When I Call American Airlines and I Get the Pakistani Lady I Hang Up and I Call Again

Last February, Susan Dunlap was excitedly planning an adventure to Hawaii. Unfortunately, presently afterward she made the reservation, the coronavirus fabricated information technology clear the trip was ill-advised. Despite her hopes for a full refund, American Airlines quickly issued a hefty $2,635 future flight credit.

At present, Dunlap is agape that the pandemic will make it impossible to ever utilise that flight credit from American Airlines. So she's asking the Elliott Advancement squad to mediate a cash refund instead.

Only can we?

Unfortunately, Dunlap is just one of the thousands of disappointed travelers who've had their plans disrupted by the coronavirus this year. For those passengers who preemptively canceled their flights, a time to come credit is likely all that'south in the cards. But the good news is that the airlines are offering more cancellation and rebooking flexibility than ever. And if Dunlap plays her cards right, she won't come up out the loser.

Jump straight to: What you need to know at present about your American Airlines flight credit.(March 2022 updated policy)

Planning to visit Hawaii until the coronavirus mandatory quarantine made information technology impossible

Earlier this year, The Navy hired Dunlap's son, a contractor, for a temporary projection at the base in Honolulu. He would travel from their dwelling house land of Illinois and spend several months on the island of Oahu.

"I thought it would exist a great idea to programme a visit to Hawaii while he was there," Dunlap recalled. "In Feb, I bought a first-form ticket to Honolulu on American Airlines for April."

Then Dunlap spent precisely one month happily planning for the journey before she started to hear warnings well-nigh the coronavirus. She began to suspect that the long flying to Hawaii might be a bad idea. But she still held out some promise.

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And then came March 21.

That 24-hour interval, the governor of Hawaii issued a fourteen-twenty-four hours mandatory quarantine club for any incoming travelers to the state.

"With the majority of Hawai'i's COVID-19 cases linked to travel, it is critical that we further mitigate the spread of the virus by both residents and visitors who are coming from out-of-land," the governor wrote in his order.

The mandatory 14-twenty-four hour period self-quarantine order issued by the governor of Hawaii on March 21 made this flight to the islands incommunicable.

Dunlap knew that the quarantine order fabricated her trip impossible. She was simply flying to Oahu for 10 days. She had no involvement in spending her unabridged trip inside her son's temporary housing on the beautiful island.

Her side by side telephone call was to American Airlines to cancel her flight.

Fact: American Airlines merely owes a refund if it cancels the flight

It'southward important for travelers to go along in listen that American simply owes a refund to the passenger if the airline cancels the flight first. (See: What does American Airlines really owe y'all if it cancels your flight?)

Dunlap says that she spoke to someone at American Airlines about her flight cancellation who approved a refund.

"They [American Airlines] said 'yep, the ticket would be refunded' within the week," Dunlap recalled. "But in June, I received detect that my ticket was now nonrefundable. I don't know why."

Equally I read through the paper trail Dunlap provided, I noted that the refund hope wasn't in writing. I suspected that the genesis of this misunderstanding was in the original cancellation call.

The U.Due south. Department of Transportation requires airlines to refund passengers if the carrier cancels the flying first. This regulation does non apply if the rider panics and cancels first.

• Do not let coronavirus panic make you cancel your flying also soon

This is something nosotros've been warning travelers about since early March when the pandemic began. Many travelers erroneously believed that their airline owed them a refund if there were quarantine orders in place at the destination. This is not the case. If your flying operates and you're non on it, the airline will not owe you a refund.

Additionally, if you don't cancel your flying before it takes off, some carriers may phone call you a no-testify and you lot'll receive nothing — non even a credit.

If you lot cancel your flying before American Airlines, you're getting a voucher

In Dunlap's case, she had canceled the flight before the airline.

Michelle,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I believe I did cancel earlier they did only considering of the danger to my health.

