Avoiding airline change fees - American Airlines

It's $200 plus or minus the fare difference. So if the original flight was $400 and the new flight is $250, you'll only owe $50 now to change it.

As for applying it to a new flight, they'll do it. Less the $200 fee so you're in the same situation.

Getting it waived is next to impossible sans medical emergency.

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I think what you mean is that if I'm paying a $200 fee, the $166 I already paid for the ticket will make the change fee $34, not actually $200. But obviously, I'm still paying it regardless....?

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No.

Your reservation was $166.

If your new itinerary was $100, you'd only owe $134 as the $66 would be credited towards the change fee.

If your new itinerary is $266, you'll owe AA $300.

Your best method for a change fee waiver is any major adjustment by the airline in flight timelines.

Sometimes you will get a notification that one of your flights has moved up/back in time, you can then call and ask to change flights without paying the fee.

I once got my fee waived for a 5 min change Lots of hang up/call again though.

But yea - this is sound advice.

I just cancelled my ticket and rebooked it. Said the new sched won't work for me anymore. That is OPs best option.

Trick is to wait for a schedule change or aircraft change. Change in aircraft is much easier to work with. Schedule change 30min+ is a good possibility. 2h+ airline policy themselves entitle you to change/cancel. For a 5 min change you need patience and be persuasive. Need to be as vague as possible.

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They won't change origin and destination for time changes unless it's to another airport in that area. What she's trying to do is a drastic change in origin.

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I don't fly too often, so I just wasn't familiar with the procedure of changing airports. Figured if it was a couple weeks in advance, there would be some way to fly out of somewhere else. My schedule is flexible and I can be in whatever city I need to be to fly out, I was just trying to make it more convenient. Not worth it for the difference I would pay. The $160 ticket was pretty cheap imo

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Foch

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while I was reading the aa website about opportunities for the fees being waived, time/aircraft change was one of them. I also saw that I could wait until the day of to change my flight (only cost $75 change fee) but that wouldn't help my scenario. Also kinda risky so close to xmas.

I'll keep my eyes open for the time change on the flight, as that would be my only opportunity to avoid the fees. Of course, this would not help the airport change. I appreciate the feedback regardless

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CuseTiger

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thanks