What You Should Know When Cancelling an American Airlines Vacations Flight 

When you cancel an American Airlines vacations flight, there are a few key things you should know to ensure you’ve been properly refunded. Right now, travel plans all across the world are being canceled so it’s important to make sure you are compensated for all of the money that you’re owed.

In March, the U.S. State Department increased the global travel advisory to Level 4, its most severe warning level, meaning Do Not Travel.

“If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe,” the State Department warned in the advisory.

What is An American Airlines Flexible Fare?

An American Airlines Flexible fare is a type of ticket that allows customers some flexibility with their flight plans. With a flexible fare, the American Airlines website says that customers earn miles, have access to same-day flight change and standby, and won’t be subject to change fees (other than the difference in fare).

How to Cancel an American Airlines Flight

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of flights have been canceled in the U.S., and hundreds of planes grounded. Though airline travel hasn’t been outright banned, shelter-in-place orders across the country and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s urging Americans to avoid nonessential travel have seen a dramatic drop in air travel. By mid-April, scheduled flights had dropped by about 58 percent. Many of these plans are carrying a small portion of their usual passenger loads.

Canceling a flight with American Airlines can be done via phone or online. (Notably, their phones are very busy right now due to the ongoing coronavirus issue, so online cancellation may be easier.)

Whether or not you are able to cancel an American Airlines flight for a refund, and how much that refund will cover, depends on what type of ticket was originally purchased.

American Airlines tickets can be canceled for a full refund within 24 hours of booking, regardless of whether the tickets purchased were refundable or non-refundable, as long as the purchase was made at least two days before the scheduled departure.

For instance, an American Airlines vacations (AAV) package without Pre-Departure Protection (a plan that allows some flexibility to your vacation plans), if made at least 15 days prior to departure, incurs a $200 per person fee, plus any third-party fees, plus basic economy fare (if purchased). The remaining balance will be given as credit toward future travel. If the cancellation is attempted 14 days or less prior to departure, the package is non-refundable.

With AAV Pre-Departure Protection (PDP), there is more flexibility. Prior to scheduled departure, this plan allows customers to cancel for the cost of waivers, though a few select resorts become non-refundable 30 days prior to travel. Moreover, Basic Economy Fares are not covered by PDP.

Due to how the coronavirus pandemic has affected travel, policies have been adapted for canceling American Airlines flights. Customers are allowed to make a change to their trip one time without incurring a change fee.

According to the airline’s website, if you purchased a ticket prior to May 31, 2020, for travel through the end of May, you can rebook your flight without incurring change fees, regardless of whether or not it was originally purchased as a flexible ticket. If you booked your trip sometime from March 1–May 31, 2020, for all future travel, American Airlines is allowing customers to change reservations at a later date without incurring change fees.

If your ticket is expiring between March 1 and September 30, 2020, but looks like it will remain unused for this period, the value of that unused ticket can instead be used for travel through December 31, 2021 (though you may owe some difference in ticket price.)

What Costs Should You Be Refunded?

On its “Receipts and Refunds” page, American Airlines assures customers that “the value of your ticket is safe.”

Customers eligible for a complete refund upon cancellation of their flight should receive back the cost of their airfare, taxes, and other fees. Customers can request refunds for baggage fees, pet fees, preferred seats, tickets of a deceased passenger, and more.

American Airlines charges ticketing fees for customers who purchase tickets from an employee of the company, either via the phone or in person. These ticketing fees reportedly range from $25 to $50, which is charged on top of airfare, taxes, and other fees. However, customers claim that when they’ve canceled their American Airlines vacations flights, they were not refunded the ticketing fee — even when they were eligible for a complete refund.

Customers have also reported that they have been improperly charged change fees under circumstances where they should not have been.

Why You Should Keep Your American Airlines Ticket Receipt

Keeping receipts—physical or digital—is always a good idea, as it gives you extra insurance against issues that may come up with that payment later.

In the case of an American Airlines ticket receipt, the receipt may show charges or fees that you should be compensated for in the event of a full refund. Having evidence of those charges on your American Airline ticket receipt will help you dispute these kinds of issues.

If you were not refunded for your American Airlines ticketing fee or if you were charged a change fee when you shouldn’t have been charged, you may be able to join this class action lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation.

Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free American Airlines Fees Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If American Airlines charged you improper fees or failed to issue a full refund that you were entitled to receive, you may have a legal claim.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.