not even open!!

AA appears to be cancelling flights one day at a time. DL may be doing the same.

This is really ridiculous. I just went to Orbitz and looked for a flight to SXM from Atlanta this Saturday and returning the following Saturday. There was only one flight available and guess who? Delta $313.00. They should follow all the other airlines and remove flights until the airport is open for operation. I just hope they follow in AA's footsteps and offer full refunds to all those they have flights booked. I like Delta, but they should know better.

American told me, they would not refund my 10/21 tickets...they would waive the 200$ change fee, but balance is a credit for 12 months. 12 months from date of ticket purchase- June, so really 9 months from now.

I called AA a couple of hours ago regarding our Nov. flight, was told that they are "assessing the situation" regarding SXM flights, and that they would have a formal policy announcement in the next day or two.

First got a recorded message when I called Jet Blue saying to "please call back at another time if our flight is more than 7 days from now." Ummmm, I don't think so....
So later on last night, I said the heck with it and called back and stayed on the line, and spoke to a wonderful customer service person. She refunded the tickets completely.

David, when was your JetBlue flight?

Ours is 10/28. I have come to the realization that we cannot go. There is not one single thing standing, or anyplace we go that is in tact.

We're wondering how American will handle flights booked with frequent flyer miles. Our flights are sixty days from now, but with Club O destroyed, we have no place to go to.

United Airlines will impose a fee of $200. per person to cancel our trip for the first week of Nov.

This is stupid. This is why they should start regulating airlines again. They are money hungry Bas***ds <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I just checked out the "Irma" section on the AA website, and there is a link you can click that takes you to a page where you can enter your ticket number, and they will let you know if you can cancel with a refund or not.

They have some very ambiguous instructions on an automated refund process. They say you must first cancel your flight to initiate the refund process, but why would you do that unless you have confirmed it's refundable? It also says that if your fare is refundable, there should be a cancel flight/change flight link on your "my flights" toolbar. Again, not very clear and not worth losing your $...I'm waiting until better info is available. My flight is in December.

We have AA flights for early December and late February. I can't imagine that either trip will happen as Simpson Bay Resort appears to be in shambles. It will be interesting to see how AA handles it particularly the Feb. trip. My expectations are low. I'll settle for 12 months to use ticket value as long as they waive the change fee. Keeping it all in perspective, I'm just sick over what the residents are enduring.

What good is a airline seat if where your going has no rooms for you. Planes to no where.

We have reservations at Club O for March/April. I'm pretty darn sure that's not happening. We are also booked with AA and wonder how long to wait. If SXM isn't accepting tourists or even severely limited by then, i would think they should refund. I would at least accept a no change fee though.........But yes, at the end of the day i am sick for these people and their recovery is most important.

We were scheduled to arrive on 11/6 on AA. We rescheduled our destination to Curacao. There was a slight increase in price, but after speaking to a supervisor the change fee was waived.

We have flights in November, and I just went to the AA website to see if they are refundable. I clicked on the Irma section, but I don't see the place you're talking about. Can you provide a link?

I tried to cancel our tickets today--depart SFO for SXM 10/11, return 11/6. I was told that at present they are only allowing "free" cancellations through 9/30, and I should try back later. Maybe I'll have better luck if I exchange for another destination, but right now my alternative ideas are all over the world map and I'm nowhere near picking a spot.

I'll give management the benefit of the doubt right now, that they are scrambling with all the current Irma and coming Jose cancellations and schedule issues that they are trying to minimize current chaos.

Unfortunately, I legged into these tickets, having 2 PNRs, so the double cancel fee would amount to almost the entire ticket cost.

I'm not overly concerned. I knew the rules on non-refundable tickets going in, so if AA isn't going to be especially accommodating, I'm willing to eat the loss.

In the same boat with Jet Blue, and also indecision as to where/IF to go elsewhere. Considered Curacao but do not want an All Inclusive (RCI).
Jet Blue says won't refund late October/November tickets at this time.

Well I guess AA is only waiving changes to your tickets through 12/31/17. Ours is 2/18 and unless we have proof that our villas on Anguilla and St. Maarten are uninhabitable they are not allowing any changes at this time. Little frustrating with the AA as it seems to me they are looking to capitalize on a bad situation. Not only will they collect additional funds on ticket changes but other destination supplies will be short and capitalize there also.
Even with insurance we can't file a claim since its so far out.

