[JeffKontur]

I bought tickets on American Airlines for myself and my now ex-girlfriend to fly to Turks & Caicos in late September. As we've now broken up and the trip is officially cancelled, I tried to cancel the tickets. Mind you, this is still more than 6 weeks before the planned trip so it's not last minute.

AA informed me that:
a) there would be no refund, only credit toward a future flight,
b) said credit could not be used for international flights,
c) the credit could only be used by the original passenger and could not be transferred to any other name, and
d) there would be a $200 "ticket change fee" for each ticket canceled.

I was fine with only getting credit toward a future flight and even willing to accept the ticket change fee as part of my cost in this transaction.

I questioned why the credit could not be used internationally when the original ticket is for an international flight. I also disputed that I was the one who paid for the ticket so why should I not be the one given the credit.

AA's response boiled down to a robotic reference to airline policy. They further claimed that refunding or crediting canceled tickets would cause them to lose money. (A direct quote from an email they sent me: "If we were to deviate from our [ticket refund] policy on a regular basis, the associated costs to us would necessitate higher ticket prices for everyone.")

I pointed out, in detail, that there is no scenario in which the airline loses money from this transaction. An excerpt from the email I sent them, trying to resolve this in a reasonable manner:

"The resolution I asked for was not unreasonable. I am not asking that you give anything 'extra', only that I get credit I can actually use for the ticket I paid for. This will not result in higher operating costs to the airline. As it is now I have already given you my money. One of three things will happen:
1. The ticket will get used as planned.
2. The ticket goes unused and no refund is issued. (This is the 'solution' you are proposing and will result in the airline keeping my money but offering no services in return.)
3. I get a transferable credit for another flight. (The solution I proposed, which results in the airline keeping a $200 ticket change fee from what I've already paid for the original ticket. My using said credit will 'cost' the airline exactly the same in operating costs, less the aforementioned change fee, as if I used the ticket as originally planned.)"

They responded stating that their decision was final.

I paid the airline for services which they will never render. I was willing to accept their $200 "ticket change fee" as my cost in all this. The only thing I requested is that credit for the canceled ticket go to me, the person who paid for the ticket originally.

Their assertion that giving the credit to me rather than my ex-girlfriend would cause them to lose money is absurd and disingenuous.

Apparently, American is very hard-up after shelling out billions to buy US Airways if they are going to take this kind of stance over $183 (after deducting their ticket change fee).

That's right, all this over $183!!

American Airlines sucks and I'm going to make sure that everyone knows it.

[Burgers]

Problem is you bought non refundable tickets, all airlines are going to do this to you. I'm not saying the remedy you seek doesn't seem reasonable however the tickets you bought were non refundable so the remedy they offer also seems reasonable.

[JeffKontur]

I might be inclined to actually agree with you except that they did offer to give me credit toward a future flight. I would be perfectly okay with the credit. My issue is with their assertion that giving the credit to my ex-girlfriend is perfectly fine but giving it to me (who actually paid for the tickets) would cause them to go broke. That is an indefensible position.

[AA=AbsoluteAnus]

How is a $200 change fee even remotely ok? What justification can be construed from this "fee". In hunting down shill postings like Mr Burgers who can only post defending , I find yet another post about the predatory practice that is this change fee.

Not only that but how the price difference in the ticket is additional several hundred dollars. No matter that you know there is no price difference by going right to the AA site via smart phone. How is that? This is outright gouging and people need to see it for what it is. We are not helpless sheep. Google "how to complain about airlines" and make a complaint to the NTSB. If you read this now do it now. Even if you haven't had this happen to you YET it will.

I question if we are seeing practices like this on the "user interface" of AA et al. what we are NOT seeing must be much worse.

Imagine if they have the audacity to boldly abuse the customers for maximum profit what other corners they must be cutting. I shudder. AA planes are old, really old. I hope they are using some of that ill gotten money to keep the planes flying safely, but just going by what I have experienced it probably isn't.