Airline changed one of my flight times-can I cancel w/o a penalty

[Carolyn Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carolyn]

My husband and I were planning to go to Cancun at the end of April using AA ff miles. I've had our flights booked 330 days from dates of travel. I just looked online and saw they moved up our departure time from Cancun to over 2 hours earlier. Because of work commitments it is looking like we may not be able to go after all. I think AA normally charges $100 per ticket if you cancel but the miles go back into your account. Would this fee be waived if I said their change did not work with our plans since they changed this departure flight fron Cancun to over 2 hours earlier? Thanks.

Carolyn

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

When ever I book a flight that far out it always has worked out for me for the better. It is almost a shoe in that there will be a change of some kind when booking that far out. If you want to cancel it they should give you back all your miles plus refund you the small booking fee. They will also open up other flights that may work out better for you. If you have to fight with them just stick to your story that you can not make the new times, You will not be liable.
Let us know what they do for you.

[Carolyn Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carolyn]

Actually I checked their schedule and there aren't any later flights unless I want to spend the night where we make our connection. I just didn't know if there was a specific amount of time that made their change "inconvenient" for us to get the penalty waived. Now...why can't I leave Cancun at 2:26 pm instead of 4:37pm (original time)-2hrs 11min diff. I'm open for suggestions (or should I say excuses)

Carolyn

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Actually I checked their schedule and there aren't any later flights unless I want to spend the night where we make our connection. I just didn't know if there was a specific amount of time that made their change "inconvenient" for us to get the penalty waived. Now...why can't I leave Cancun at 2:26 pm instead of 4:37pm (original time)-2hrs 11min diff. I'm open for suggestions (or should I say excuses) Carolyn

It doesn't work for me is all you need to say. I had a ticket at Xmas a year ago on AA for four friends to go to SXM with us. The couple went but the kids backed out, luckily for the friendship, the schedule had changed and all I said was that it didn't work for the two people involved.

[suskey Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close suskey]

Are you trying to get the $100 waived because you cannot go due to work commitments? I highly doubt they will give it to you for a 2 hour schedule change. When you book that far out , there are always schedule changes.

Susan

[Carolyn Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carolyn]

Are you trying to get the $100 waived because you cannot go due to work commitments? I highly doubt they will give it to you for a 2 hour schedule change. When you book that far out , there are always schedule changes.

Susan

We are still hoping to go but there's a possibility we may not be able to. Yes, I thought since AA changed our original flight by over 2 hours (is that the magic number?) that we could cancel w/o penalty and get our miles back. I just happened to see this change when I went online to look at our seat assignments. They don't even call or e-mail you to inform you of the new flight time.

Carolyn

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I think that they will give it to you, just ignore the schedule change until you can make a final decision.

[vacationeer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vacationeer]

When an airline makes a schedule change by rule they have to protect you. However They will give you back your money if the change is grater than 3 hours. Anything under that they will try to get you as close to the original departure time you had. If they don't have any other flights leaving they can and should return your money.

[Carolyn Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carolyn]

When an airline makes a schedule change by rule they have to protect you. However They will give you back your money if the change is grater than 3 hours. Anything under that they will try to get you as close to the original departure time you had. If they don't have any other flights leaving they can and should return your money.

So it sounds like 3 hours is the magic number. Is this true of all the airlines or just AA? I looked at their schedule and there aren't any later flights unless I want to spend the night in Dallas or Miami... I will just wait and see, hoping we can still go.

Carolyn