Most insurance companies have a time limit to file claim ours is 30 days.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

We cancelled our April trip today with AA..no penalty...no charges. Full refund.

were they refundable tickets? When was your trip scheduled?

They actually refunded cash? Or points ?

We booked with points. All points were refunded back into our account and the cash portion (Taxes) were fully refunded to our credit card.

Did you call them directly or do some online form on their web site?

We booked the flight in may 2017 and it was for April 2018

Steve called them direct...by the way sphotovacations is Steve

I called AA on Saturday to cancel our 11/24 trip. I was told there would be a $200 pp charge on our first class tickets. After pre-emptively apologizing to the nice girl on the phone, I explained...in creative terminology...what has happened to St. Martin and to the condo in Orient Village. I said if this was a waiting game, I will wait for them to cancel so I don't take a $400 hit. She ended up cancelling my trip without my authorization, and accessed the penalty. I noticed this immediately, called back and spoke with a poor guy who ended up giving me a full refund. Moral of the story, keep trying!

We went to SXM 4 months after Cat 5 Luis in 1995 which also "destroyed" the island and had a great time. Same Sun same great beaches and many places reopen fairly fast. I would think the airlines will work with people but April seems a very long way away to expect a refund. Once they get moving things we start to get better day by day. It will take a long time but I have no doubt its still a lot better than minus -5. I have contacts on the Island and while it is very bad they also say lots of not true rumors or just fake news. Time will tell, we need to support them now more than ever.

They waived our change fee, but only after requesting a supervisor. Now, since we didn't use the trip insurance, we'll try to transfer it to our new destination (Curacao).

forever,

Yours is an interesting perspective. Very different from mine, but you know what, I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

In '95 we had an AA package tour booked for the very end of November and AA cancelled the whole trip because the island, in their words, wasn't open to visitors yet. We ended up last minute booking a stay in Aruba instead.

We returned the following April and were appalled by what we saw. We are not people who need to be catered to and one of our favorite 'other' pastimes is tent camping, if you get my drift.

But there was debris of every nature, from boards and corrugated to boats of every size and description laying on the sides of roads and some still over-turned in the water. There was a lot of small debris still in the seawater and imbedded in the sand, and you almost had to wear water shoes, the only time in 44 years we've ever had to do this. The majority of island friends I've spoken or corresponded with are telling me this storm damage, by all their accounts, is light years worse than Luis'.

My perspective is to give them time to regroup, clear their heads over what's happened to them and to their island and then to clear the roads and beaches, rebuild their homes, and get back on their feet at whatever their occupations.

Thus, my personal support, at least for the time being, will be in the form of donations and prayers and moral support for a while. The island friends I'm speaking with are not as optimistic as yours so I guess they must live in very different parts of the island.

We each have to do what we're comfortable with but I really doubt they'll be able to restart as quickly as you're suggesting. But again, I truly hope you're right and I'm wrong. Time will tell..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Will PM our similar experience after Luis.

When Steve called he said i need to cancel my trip in April...she said oh st martin...I understand...so sad. Your miles will be put into your account and the taxes will go back on your credit card.

He looked ...the miles were back in his account. He immediately used them to book a trip same time frame only a week less to Jamaica.

End of story

Folks...I don't know if you listened to the video today by Steve Payne the manager of Club Orient...but this is not a matter of repairing to reopen. Most of Club orient is completely GONE. And It sounded pretty clear to me that Steve Payne wants to go home to the USA. He said he promised his wife they would only stay 6 months and that was 9 years ago. I think the man is exhausted....and i completely understand. If the owners of Club Orient not only have to rebuild the entire resort...but they have to find a new manager to boot...we could be looking at a really long recovery time.

I am a very optimistic person...and i am so hoping that Club Orient will be back in business in April 2019...but i am not sure that is realistic.

Look how long it took to build all the new little buildings on Orient Beach....

Now you are talking Cleanup...getting supplies...and rebuilding every single one of them....in addition to all the resorts and restaurants.

Look how long it took to rebuild the mini suite that burned down at Club Orient. One building.....

How many buildings does Club Orient have to replace?

I am not interested in going to another resort. I want club Orient....and when and if it gets rebuilt...we will be the first to go back.

but this is a huge job and it will be prolonged by insurance and owners and lack of supplies.

