I cancelled: they say I didn't....
Jan 26th, 2008, 09:31 AM
#21
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If you are a FF on American, you really should not be having this problem; I am surprised they are not being more helpful.
Something similar to what you are describing happened to me--needed surgery-- and if I had booked directly thru American, they (AA) would not have charged me the change fee. However, that was the one (and only!!) time I had booked thru Travelocity instead of directly thru AA. Customer service at AA could not help, and Travelocity *would* not help. Travelocity permanently lost 2 customers and I learned a lesson about the inflexibility of using a 3rd party agent.
Something similar to what you are describing happened to me--needed surgery-- and if I had booked directly thru American, they (AA) would not have charged me the change fee. However, that was the one (and only!!) time I had booked thru Travelocity instead of directly thru AA. Customer service at AA could not help, and Travelocity *would* not help. Travelocity permanently lost 2 customers and I learned a lesson about the inflexibility of using a 3rd party agent.
Jan 26th, 2008, 09:47 AM
#22
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ok Austin, I wasn't aiming my last post at you specifically, it was just a general FYI post, but you didn't answer the question I did aim at you.
AA non-refundable ticket is cancellable and the credit is kept in the system for 1 year from the time the original itn was ticketed, not from the date of cancellation.
So, is it possible that you purchased the ticket more than a year ago?
For example, if you bought the ticket on 1/15/07 for travel on 10/15/07 and cancelled on 10/01/07, the value disappeared on 1/15/08.
I'm just trying to be helpful and explain how the system works and maybe figure out what happened.
AA non-refundable ticket is cancellable and the credit is kept in the system for 1 year from the time the original itn was ticketed, not from the date of cancellation.
So, is it possible that you purchased the ticket more than a year ago?
For example, if you bought the ticket on 1/15/07 for travel on 10/15/07 and cancelled on 10/01/07, the value disappeared on 1/15/08.
I'm just trying to be helpful and explain how the system works and maybe figure out what happened.
Jan 26th, 2008, 12:31 PM
#23
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fmpden: Fine, that means that you do not fly on discount tickets since everyone charges. Nearly all airlines offer tickets that are refundable and changeable without fees. Just buy the correct ticket.
Not Southwest Airlines. They have the best domestic service (in my opinion) and the most flexible change policy which is NO change fee (only the difference in fare). In fact, if your Southwest fare goes down you can re-book it and get a voucher for the difference. The other airlines charge change fees only because they get away with it.
The last time the economy took a nose dive, which of the established airlines remained profitable? Southwest. No doubt they will again remain profitable when in a year all the other airlines are back in the red yet again.
Not Southwest Airlines. They have the best domestic service (in my opinion) and the most flexible change policy which is NO change fee (only the difference in fare). In fact, if your Southwest fare goes down you can re-book it and get a voucher for the difference. The other airlines charge change fees only because they get away with it.
The last time the economy took a nose dive, which of the established airlines remained profitable? Southwest. No doubt they will again remain profitable when in a year all the other airlines are back in the red yet again.
Jan 26th, 2008, 01:32 PM
#27
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Right. I avoid airlines that charge change fees. Wasn't that clear enough? Must have missed the part where I said I would NEVER fly on an airline that charged a change fee. You want to quote that back to me?
Jan 26th, 2008, 04:16 PM
#29
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Dawn, I DO have my original ticket information. I have the ticket number.
AA - The flight was for October 11, 2007. I booked it in early September 2007.
I am not an AA Frequent Flyer, but recently signed up for that program with my October flight.
I will definitely write down names and agent numbers from now on. I wrote down the name of the supervisor I spoke to last nite, tho she said she couldn't do anything. I had to send an email to CS via the website.
AA - The flight was for October 11, 2007. I booked it in early September 2007.
I am not an AA Frequent Flyer, but recently signed up for that program with my October flight.
I will definitely write down names and agent numbers from now on. I wrote down the name of the supervisor I spoke to last nite, tho she said she couldn't do anything. I had to send an email to CS via the website.
Jan 26th, 2008, 04:43 PM
#30
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I keep a file folder in my desk called "cancellations". I never cancel so much as a car reservation that doesn't even have a penalty without getting the name of the person I spoke to and whatever cancellation number or confirmation I can possibly get out of them. I've needed to go into that file a couple of times to prove my point, and wouldn't be without it. About once a year I clean it out.
Jan 26th, 2008, 05:03 PM
#32
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dawnnoelm: What airline does NOT charge a change fee?
Southwest Airlines does not charge a change fee. What's more, if they lower the fare on a flight you've already booked you can rebook and get the difference back as a credit voucher.
Southwest Airlines does not charge a change fee. What's more, if they lower the fare on a flight you've already booked you can rebook and get the difference back as a credit voucher.
