Unfortunately my husband and I had to cancel our recently planned (April) trip to France because of my unplanned ER surgery two days before we were scheduled to leave. Luckily we had travel insurance. I submitted a request to AA for a refund of the tickets and attached my doctor's note supporting what happened and my inability to travel. All docs have also been submitted to the travel insurance company. However, I understand that the travel insurance won't do anything till we hear back from AA.

Has anybody had any experience such as this and how long it took to hear from the airline?

Refunds are "provided" within 7 business days of receipt of your documentation.If they are satisfied with your docs, then the refund will be issued.It may take up to 2 billing cycles to reach your credit card.

BeachBoi - What's been your experience on how they notify you of the decision?

Thanks, Pat

Pat...No news is good news.....If they dont like what they sent you, they will contact you.Where were you scheduled to fly from? Most of the AA international fares to Europe allow full refund if you/travelling companion/family member becomes ill and cannot travel.It is my understanding thats why the insurance company has the traveller go to the airline first.Hope this helps....Stephen

Duh....meant to say if they dont like what YOU sent...pool time...

Thanks for the info. Guess we'll see how it goes. Guess I'm just anxious to get the refund so I can rebook for next year!

Be prepared for AA to reject your claim, based on your option to change the date of departure to sometime in the future (with payment of a fee).

Don't let them know you have travel insurance, either.

Keep after AA to check on the status of your request -- they're notorious for delaying responses before they turn you down.

HKP - thanks for the input. As for changing the date and using the tickets, I had checked with the airline when we notified them we had to cancel and it's my understanding that while yes you're right if we had wanted to use the tickets we could for a fee (the one year expiration is 6/19/07), we weren't required to if they couldn't give us the same fare - which they couldn't. We had purchased business class tickets to Paris. The difference in the airfare between what we paid at the time of purchase (6/19/06) and what the current rate is thousands. We couldn't believe it. If we could have gotten the same fare, we would have used them by the expiration date.

I think you're right though on not mentioning the travel insurance and follow-up.

I'll let everybody know what happens. This is my first experience (thankfully) of having to do this process.

Cancelled an internationl trip with AA last year due to my husband's illness. Submitted letter from the doctor stating he could not travel, and AA refunded our (nonrefundable) tkts without any problems.

My experience: Got sick the morning of our flight to SFO and was in considerable abdomenal pain, throwing up and feeling extremely lightheaded in the airport bathroom. Went home and called the doc who said he could see me the next morning but to go to ER if the vomiting didn't stop. It did and I saw him the next day, got a note. But that delay was enough for AA to deny our request re: refund or forgiveness of a change fee.

HKP.....If your ticket was a domestic ticket, which sounds as if that is indeed the case, then there is no provision in AA's fare rules to allow a refund in the event of illness of the traveller, companion, or family member.The OP had international tickets, a totally and completely opposite scenario.Therefore, your experience, though regrettable and tragic, does not apply to the OP's situation.

Just had to tell you that today AA refunded our tickets in full!!!! What a relief! After being calmed down by BeachBoi and Orangetravelcat I was prepared to be somewhat patient before I followed up with AA, so this was a nice surprise.

Thanks for the input!

Excellent.......wow, me having a calming effect!! Dont tell anybody else!! Glad it worked out.

"Unfortunately my husband and I had to cancel our recently planned (April) trip to France because of my unplanned ER surgery two days before we were scheduled to leave."

BeachBoi - I wish trips to France WERE somehow domestic, haha!

MarcsRed.....Right on! Sometimes I hear about people paying $900 just to go somewhere here in the US....Two people could get to Europe for that fare!Another thing I always get a good laugh about is people who fly from the midwest/south/East Coast fly to Hawaii...They usually dont realize how long a lfight it is until they get on board the plane."We could be going to Europe!!".....Delights of travel...