What an insightful post. I know nothing of Club O but I get what he's feeling and you're saying. I heard the voice of a normally strong and no nonsense Islander yesterday, and she, too, was just emotionally spent.

I don't think people are getting this is going to be a ground up restoration of much of the island.

Thank you for your post. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

thanks pat...I am not a debbie downer...

friends of mine said to me the other day...oh places will reopen in december

REALLY? Did you watch the video of Grand case? how in the name of God can anything REOPEN in December?
They wont even have the MESS cleaned up by December!

How many ships will it take to just haul off the trash???

How many ships will it take to bring enough supplies to rebuild the entire island?

How many WORKERS will it take to do that building?

Good grief...we had a hail storm and it took MONTHS for all the neighbors on our street to get new roofs....

We are talking about buildings that are GONE

Cathyg,

Where did you find Steve Payne's video? I just checked Club O's website and Facebook page and didn't see it.

right here on traveltalk

on page one http://www.kesq.com/news/former-palm-spr...artin/617720771

stephen payne club o interview

Thank you very much. I had read the text, but somehow missed the video/audio.

you may only get the sound but it is certainly 20 minutes worth listening to

We were scheduled out of Miami for 9/17 to SXM and to return on 9/24 - called on Friday 9/8 and immediately was refunded the entire roundtrip for two and refunded for the upgraded seats. Entire trip refunded back on to our credit card. Now I am working with the Villa owners to refund our week in Orient Bay. We really want to go to help out but we realize it will be 6 to 9 months before that is a possibility in our opinions.

not getting that link to video to work - it just keeps cycling with spinning wheel - anyone else having issues getting it to play?

http://www.kesq.com/news/former-palm-spr...artin/617720771

rewatching it right now there is no picture but the sound is there

It played for us with no issues.

A number of people share their thoughts and experiences on how fast things can recover/rebuild but I find this article very interesting http://www.cayman.org/ivan.html about Ivan hitting the Caymans and their struggles.

we're supposed to go down the last week of december, and we usually split our 2+ weeks between St. Maarten and St. Barths...we called AA a couple of days ago, and they told us they're not making decisions regarding flights in december yet...St. Barth will most likely rebound faster than SXM, so we may consider just spending our whole time there...but i've also already made back-up lodging reservations at our other favorite island just in case <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

damage to beaches, hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. is one thing, but dealing with machete wielding street gangs is another <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Toilet.gif" alt="" />

Do you mean AA is not saying whether or not their scheduled flights will fly into these areas? Or do you mean you tried to purchase a ticket and they are not selling them at this time?

The best I was able to get from AA supervisor was a waiver of change fees but no refund for Dec 3rd flight. We have a year to use the $1400 credit but it is "year from date of issue" which was June. I hate the airlines.

we purchased the tix to SXM several months ago...we called AA to ask about possibly changing our destination from SXM to another island...the CSR said they had not yet made an official decision about what they will do about flights in mid-late december, so would not waive any change/cancellation fees for our flights...we didn't press the issue since we're not sure what we want to do yet...hopefully as things settle down and everyone get's a clearer picture of the situation, they will come up with a better plan going forward

Wow... we must be special

I did not realize my husband has such clout....

See we did not ask to change... we asked to cancel

Then we rebooked someplace else

I am not sure I am understanding why they are jacking folks around.

Delta is doing the same thing. I dislike airlines.

If I may interject a thought here, and with regard to American Airlines but only because that's the airline I have the most experience with, over a lot of years and a lot of different situations, I've noticed they have different policies in place for different situations. That said, often the manner in which they interpret those policies may depend on the person you speak with and the mood they're in at the moment and most importantly, the manner in which you approach them.

This has been my experience over many years and I've always believed the old saying: "You catch more flies with honey......" I can't think of an instance they haven't ultimately seen things MY WAY and acted accordingly.

It can be frustrating, I know, but it really does make a difference in who you deal with and how you handle things. We have no airline status but they still always treat us well. Only hoping this time will be the same when I get to that point. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

but you used points to book, correct?...it's usually much easier to cancel/change a ticket bought with miles than with $s...getting them to waive fees or issue full refunds on purchased technically "non-refundable" tix will be a little trickier...but this is obviously a very abnormal situation, where the tix need to be changed/cancelled due to no fault of the passengers

Yes we used ff miles

And perhaps that was also a difference... I will tell you we have cancelled flights before that we did indeed have to pay a penalty for. Or flights we have changed that we had to pay a penalty for.

