Apr 18, 2013, 9:33 am

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American Airlines is generally willing to refund price differences when a price drops - but one must pay any change fees associated with the fare they purchased, meaning discounted fares may require a change fee of $150 - or more ($300-$500 for international legs). Please read over AA's Rollovers - Rules For Rollover To Lower Fare for rules, restrictions.

If you are not sure of the terms and conditions of the specific fare you purchased, you may determine those by going to www.refunds.aa.com and entering your ticket number (begins with "001"), before you request an actual refund. You may also use the site to find your ticket number if purchased within the last 13 months.

AA Get A Refund After An Airfare Price drop (fare rollover)

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Jun 7, 2012 | 10:48 am

#16

janetdoe

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: DFW

Programs: AS, BA, AA

Posts: 3,670

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom911

Yes, it was called a rollover.

Thanks for the hint... Google to the rescue:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Bookin...lower_fare.jsp

Quote:

For tickets issued prior to December 19, 2004:
The customer may receive a refund by accepting a travel voucher or MCO for the difference between the two fares to be issued in the passenger's name. No change fee applies.

For tickets issued on/after December 19, 2004:
The customer will receive the difference in the fares less the applicable change fee in the form of an AA travel voucher or MCO.
<snip>
Travel Agencies and Rollovers:

For both Domestic and International itineraries, Travel Agents to indicate “rollover” in the ticket endorsement box. Travel Agents may issue a non-refundable MCO for the residual amount (applicable fees apply for the exchange and may be deducted from the residual). The MCO must be made payable to AA for transportation only and show "non-refundable, valid AA only" in the endorsement box.

Bolding mine.

In the case of the BZE anecdote, I wonder if the ticket was flexible/refundable or effectively had a $0 change fee.

Jun 7, 2012 | 12:54 pm

#17

Happy

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Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: Florida

Posts: 29,971

Quote:

Originally Posted by janetdoe

Thanks for the hint... Google to the rescue:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Bookin...lower_fare.jsp

Bolding mine.

In the case of the BZE anecdote, I wonder if the ticket was flexible/refundable or effectively had a $0 change fee.

If it is refundable ticket that is simple - simply refund and rebook - the overpayment goes back to the original form of payment.

Without any more details I would tend to go with brp's conclusion - this is a one-off case.

Apr 17, 2013 | 11:40 pm

#18

huge

Join Date: Jan 2006

Location: Seattle

Programs: AAdvantage Plat+, FoundersCard, Amex Plat, TR Diamond, Marriott Gold, Wyndham Dia, HH Gold, Hertz 5*

Posts: 790

refund after AA fare drop? (<$150)

I'm pretty sure the answer to this will be no, based on this thread from last year, but ...

I have a reservation (x2 pax) on a one-way flight MIA-SEA, fare = $271, booked several days ago on AA.com with my CitiAAdvantage VISA. I just noticed that the fare has dropped to $169. Is there any way for me to get any sort of refund or compensation from AA?

Thanks for any info, even if just to confirm my negative expectation...

-huge

Apr 17, 2013 | 11:51 pm

#19

JMN57

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ

Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry

Posts: 3,158

This is one good reason for buying Choice Essential.

Apr 18, 2013 | 12:15 am

#20

SFOPhD

Join Date: Mar 2011

Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Exploralist, Marriot Silver

Posts: 2,067

Quote:

Originally Posted by huge

Thanks for any info, even if just to confirm my negative expectation...

Confirmed, sorry.

Apr 18, 2013 | 1:00 am

#21

Andriyko

Join Date: May 2005

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond

Posts: 7,755

Since we do not expect an airline to charge more when the fare rises why should we think that a refund is due when the fare drops?

Apr 18, 2013 | 5:26 am

#22

shortkidd

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: ORD

Programs: AA EXP, UA1K/2MM, Marriott Platinum Premier Lifetime

Posts: 357

In the past I have had to pay $150 reticketing fee. So, if the savings was significant then I got money, but if not then nada.

Apr 18, 2013 | 5:48 am

#23

3Cforme

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Join Date: Jun 2001

Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat

Posts: 28,190

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andriyko

Since we do not expect an airline to charge more when the fare rises why should we think that a refund is due when the fare drops?

Lots of U.S. retailers offer price guarantees. The OP's question isn't unreasonable.

Apr 18, 2013 | 8:51 am

#24

brp

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Posts: 33,642

Quote:

Originally Posted by huge

I'm pretty sure the answer to this will be no, based on this thread from last year, but ...

And yet a new thread was needed to ask the same question, so as to be sure to fragment information and make it harder to find the answer in the future. Well done ^

Cheers.

Apr 18, 2013 | 8:58 am

#25

vrbaba

Join Date: Feb 2008

Posts: 2,172

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andriyko

Since we do not expect an airline to charge more when the fare rises why should we think that a refund is due when the fare drops?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Cforme

Lots of U.S. retailers offer price guarantees. The OP's question isn't unreasonable.

I agree with 3Cforme. It shows that the same product is being sold for cheaper by the same company, so why should some pay higher than others. In reality, we know the airline business does not work on a fixed markup/margin basis. However, if they did, it would be interesting to see how the climate would change among frequent flyers. I think most airlines would move towards the DL model where $$ becomes the criteria for elite status.

Apr 18, 2013 | 9:28 am

#26

supergrandslam

Join Date: Jan 2010

Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT

Posts: 1,467

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Cforme

Lots of U.S. retailers offer price guarantees. The OP's question isn't unreasonable.

For the products bought several days ago????
Can you give me one example that U.S. retailer refunds the price difference when we find the product sold at cheaper price several days after we buy the product?

Apr 18, 2013 | 9:29 am

#27

JDiver

Moderator: American AAdvantage

Join Date: May 2000

Location: NorCal - SMF area

Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis

Posts: 62,946

You are entitled to the full difference - minus the change fee in the fare you purchased, of course.

Quote:

Originally Posted by huge

Last edited by JDiver; Apr 18, 2013 at 10:23 am

Apr 18, 2013 | 9:37 am

#28

seawolf

Original Member

Join Date: May 1998

Location: NYC

Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 14,785

AA Get A Refund After An Airfare Price drop

It is called a rollover. AA charges $150 to process it.

FYI B6 does it for free and this can be accomplished online.

Apr 18, 2013 | 9:43 am

#29

Antarius

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2012

Location: KHOU/KIAH

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Posts: 11,728

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergrandslam

Some retailers do within a time period like BestBuy

Quote:

Online: If you purchase your HDTV at BestBuy.com and the price on our Web site is reduced within 30 days, we'll refund you 100% of the difference

Doesn't make a whole lot of sense for airlines as their entire business model is based on demand- based pricing.

Apr 18, 2013 | 10:21 am

#30

card1953

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: SMF

Programs: AA EXP 4MM

Posts: 815

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergrandslam

The answer is yes if applied to a retailer--Nordstrom is one example. But a more analogous question would be whether I could get a refund for a ticket to an event such as a Broadway show or sporting event if the price went down--the answer would generally be no.

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