Jan 26th, 2008, 05:20 PM
#34
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Check the date when you sent yourself that email about cancelling, it might help out. When you write to AA, mention the exact date that you cancelled. Although the agent may not have cancelled your reservation properly...they do have notations as to what date and time any agent has pulled up your ticket & information for any reason. A supervisor could check that date and their system shows that your reservation was accessed on that day, you might have more of a case.
Jan 26th, 2008, 05:23 PM
#35
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Patrick, for me flying in the continental US Southwest is the most convenient airline for me most of the time. I have a friend in Albuquerque and they are the only airline that flies there non-stop from Portland. They have great service from here to all over the western US and to Florida.
They also fly Portland to Philadelphia (somewhere else I visit) via Chicago Midway, sometimes with a direct "one stop" flight that's super convenient (great times). USAir has a non-stop to Philly but one leg is a red eye and I don't like red eyes. I don't think I've seen that flight priced competitively anyway. The last few round-trips I've flown to Philly on Southwest have been under $200 total. My alternates other than US Air all change planes in Chicago O'Hare, Dallas, Detroit, Cincinnati, Atlanta, etc. I'll stick with Chicago Midway.
Alaska Air is the only airline that might be more convenient from Portland to some cities.
They also fly Portland to Philadelphia (somewhere else I visit) via Chicago Midway, sometimes with a direct "one stop" flight that's super convenient (great times). USAir has a non-stop to Philly but one leg is a red eye and I don't like red eyes. I don't think I've seen that flight priced competitively anyway. The last few round-trips I've flown to Philly on Southwest have been under $200 total. My alternates other than US Air all change planes in Chicago O'Hare, Dallas, Detroit, Cincinnati, Atlanta, etc. I'll stick with Chicago Midway.
Alaska Air is the only airline that might be more convenient from Portland to some cities.
Jan 27th, 2008, 04:22 AM
#36
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Andrew, sure it works for many people, particularly in the west and somewhat for some larger cities in the east. I was really surprised however booking a flight from Ft. Myers, Florida to Phoenix last year that even that didn't work for me. I thought sure Southwest would be perfect for going to Phoenix, of all places. But the only options were flying out at 6:30 in the morning (I'd have to get up at 3:30 AM to do that flight and be at the airport on time!) and cost just under $400. What's more it went through Chicago -- talk about out of the way routing and too much time on planes! Returns were just as bad. I got a flight on American for under $200 round trip, with just a one hour stop in Dallas -- perfect.
Jan 27th, 2008, 07:22 AM
#37
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Can't help it that Southwest was so popular that they sold out their cheap fares before you were able to book, Patrick. Right now Southwest has fares as low as $89 each way from Ft. Meyers to Phoenix with a change in Kansas City (outbound departs at 1:30PM), so they certainly have convenient flights and good prices if you book early enough.
You can bet that the only reason American has a good fare on that route is because of Southwest's competition. Southwest is notorious for forcing competitors to lower fares to compete on the same routes.
You can bet that the only reason American has a good fare on that route is because of Southwest's competition. Southwest is notorious for forcing competitors to lower fares to compete on the same routes.
Jan 27th, 2008, 09:10 AM
#38
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Andrew, sorry I only booked three months ahead.
But I'm not sure you know what you're talking about in THIS particular market. Southwest currently is booking flights until August 3. I just checked Ft. Myers to Phoenix the end of July (who would do that, anyway?) and the very cheapest web special fare is still $324 total round trip -- well over $100 more than I paid on American. Please note -- that is booking 6 months ahead! The lowest round trip fare with flight times I'd want to do (and having TWO stops going, ONE coming back) is over $400.
I don't think Southwest's fares from Ft. Myers to Phoenix are causing American to beat them like that! I don't think Southwest's Ft. Myers flights via Chicago at odd hours for over $300 is ANY reason for AA to undercut them by almost half.
But I'm not sure you know what you're talking about in THIS particular market. Southwest currently is booking flights until August 3. I just checked Ft. Myers to Phoenix the end of July (who would do that, anyway?) and the very cheapest web special fare is still $324 total round trip -- well over $100 more than I paid on American. Please note -- that is booking 6 months ahead! The lowest round trip fare with flight times I'd want to do (and having TWO stops going, ONE coming back) is over $400.
I don't think Southwest's fares from Ft. Myers to Phoenix are causing American to beat them like that! I don't think Southwest's Ft. Myers flights via Chicago at odd hours for over $300 is ANY reason for AA to undercut them by almost half.
Jan 27th, 2008, 09:38 AM
#40
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Perhaps after this experience you will join those of us who print copies of all reservations and cancellations.
Having a service rep's "word" is useless. Recently three employees at Bank of America's told me they had done something for me that actually get done until I talked with a "customer service senior representative."
Having a service rep's "word" is useless. Recently three employees at Bank of America's told me they had done something for me that actually get done until I talked with a "customer service senior representative."