But I will tell you we had tickets that we paid for to Charleston last year and a hurricane was coming and we cancelled those flights no penalty.

I think pat is right.. I think it often depends on the representative you talk to at the airline.

My husband is executive platinum ... perhaps that's why he was treated so nicely... I don't know..

But I cannot imagine a refund of some kind for changing or cancelling a flight to complete devastation...

i just noticed this on AA's website:

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp

Hurricane Irma - St. Maarten
Information current as of September 12, 2017

If you’re traveling to/through/from:

St. Maarten, St. Maarten (SXM)
The change fee may be waived if you:

Are traveling on an American Airlines flight
Bought your ticket by September 10, 2017
Are scheduled to travel September 5 - December 31, 2017
Can travel September 10, 2017 - September 30, 2018
Don't change your origin or destination city
Rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference
Change your trip

If your trip is eligible, you can change it online. Here’s how:

Find your trip
If your trip is eligible, you’ll see the option to ‘change trip’ in the toolbar

Exactly. So as long as you fly to SXM before the end of next September, then they will waive the change fees. Of course, many of us own timeshare there, with fixed weeks. We will probably not be going back to the island until November, 2018. I had planned to call today to see if I could cancel, but I'm just going to wait a while and see how things pan out. If the government halts tourist travel to the island, which I understand they did after Luis, then I think the airlines might be more accommodating.

"This has been my experience over many years and I've always believed the old saying: [color:"red"]"You catch more flies with honey......"
[/color]
Or as Woody used to say on the TV Series Cheers, he[/color] [color:"red"]"always had better luck catching flies with dead squirrels"?

You are special. Best deal we could get with AA was return our miles and refund our taxes all for the low, low fee of $175 to put back our 80,000 Frequent Flyer miles. Our problem was we booked our tickets on February 17. We could only switch to another location if we completed our travel by 2/16/18. The AA representative was really surprised we were canceling our November 6 reservation. "Your trip isn't until Nov. 6. I'm sure repairs will be made by then." Never booking a flight that far in advance again. Wish I could say "never flying AA again" but we live in Charlotte where AA controls 90% of the gates.

there's your answer right there...Executive Platinum members are always excluded from having to pay these fees regarding award travel changes/cancellations....nothing to do with the hurricane or anyone being nice, it's just one of the perks of that level

from AA site: The award reinstatement fee will be waived for Executive Platinum members using miles from their account

Well I guess those million and a half miles he has flown may have been worth it after all....

My scheduled flight in today was split...flight home Sunday Delta...I'm diamond and on miles, took a minute and refunded fully. American flight down today....6 phone calls, five times on internet, four apps for refunds....arguing with them as they refused to refund seat upgrades, until I yelled at them. Success and this on a flight hubbing through closed Miami airport that they cancelled both legs...otherwise, I was getting no where, it was a cash ticket. On Delta, they just moved my Feb flight to Roatan without penalty but again, I'm Diamond, but this was not a miles ticket....status has its privs, but American is the worst....I could tell you stories of an airline abandoning people in middle of night on diversions that even didn't pull the gate checked stuff off the plane...refused to do so...the stories get worse from there, but only midweek SXM airline right now

well WAS the only midweek SXM airline for me

Aa refused to give me anything

For what date of travel . Kinda makes a difference if it was next week or 6 months from now

And tell American to go F themselves we have plenty of other chooses

AA refused to reinstate our miles. They said they will be flying to SXM September 15th.
I spoke to a very nasty supervisor!! After waiting for 4 hours yesterday and 4 today....They wanted to charge $175 per ticket.

DELTA refunded us (cash) in 5 minutes!!!

I just read that the airport is closed for commercial flights...so how can that be? perhaps they need to read the statement the airport has put out.

Cathyg, they also said to give them the names of people who have been refunded. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
I said I could not do that.
She wasn't very nice.

Actually...someone else just told me in a
PM that AA told them the same thing...

I imagine they are being swamped with requests...

I am confident at this point that our refund is because of my husbands Exec Plat status...and the fact that he is gold for life.

