MVC Late Cancellation Question

[csodjd]

So... just about 3 minutes on hold. Nothing at all really. A bit of a cumbersome process, however.

The customer service rep will cancel (first she checks to see if a refund is available and if not she has a "sorry, only a voucher" speech prepared). Then when the call is complete you go to the AA website REFUND page and request a refund ONE TICKET (not one record locator) at a time. I had three people traveling, using two one-way tickets (to HNL, back from OGG), so that meant going through the process six times. Fortunately an email comes -- one email per person, per flight -- so I could cut and paste the ticket numbers in. That helped a little. But, for my MAUI-LAX flight on 5/30, because it was just gone from the system (she said that meant it was canceled and they could not rebook me automatically to any other flight), she could not send me the cancellation email. She had to read me the ticket numbers and those had to be entered manually in the refund web page.

 

[csodjd]

Just got done with a "chat" with Hawaiian Air. They are playing cat and mouse. I've got two tickets San Francisco to Maui on 5/22, HA 41. I looked and there is no longer an HA 41, just two 1-stop flights through HNL. I used HA miles/points. I asked the rep to refund the points. The rep said the flight isn't canceled, they just aren't taking any more bookings for the flight due to low demand but that it is still scheduled, so there is a $150 fee to redeposit the miles. (Wow, that makes no sense! They are trying to keep the plane empty?) Anyway, I expect all the May flights to cancel. So I'll wait them out, because I also have return flights from OGG to the mainland.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Maybe they are social distancing?

 

[csodjd]

Maybe they are social distancing?

Better bet that they are holding we'll cancel before they do and they can avoid having to give a refund.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Yeah, that's the trick, trying to figure what is actually going on. You don't want to make it such that they don't need to refund for sure. I did the "refund" game early on with AA before they had changed much due to the dates I was going, and mine is only good until year end. Likely, can't use it.

 

[csodjd]

Yeah, that's the trick, trying to figure what is actually going on. You don't want to make it such that they don't need to refund for sure. I did the "refund" game early on with AA before they had changed much due to the dates I was going, and mine is only good until year end. Likely, can't use it.

I've always been one to plan, and plan ahead. Most often I purchase my air 9 months beforehand so it's just one more thing I don't have to worry about, I have the seats I want, etc. Wow, does that come back to bite you. It is totally unfair of the airlines to base their voucher use based on when you bought your ticket as opposed to, say, when you cancel or when you were scheduled to fly. I purchased my Hawaii tickets back in October. So, I'd only have until October to use them. That forces me to take a refund over a voucher.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I've always been one to plan, and plan ahead. Most often I purchase my air 9 months beforehand so it's just one more thing I don't have to worry about, I have the seats I want, etc. Wow, does that come back to bite you. It is totally unfair of the airlines to base their voucher use based on when you bought your ticket as opposed to, say, when you cancel or when you were scheduled to fly. I purchased my Hawaii tickets back in October. So, I'd only have until October to use them. That forces me to take a refund over a voucher.

I agree actually, even though I wait until closer to the trip as I often find it cheaper. Actually, I follow the app "Hopper" for the most part which tells you when to buy. I'm really not a planner. Planner of the actual trip as far as what is there, etc., but not as far as reserving far in advance. But I am retired, so, really not a big deal for me.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Same here. My flights are gone. But no email from AA. Question -- how long did it take you to get through to them on the phone?

No need to call.
Log onto American airline, scroll to the bottom, click on refunds and it guides you though.
You’ll need your ticket numbers from your confirmation email- note that this is not your confirmation number.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Is there any reason one can't just cancel online and then do the refund request?

I also have a couple of flights that they changed the schedule by more than an hour. Their "Conditions of Carriage" says that they will provide a refund for any flight change of 61 minutes or more. I tried doing the online refund and it didn't allow it. I'm wondering if I cancel first, then try the refund request, all online, would work.

No reason not to do it online- quick and easy.