Is there annihilation I can do to endeavour and go the coin back? I am very afraid that this virus will not be gone before the ticket expires in February.

Unfortunately, I knew then that American Airlines only owed Dunlap a hereafter flight credit. But I besides knew that it should non exist expiring in February 2021.

It was fourth dimension to contact our executive contact at American Airlines about this flight credit defoliation.

Asking American Airlines most the expiration appointment

Since the pandemic began earlier this year, the airlines accept been continually changing their policies most coronavirus cancellations. Earlier in the crisis, many airlines, including American Airlines, were still quite strict most the issued flight credits expiration dates.

Pre-COVID-xix, American Airlines' flying credit policy required a passenger to pay a alter fee and utilise the credit entirely inside ane twelvemonth from the original ticket purchase.

I believed that American Airlines had initially given Dunlap her flight credit expiration date based on the pre-COVID-19 policy. So I reached out to our executive contact at the airline.

Hi ****!

How are you lot?

I wondered if y'all could just have a quick look at this instance and let me know when this elderly lady's flight credit expires (Susan Dunlap, Locator: ******)? She says that someone at American told her Feb 2021. She'due south worried now that she won't be able to travel past and so. I thought the vouchers are expert through December 31, 2021. I'm just trying to alleviate her business organization about not being able to spend her voucher. Could your squad confirm how long this credit is valid? Thanks!!😊 (Michelle to American Airlines)

American Airlines: "Flight credit is good through March 31, 2022."

And the good news for Dunlap came correct away. Her American Airlines flying credit is proficient through [March 31, 2022]**

* *March 2022 update: American Airlines has extended the expiration engagement of flight credit issued during the pandemic: Book past Sept. 30, 2022 and travel past Dec. 31, 2022

Hi, Michelle! I hope all is well.

She is fine – here is our policy for rebooking – and she just uses the existing ticket:

American Airlines waives the change fee if you:

Bought your ticket on or before July 31, 2020
Are scheduled to travel March 1 – September thirty, 2020
Can travel on or before [March 31, 2022]

Go on in heed, you may owe any departure in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
Details @ aa.com/travelalerts

She bought her ticket on Feb 12 and her travel was April 9-20. And then she is covered.

She can utilize the total amount – $2,634.67 – and just uses the existing ticket to rebook/complete travel by [Update: Book past Sept. 30, 2022 and travel past Dec. 31, 2022] (American Airlines to Michelle)

But then Dunlap had one more than question about her giant flying credit.

Michelle, That is great news!!! Thank you and then much for all of your piece of work.

I exercise accept a question. Due to the corporeality of money involved in the "refund," I would like to have reassurance from American Airlines that I can use this for at least two flights. How do you propose I get that reassurance? (Dunlap to Michelle)

So one more trip back to our American Airlines executive contact and all Dunlap's concerns were eliminated. He quickly confirmed that she could utilise her flight credit over multiple trips — she only needs to spend information technology all by [March 31, 2022]. (Note: American Airlines flight credit expiration policy is a "use by" date — meaning that all rebooked itineraries must begin by the expiration date).

And with that, Dunlap is pleased and waiting patiently for a time that it will be rubber for u.s. all to travel once more.

What you need to know virtually using your flying credits — on American Airlines or any other airline

The airlines are making it easier than ever for you to apply your flying credit during the coronavirus crisis. Just y'all're going to want to make certain you sympathize all the terms and conditions that come with yours. Hither are the things y'all demand to know most spending your futurity flight credit.