I am really sorry everyone that you are having issues...if it were left up to me you would all get your refunds...

but like i said earlier...there have been times that we have also been penalized.

Earlier this year we went to Nola and there was terrible flooding coming back home...so we left early...we were penalized for changing our flights...even though it was weather related...and in this case we paid for the tickets.

Lurker, pretty sure that the AA supervisor I spoke to went to the same charm school as yours.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
We all need a good laugh-- Thank-you

My plan is to wait a few days. I think they're being inundated with demands (not requests) for refunds, and they're overwhelmed. I bought non-refundable tickets, so to expect a cash refund, regardless of the circumstances, is unrealistic. I'm guessing they won't be flying by the time of my scheduled flight (November 25), in which case they'll be forced to refund. However, if I can get the funds bank with an expiration of December, 2018, then I'll be satisfied.

Lurker, can I ask the dates ( in general) for you delta flights that were refunded? My contact to delta about our options were not positive, but we are a ways out yet

Our flight was for October 14th, 2017.

My Delta flight was a return on November 20th.
He almost laughed when I told him how much I appreciated it.

Georgia, ours is miles. I will wait for them to cancel our flight and call back.

They are telling people, who know someone who was refunded, to get their locator number and then they would be refunded or miles reinstated. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Just a minor correction Terry re that last sentence. AA told me they would consider waiving the return fee. Sadly, I know now our situations are different because of their AA status as opposed to our non-status so I'm not terribly optimistic at this point. But ya' just never know...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />.

We are booked for late October. I contacted AA today and was told we could change dates (but not origin/destination) without fees, and that travel must be completed within one year from when we purchased the tickets. The second option is to cancel and pay the $175 reinstatement fee since we used miles. The third option is to wait and see if the flights are cancelled, in which case we'd get our miles back with no fee. I guess we'll wait for now and hope they cancel the flights. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Mad.gif" alt="" />

Phoned American today about our January reservations. Spoke with a supervisor. They refused to refund or allow any changes without a $200/ticket fee. They said " you will have no problem with your trip since everything will be back to normal by December 31". Hope everyone on the island gets that memo from AA.

Right...............

Pat, they did tell me the same thing. BUT why???
I'm not going to worry about it any longer--I will try when the flight gets canceled.
I am definitely going with Delta!

Just got off phone with Alaska Air, where I have my miles, although I was traveling on American in November. Reservation cancelled, miles restored, fees to be refunded on credit card. Alaska rocks!

Yes they do. Same thing for my daughter and son in laws trip to SXM on Dec 19th. Alaska is very good even without a crisis.

I had a trip planed to SXM December 27 to January 3, I purchased the ticket last March 28, I wanted to changed the flight to July 2018. The Agent said my ticket was only good for year after purchase, which I believed is true. So I had to travel before March 28. So I am traveling on St. Patrick day. The she wanted to charge me $200.00 for change of ticket fee. I reminder her of what AA web site about no charge for change of ticket fee by AA for travel before December 31. I believe I saw this link for this to AA on Travel Talk. I am supposed to stay at Le Plantation if it still there, I hope there is at least one beach bar open on Orient by then.

Thank-you AA Customer Service.
I sent a message on their website yesterday and heard back today.
It was all taken care of in less than 5 minutes!

I think that is the way to get it done. I didn't even have a long wait on the phone.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

American has posted a fee change waiver policy for travel to SXM on its Travel Alerts page
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp
Hurricane Irma - St. Maarten
Information current as of September 14, 2017

If you’re traveling to/through/from:

St. Maarten, St. Maarten (SXM)
The change fee may be waived if you:

Are traveling on an American Airlines flight
Bought your ticket by September 10, 2017
Are scheduled to travel September 5 - December 31, 2017
Can travel September 10, 2017 - September 30, 2018
Don't change your origin or destination city
Rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference

Good luck to all.

We changed our 2 November flights on AA from SXM to Aruba yesterday. Even though their web site says that it must be same origin and same destination, there were no change fees, we just paid the $20 difference per ticket, cost us a total of $40 for the two of us to make the change.

We are AAdvantage Gold, but I asked if that was the reason that the change fee was waived, and they said no - there would not be any change fees for anyone who was scheduled to fly to SXM before year end and wanted to change their AA ticket to fly somewhere else.

