AA handling award ticket with cancelled flights

[aus_flyer]

Does anyone have experience with how AA handles cancelled non-AA flights on an award ticket?

I have a redemption ticket with travel of CX coming up... and I suspect the flights will be cancelled?

Will AA arrange rerouting? I know CX should do this, but I suspect it won't happen.

Or will AA cancel the how ticket, refund the miles and wish me good luck?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Does anyone have experience with how AA handles cancelled non-AA flights on an award ticket?

I have a redemption ticket with travel of CX coming up... and I suspect the flights will be cancelled?

Will AA arrange rerouting? I know CX should do this, but I suspect it won't happen.

Or will AA cancel the how ticket, refund the miles and wish me good luck?

I used to buy lots of CX and KA tickets through AA. The ones to and from China would often get delayed or cancelled due to weather or closed airspace. In those cases it was usually CX or KA that would move you to another flight automatically, and then AA would simply send you notification that your flights had changed and here is your new itinerary.

Perhaps unusually, if I didn't like the new flights I'd ring CX rather than AA. Being close in to departure CX would just change your flights over the phone and a few minutes later you'd get a new e-ticket from AA.

In the current climate if CX moves you to another one of their services it should be easy. If CX can't - because there simply is no flight, you'd need to contact AA to discuss your options. I would go in prepared with any other award flights you can find. If there aren't any, see if AA can find some. But otherwise you may be out of luck.

 

[hossein_au]

I usually just call AA and re-arrange the flights, whether on the same carrier or on an alternative.

 

[aus_flyer]

I usually just call AA and re-arrange the flights, whether on the same carrier or on an alternative.

Yes but is it subject to award availability?… Because if a cancellation happens last minute then the options can be zip.

 

[hossein_au]

Yes but is it subject to award availability?… Because if a cancellation happens last minute then the options can be zip.

I have had cases where AA booked me on alternative flights in ‘revenue’ seat; as in, my booking in U class had an issue the day before travel and AA booked me on I class ticket on another carrier.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes but is it subject to award availability?… Because if a cancellation happens last minute then the options can be zip.

As hossein_au points out, if it is close-in or IRROPS on the day, AA has a lot more flexibility to assist. If CX cancels the route well in advance it may be more complicated.

 

[jrfsp]

AA cannot force other partners to accommodate awards if there is no availability.

 

[hossein_au]

AA cannot force other partners to accommodate awards if there is no availability.

Of course not, but they have been known to "purchase" revenue seats from partners to accommodate.