Complete list, new fees (there are many.)

[ftspence]

Originally Posted by FlyerBeek

I was always under the impression that changing to a more expensive award (i.e. ticketing a J award while waiting for F award inventory to open and then reticketing in F) didn't involve any change fees (assuming the routing remains the same).

Is this a change in AA's policy or am I simply mistaken?

-FlyerBeek

They changed that when they made the date/time change free, didn't they?

[WhoME]

This story has made the front page of the New York Times.

[JonNYC]

Originally Posted by WhoME

This story has made the front page of the New York Times.

Did they mention travelingbetter?

[rrgg]

Originally Posted by FlyerBeek

I was always under the impression that changing to a more expensive award (i.e. ticketing a J award while waiting for F award inventory to open and then reticketing in F) didn't involve any change fees (assuming the routing remains the same).

Is this a change in AA's policy or am I simply mistaken?

It was offered to me about 1.5 years ago, whether it's policy or not.

It's too bad AA.com isn't capable of changing a connecting flight on an award to a nonstop, or else I'd guess we might not see the $150 fee. Seems steep.

[hillrider]

Originally Posted by jmcd02

Effective May 21, 2008 - regardless of the ticketing date. Changes made to ticketed award bookings or reinstatement requests made on/after May 21, 2008 will incur the new fee amounts.

Obviously this material change of terms after the ticket is issued flies against all moral law, contract law, customer protection laws, etc., but more importantly, against the FAA regulation of May 19, which, although triggered by baggage fees, specifically reminds carriers that "In no case should more restrictive baggage policies or additional charges be applied retroactively to a consumer who purchased his or her ticket at a time when the charges did not apply, or when a lower charge applied".

A charge to change routing or reinstate the miles is no different than a charge to check bags, i.e. one levied only if the passenger takes advantage of the service.

As we all know, an award is a (pre-paid) ticket, and has full value as if it was paid over the spot instead of through accrual of "miles".

Source: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules...%20notice1.pdf

[hillrider]

Originally Posted by JonNYC

Did they mention travelingbetter?

Slightly OT, but I hope not--FT was a decent place until it started being quoted by all papers!

[hillrider]

Here's another list of increases, with the existing fee level:

• Oversized bags - changing from $100 to $150
• Domestic Ticket Change Fee - From $100 to $150
• International Ticket Change Fee - from $100 - $200 to $150 - $250
• Reservations Service Fee - from $15 to $20
• AAdvantage Award Ticket Fee - from $15 to $20
• External Reservation Handling fee - from $15 to $20
• Airport Service Fee - from $20 to $30
• Travel Center Service Fee - from $20 to $30
• Pet In Cabin Fee - from $80 to $100
• Checked Pet Fee - from $100 to $150
• Unaccompanied Minor Fee - from $75 to $100

Source: http://www.aa.com/content/agency/New...008.jhtml#fees

[wlciii]

Originally Posted by jmcd02

Effective May 21, 2008 - regardless of the ticketing date. Changes made to ticketed award bookings or reinstatement requests made on/after May 21, 2008 will incur the new fee amounts.

Just an FYI. I booked an award on May 19th with a return FRA-LHR-DFW because the direct FRA-DFW did not have Z inventory at the time. When Z did open up on May 24th and I called to change the agent told me that the new $150 fee would apply to the change. I asked a few times to make sure she was aware my trip was ticketed before the new fee was instated but she was adamant—even pretty much quoted the above so I assume that comes from a star file. Figuring I wasn’t going to win with the agent and not wanting to lose the seat in Z I went ahead and made the change figuring I could worry about the $50 later.

I started writing a letter to AA with some backup from the source hillrider posted but, before I could send the letter, on Tuesday the 27th when I finally got a new e-receipt it showed a charge of $66 ($100 minus the taxed due back to me). So, it looks like the system is taking ticketing date in to account even if the wording in the star file and online may read differently.

[Hoc]

There is now a new fee of $5 per ticket for Aadvantage award tickets booked via aa.com. Becomes effective as of June 21. EXPs will be exempt, but all others, including other elites, will have to pay unless they are paying some other award fee (that's a vague statement, but that's kind of how they worded it). Details here.

[JonNYC]

Originally Posted by Hoc

There is now a new fee of $5 per ticket for Aadvantage award tickets booked via aa.com. Becomes effective as of June 21. EXPs will be exempt, but all others, including other elites, will have to pay unless they are paying some other award fee (that's a vague statement, but that's kind of how they worded it). Details here.

That's been around and was announced a few weeks ago.