REIMBURSEMENT OF CHANGE FEES etc by your CC company (maybe)

I just hung up with a BENEFITS SPECIALIST re Travel Protection benefit on my Citibannk AA advantage Platinum World Master Card. She confirmed if you bought your ticket using that card, you are eligible to claim for change fees or loss of your refund.

Specifically she said if AA gives you a credit voucher that has to be used by a certain date, and that date expires, call after that to oursue a claim.

If you change your ticket and are assesed a change fee....call Citi benefits specilaist and they will work with you over the phone to file a claim and reimburse.

Below are links to online benefits page addressing that...and a general ohone number on the back of card. I have not yet tried to switch my oct 28 tickets to an alternate destination, but I wanted to be prepared before i contact AA

CARD BENEFIT

Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection:

Travel plans can go awry for many reasons. If certain unforeseen events get in the way of your trip, you may be reimbursed for non–refundable trip expenses, like change fees, provided you paid for the trip with your Citi card.


https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/credit...1HY771C1L10102W


CITI AA TEl: 8887662484

That's good news. Now to be able to get through to the resort.

I had American Air SXM reservations for Feb. using "miles". Changed destination to Jamaica with no fees.

Had non-refundable first class tickets for November and AA just let me change them to Grand Cayman, no fees.

Yesterday they said there would be a $200 change fee.

What a difference a day makes!

You know there are laws about this stuff which some of these airlines seem to be ignoring. I believe if your flight is cancelled you are entitled to a full refund; none of this lets change destinations crap.

Correct. But if they are not cancelled as yet it doesn't qualify under the law. Future flights are still pending which is the difference.

That is correct. They are not obligated to refund in full unless the flight is cancelled. It seems a lot of airlines are only cancelling through the end of October at this point. There are other options for those scheduled further out.

Delta allowed me to change my non-refundable ticket for Seattle (going on cruise out of there) next June without a change fee. And they deposited the difference in fare into my Delta account to use up to a year from now.

For those who have had problems getting AA to refund: the reservationists do not have the authority to refund. Go online, scroll down to Contact us, and then to Compliments and Complaints. Fill out the form, explaining the situation and requesting a refund (or whatever it is you want). Our flights were for November 25 thru December 9. I explained that our unit would not be available for us, and I asked for either a full refund or a credit to be used at any time in 2018, with no change fees. I received notice today that my purchase price will be refunded in full.

After several phone calls on Thursday afternoon I was able to get our March trip rebooked to another island at no charge but no dice on returning our FF miles (unless we wanted to pay a reinstatement fee of $150.00 each) so I finally gave up and thought I'd wait it out and see if the November flight was eventually cancelled, in which event we'd get the miles reinstated at no cost to us, and if not, I'd just forfeit them. After reading The_Lurkers experience, I sent emails off yesterday morning referencing the November flights, and the miles were refunded today to both FF accounts. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I called for the first time yesterday. AA allowed me to change my flight to Cabo, waived all fees and gave me a one year voucher for the $50 difference in cost. My flight was scheduled for December 9. Very professional, very helpful, no complaints

Our flights are in February and my wife called yesterday to change our destination from SXM to another island and the first person she spoke with stated there would be a $200 change fee per ticket. My wife asked to speak with a supervisor and was connected to a very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable person. The supervisor waived the $200 change fee.

Called on Saturday. We had purchased tickets ($660 pp) for Oct 28 from PHL. I wanted to change one ticket to Cancun in October (meet friends) while husband just wanted to cancel. Initially agent asked for $200 each to do either action. I mentioned this forum saying many were having this fee waived and agent said HOLD while I connect with HELP DESK (first she asked me what dates and flights I wanted for Cancun) after several minutes she returned saying I was now ticketed and was getting a $114 voucher fare difference credit to use within one year (next September). I asked "what about the cancellation for my husband" and after another HOLD while agent went to Help Desk, I was told ticket canceled and another "ticket" (?dummy) had been issued for use by May 10 which was a year from date of issue for original ticket. She said when making a new booking, make it online with 24 hour hold then CALL them with the "new ticket" number to apply the fare credit. I asked how could I extend that date beyond May and she said I could make a request online via their customer service email.

