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.

Just tried it, thanks for the advice.

Today's AA Travel Alert https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp now extends the period for which you can make changes to the flights scheduled through August 31, 2018. Last week the period covered was through the end of 2017. Personally, I want a refund not a change fee waiver and am waiting to see if my December flight is cancelled before taking action.

So we are scheduled for a March 28th flight. It seems we fall into the new update requirements. The only part i don't like is we would have to rebook the same destination. I'm thinking i would try appealing to the compliment/complaint section as suggested by Lurker. I would prefer a refund, but would settle for a waived change fee. What is the feelings on the success rate for this route, especially with the new date extension? Am i interpreting the rules correctly? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thanks.gif" alt="" />

I was successful early and able to get my March flights changed to another date and another destination with no fee and no penalty via a PHONE CALL.

What I couldn't get done that way was having FF miles for a different trip returned to my account w/o the reinstatement charge. Ultimately I used the AA Advantage customer service email form and it was done in less than 24 hours and the miles were back in my account. <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 did not use air miles, and actually booked through Expedia, so i don't know if that changes anything.

Hope you are able to get your situation resolved to your satisfaction, but I do wonder if part of your problem is Expedia also being involved. Whenever there is someone else between you and the airline, it adds another layer of confusion. If nothing goes wrong, it's great, but if something goes wrong, it can be a major FUBAR situation.

Thanks Carol. I did email the Expedia trip help department, due to long,long call wait times. I got a response that due to high email volumes due to Irma, that it may take up to 14 days for a response....... Wow!.......I sent it on the 12th and am still waiting. I'm going to reconsider how i book my vacations going forward.

Let us know how it comes out.

We booked thru Expedia as well for our trip March 2018. I spoke with someone thru Expedia yesterday. She called American and Delta for me. We are able to change flights if booked to the same destination up until August 2018 with no charges. Told her that was not acceptable. She understood and agreed but that was airline policy. She told to keep calling back to the airlines directly to try and get refunds.

Emailed CEO as suggested in earlier post. Responded in less than 24 hours miles redeposited and fees waived. Flight was scheduled for 10/21.
Thanks for info

Walt

So pleased to learn that worked for you!

Glad that worked for you. I sent my email to the CEO on the 21st and have still not received a reply or any contact at all. I guess I'll give it a few more days and try again.

We had two set of tickets to SXM for Christmas and Spring Break. AA changed both sets last week for new origins and destinations - no hassle at all, no change fees, just "what do you want to do sir, I told them dates and flights I wanted, click, click, done, is there anything else I can do for you?" One call each set, no waits, process done quickly both times. Agents were amazingly polite. I'm not sure if I've ever had a better Customer Service experience! Thank you, AA!

We'll be back to SXM in 2019 and stay twice as long to make up for missing 2018!

I called AA yesterday and requested a refund for my $1560 November 3 - Nov 18 flight. Donna gave me a full refund on the spot, confirmed 12 hours later by email, deposited to my American Express account. Confirmed.

what type of fare did you have?

Economy The cheapest I could get last May. LA to SXM round trip for two.

Last week I emailed AA (Complaint) to request full reinstatement of FF miles, in addition to a credit card refund of one return economy flight for my Dec/Jan trip. Within 3 days I received a call to let me know that all would be taken care of without any penalty charges. The agent I spoke with could not have been nicer. Kudos to American Airlines. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

after several calls over several days to try to get a clear understanding of our options, we finally bit the bullet last week and had our AA flights changed to Barbados...no change fees, but we took it in the shorts regarding the difference in fares...we're also due a refund because our tix to SXM were purchased as 2 one-ways, and after an hour + on the phone, they claimed they were only able to apply the credit for one of the itineraries to the new round-trip itinerary, so will need to issue a refund for the other itinerary <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Doh.gif" alt="" />

So, i am still waiting for a reply from Expedia, from my email on Sept. 12th. They sent me a case number also. What a joke. I used the AA complaint/comment route and the long and short of it is, i am getting a change waiver fee for my March 28th flight. Expedia didn't seem to be any factor in their decision. Now the question is where to go, or will the island be really ready, or a place we want to be by then?

Had a trip scheduled for November using FF miles. Initially told I could cancel and reschedule to same destination at no cost or reinstate my FF miles with a penalty. I questioned this and the representative upon viewing my actual reservations had noticed that a significant rescheduling of flight times and rerouting had occurred (causing changes of greater than 3 hours duration) and waived the penalty. The taxes paid with the FF transaction would also be credited back to card. Note check you current reservations for flight schedule our rerouting changes - a different set of rules comes into effect. Kudos to AA <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I just received a full refund, from American Airlines no change fee, for our February 2018, tickets. I emailed customer relations as someone on this site suggested. AA was very sympathetic and professional.

I had ordered tickets through Cheapo Air on American Airlines for Nov 6th and it has been a total hassle. I just got an email this morning, that the origination flight will leave 3 minutes later. I send back to them, that the island is closed. They say that American has not cancelled flights and this goes on and on. I always end with, I want a refund.

Hope you are able to get it resolved to your satisfaction. Again, a hard lesson to learn--don't book air through a second party. It works until something goes wrong.

I booked through Expedia and that was never mentioned in my interactions with AA. But i am not happy with them over the lack of response to my request!

I just got off the phone with American. I booked directly through American in April for a trip from Thanksgiving Day through December 3rd. Their original response was to give us credit for flights anywhere up to one year from our original booking date. She did not mention the option of travel to St Maarten with no fees through September 30th, 2018 that is stated on their website. About 2 weeks ago we received notification that our flights had changed, leaving almost 5 hours earlier. It looks like they probably have moved everybody to the 12:05 flight out of Miami since that is the only flight for awhile.
I told her the credit was unacceptable, but that was going nowhere until I asked for a refund based on the time change. She checked with a supervisor on that and about 10 more minutes on the phone and I had a full refund back to the credit card I booked with.

Yes, regardless, if they significantly change the time of your flight, or go to a connecting flight, something like that, you are ENTITLED to your money back, period. That's federal law.

To show you how screwed up American is (I already received a full credit of ticket departing 10/9) I received an email this morning to check in for my flight. Guess what American the ticket has been canceled and the airport isn't even open!

I'm debating whether to trust AA for a flight to Grand Cayman (from BOS) in May...I just can't get the confidence up that it will be the same flight that I book today. I don't mind a minor change but it has more ugly potential than I am willing to accept
Prices are WAAAY below the other airlines but I just can't do it

If an airline changes the time by just one minute, you have the right to a refund.

Yes, but then I have to scramble to find another flight....plenty of time to decide

Again, why not?? If they substantially change the flight, you are entitled to a REFUND, no questions.

NO, that is not true at all. It's only if it is a SUBSTANTIAL change. One minute is not substantial.

I stand corrected though sometimes an agent will do it for you.

..and one minute would not be an issue....two hours would not be an issue...a change to a huge layover, overnight flight, or more connections would be an issue

A refund just gets me back to square one but at a later date and higher prices

Our next door neighbor 84 years old broke her leg last year and we tried to cancel her flight and they said no. A week later American changed the flight by 1 minute and I called again and said she wants to cancel as she won't accept the schedule change. The AA agent said you have to be kidding and I said no she is "old fashioned" and the trip is not meant to be. They gave her & hubby a full refund.

Our flight was from November 26th through December 9th and they cancelled it no questions asked.

Someone felt sorry for the person, which I am surprised at. The person was lucky to get the refund.

Going to close this one here, since it is over 150 replies. Someone is free to start a new thread.