www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Okay... here's the situation. I wanted to take advantage of my AA miles sometime this year and had two trips planned for August and November, but the dates I wanted where not available with my AA miles. No problem I decide to check several date on different months and find a decent week in June and one in May. I book a trip to CR for May 13 thru May 18, not what I really wanted but those where the dates available. The total cost of my trip with my AA miles is $30, which is great. Over the past few days I've been thinking about possibly booking a longer trip and today I decided to call AA to see if it was possible to change my return flight and also wanted to see what the service charge would be for the changes. I asked about changing my return flight from May 18 to May 27, they have seats available. The woman said no problem. And when I asked her how much it would cost me, she replied, "nothing with you AA advantage miles." I'm like, What!! How come I couldn't book these dates when I was checking for available flights using my AA miles??!!

Anyways, it looks like I may be staying in Costa Rica for an extra week.

What's the deal with the airlines?!

TP,

I have many, many miles on AA. My experience is that the online tools are somewhat limited when booking reward travel. If I can't find what I like online, I always call and they are usually very helpful.

I have disliked Continental for many years, but lately have found their reward travel program to be the cheapest and most flexible. Their change fees are only $50. I think AA is $100. And, their "mile value" is usually the best.

That said... Of all the US air carriers... I still think AA gets the overall best score.

Pura Tica!

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

Traylor Park, hate to rain on your parade but....two weeks ago I was in Costa Rica. I had flown on miles and $30. I was to return on April 4th. I called AA office in San Jose. Told them I would like to return the next day or two later depending on availability. I was told they were full but I could fly standby at no extra cost. I checked AA reservations site and determined there were available seats. When I showed at AA counter, I was forced to pay $100 for changing the date. I paid it but have appealed and have been promised a refund in the form of a travel voucher. I have, however, countered with "10,000 AA Miles would be better".

Leaving in 8 hours....using a ticket bought with AA miles. I booked back in November. I called in February and AA changed my flight from evening to an earlier morning flight at no extra charge. As of this morning the website shows one empty seat on the flight. Maybe I'll get lucky and get bumped. AA has at least two other flights after mine so I know I will be in SJ by evening one way or another. Save me a seat at either HRD or SL around happy hour. I'll be one of the many guys with a big smile on their face!

Royboy,
Your situation is different then mine. I spoke to them yesterday and asked them several times if there would be a fee for changing my return flight, she guaranteed me there would be no charge. I'm making the changing today and will see if there is any charge.

How miles did you need for a free ticket ? where were you flying out of

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enjoy life

With miles you can change them 100 times.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

Just wanted to chime in here and say that when I tried to use my Delta miles this winter, for either a trip to the Midwest or a trip to Costa Rica, or to Mexico, NONE of those destinations were available; the trip to the midwest (not even a major city like Chicago) was not even available going 4-5 months into the future...

So needless to say I am very upset with Delta, and am no longer going out of my way to fly on this carrier. What good are miles that you can't use for anywhere you want to go?

In October I decided to use two tickets for 5 days. They had 8 days so I went. Its hit or miss.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

On AAmiles I have had decent luck booking for nonpeak periods in advance .You have to be way in advance for peak times and summer is getting hard to get.I bokked late August to San Jose with AAmiles about a month ago and it is gone now as well as rest of summer form Dallas. On changes go the policy is for the same desination you can change as many times as you chose with no charge subject to availability for up to a year in advance of origional booking.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

Subject to availability is the problem. There were no available seats for flying on "Advantage Miles". Consequently, they demanded a $100 fee for changing the date of my return ticket. No complaints. My situation with AA is well under control.

When you are single, you can play with the dates.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

I called Delta yesterday inquiring about using SkyMiles for some time in June or July. Nothing was available on the website for any date whether it was June/July or any other date. I refuse to use 70K miles for a trip when I have gotten it in the past for 30-35K. So, I called Delta direct and they were able to find some availability in May. Very little in July and then from August forward had alot of availability. But, if you were to just use the site you would think you had no choice but to use 70K miles.

My understanding, particularly with Delta, is that calling them direct is always a better option than booking award travel online. I don't have a great deal of experience with Delta YET. American seems to pretty well have their act together as far as website info. The problem with AA for me is that award travel dates are not usually conducive to my 4 and 5 day trips over a weekend. If I want to do a longer stay, no problem. Also, the flight schedule from ORD can be ridiculous. So..call Delta direct.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

I will call them direct from now on; however, the last time I tried to use my miles, for any of 3 destinations, I did call them, and they had no availability on any of the 3 destinations or times, and I was being flexible with the times.

I'll try them again for May, and then again later in September or so.

I got a phone call today. AA will give me 6,000 miles for the $100 I paid. Seems fair as I want to fly end of May on miles.