• Mind the expiration engagement
  Call up, all flying credit comes with an expiration engagement. Brand sure you're familiar with the i attached to yours or yous could end upwards with nothing (What happened to my Hawaiian Dream?). **Since this article was first published, American Airlines has extended the expiration dates of its flight credits several times. March 2022 update: Nearly flight credits issued during the pandemic take been extended. Travelers must book by Sept. 30, 2022, and travel by December. 31, 2022.
• Read the terms of your flight credit
  Visit American Airlines' website to cheque on the electric current policies that apply to your flight credit. Yous can also find links to the electric current coronavirus counterfoil and voucher policies on all the major airlines here— we keep that article updated for your convenience.
• U.S. airlines eliminated change fees in 2020
  At the end of August 2020, near major airlines in the U.Southward. made the shocking move to permanently eliminate change fees for domestic flights and on limited international flights. (*It's of import to annotation that as of April 1, 2021, this policy does non cover Basic Economy fares. Passengers will lose the entire value of their ticket if they do not apply the ticket as booked. ) This is good news for travelers with flight credit on American Airlines or any other carrier. Y'all'll be able to employ your entire voucher to your future trip — no change fees involved. But…
• Flying differential costs will apply
  Remember, change fees and flight differentials are two divide things. A modify fee is what the airline charges you for the privilege of existence able to apply a nonrefundable ticket to a new ticket. A fare differential is the difference betwixt what you paid for the original ticket and the new ticket's current price. The airlines are not waiving fare differentials.
• Y'all can only use the credit for the cost of a new ticket
  In most cases, the value of your flying credit can only be applied to the cost of a new ticket. Y'all'll need to pay for incidentals like seat assignments and baggage fees.
• 3rd-party booking sites' rules apply
  Go on in heed that if you purchased your ticket through a tertiary-party booking agent, the rules of that site use. Even if the airline canceled your flying, you may need to pay an authoritative fee. You should make sure you understand the terms and conditions of your ticket buy before you make the purchase. (Come across: If the coronavirus ruined your travel plans, this is what you demand to know).
• Flight credit policies are constantly updating because of the pandemic
  It's critical to check your airline'southward flying credit policies ofttimes. As in Dunlap'due south case, American Airlines cited one policy in March, but a new, more consumer-friendly policy applied to her American Airlines flying credit afterwards. As the pandemic lingers, you tin can expect more changes from the airlines to address the ongoing crisis (encounter the below update).

And P.S.: If you've got United Airlines flight credits, you'll want to check out our guide to spending those.

Update: Good news — passengers can convert flight credit to trip credit for more than flexibility

American Airlines is making it easier for travelers to spend their flight credits. Like to what has been an selection for United Airlines customers for some time, American Airlines passengers tin now convert flight credit into the more flexible trip credit. Once converted, trip credit is expert for an additional year and tin can exist used by the holder to book flights for themselves and for others. That's cracking news for passengers who don't intend to go traveling by the expiration of their current flight credits.

Converting American Airlines flying credit to trip credit allows passengers to use the funds for themselves and others.

American Airlines passengers holding flight credit should be on the scout for an email from the carrier with Trip Credit converting instructions. AAdvantage members may find that the conversion has been done automatically. Check your account for those changes.*Travelers wishing to take advantage of this offer should act quickly as there is no guarantee as to how long it will go on. We know equally of Dec. 2021, passengers were still reporting success asking for the conversion.

Jan fourteen, 2022 update: Yesterday, Delta Air Lines announced a broad extension on all flight credits issued during the pandemic. As nosotros know that carriers often follow each other's lead on policies, we'll exist keeping our eyes on American to extend its vouchers and flying credit as well. Stay tuned…

March xv, 2022 update: American has extended flying credit issued during the pandemic (Credit issued between January ane, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2021). Travelers must now book past Sept. 30, 2022 and complete travel by December. 31, 2022.

*Finally, as travel slowly begins to resume, don't forget, all passengers are currently required to wearable a mask throughout their air travel in the U.S. (See: This is what happens if you refuse to vesture a mask on your side by side flight.) So don't forget to pack your most comfortable and favorite mask should y'all find yourself flying again during the pandemic. If you don't, y'all won't likely exist going anywhere but back to your car.

Stay safe, everyone!   (Last updated March 15, 2022)

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Source: https://www.elliott.org/airline-problems/american-airlines-flight-credit-everything-need-know/

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