Thanks for the advice GaKaye. We booked in July, one way with points and one way we purchased tickets. Called last night to cancel and requested full refund and points to be returned. Was advised that per company policy they could not provide a refund, only a voucher for travel by July of next year, and that to return points there would be a $150 fee on first ticket and $25 on second. After requesting a supervisor they informed be that I could contact customer service. I submitted a complaint last night. Wish I had read your post before I made the call, would have saved some aggravation....

I have posted this previously, both here and on other sites, but I want to bring it to the top so people might read it again.
It should help......
Go to AA's website and Customer Service/Customer relations and under complaint write a message to them. It seems to be working!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

? Re AA vouchers.......
As per my post just a bit above this....I called on Saturday morning to make my changes. I am expecting two vouchers.....one for my changed flight fare difference, and one for full amount of husbands cancelled ticket (although I am confused about his because they said to use the ticket number which is same as the old one, and call in when you have another reservation on hold)
I was expecting an EMAIL from them with at least MY voucher credit on it but 48 hours later I have received no such email. I logged inti each account and can see nothing there. Evidently you need a voucher and piin number which they say are provided via email.
Has anyone else gotten their voucher emails......what is usual lag time? I sure dont want that ball dropped because we have almot $800 riding on them.

They told me to just call with the ticket numbers when I want to rebook. They never said they would send a voucher.

I think JimandBeth are right re calling AA with a TICKET number to apply credit...at least for a CANCELLED flight/refund credit. My notes re MY CHANGED destination (same record locator as for SXM) flight fare difference credit definitely said I would get a VOUCHER for 114.28 fare difference good for one full year. In their FAQs etc AA says vouchers sent by email, and you have to enter the voucher number and the piin number, provided in the email, to check a blance etc,
Would really like to know if anyone else expected a Voucher....and how quickly that was sent out (via email?) thank you

It is not working for us. We booked our 11/24 tickets on 1/21/17. If we change our flights and leave by 1/21/18 we avoid any transfer fee but there are personal complications that get involved so we can't go until later in the year. We have to pay a fee to bank the miles. Punished for booking early.
Need to edit this since I just got a call from AA that suggests I not cancel until I know when I want to go and rebook with no penalty but do this before we are scheduled to leave. Happy with that

Great advice, this worked for us as well! Our miles were returned, no redeposit fees, and taxes were refunded. Thanks, GaKaye!

Hasn't worked for us. I really have to believe these flights are not going to go in mid-November. I guess we just have to wait until they cancel them. I am wondering why different people are getting different results.

Persistence and luck of the draw.

I didn't do very well with the phone calls as half the reservation people are clueless as to what's happened in St. Maarten and everyone seems to be working under a different and limited set of rules. They're doing their best but the situation is crazy. At this point I think they should abandon all the existing rules and just give people straight refunds. That's what Jet Blue did when I spoke with them and they're the ones I feared might be more difficult. We did finally reach a suitable arrangement with AA to exchange our March tickets to another destination without any fees or penalties. The email worked very well with regard to the air mile reinstatements without any fees.

I know how frustrating it is. Good luck! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

After several unsatisfactory results we finally had better results by calling 1-800-882-8880.

Did you try writing a message on their website through customer service?
You pick American Advantage Customer Service's complaint and write a short message. (A few steps)
It seems to work.

I know of someone who wrote an email to Doug Parker, CEO of American. Got her refund later that day.

I followed your advice and went onto AA website and requested a return of my points for an April 2018 trip. I just received notification that they would be waiving the fee and miles (from AMEX) were being put back into my account to be used within a year. Very happy with this result. Thank you everyone for posting all the ins/outs. Hopefully, soon we'll all be back to our favorite place.

What email did you use to write to Doug Parker CEO of American Airlines?

I didn't have any trouble changing my November booking. No fees if the destination is the same so I just pushed it out to March. They said I would have to pay the $200/tkt if I chose another destination.

We did that and they told us to call the Aadvantage line. Our situation is a little unique as we used flier miles down and bought the tickets back. The Aadvantage folks offered to put the miles back without fees, but we had to use the purchased tickets within one year of purchase to any destination. Problem for us is we don't have a need for the tickets and won't use them. Our other vacations are planned and paid for.

I like the idea of the CEO, I think I'll go that route. Otherwise I'll just wait for them to cancel the flights.

Thanks everyone for the ideas. That's the great thing about this forum.