Last summer a couple buddies and I booked a hunting trip to Argentina that we were supposed to fly out for next week. Long story short, our hunting outfit and the outfit in Argentina had a falling out last week and all hunts were cancelled. Our current plans are to book another hunt at a different ranch in March/April 2024.

Here's the dilemma - Since we booked the flights in June 2022, we can cancel for flight credit, but MUST book AND fly before June of this year. Well, it's not possible for any of us to do that due to work schedules and other scheduled conflicts, plus our flights were around $2,500 each. We aren't asking for a refund, but just an extension of our flight credit so that we can rebook for next year. I just submitted a form on the American Airlines hospitality site, but not sure that I'll hear anything back before our flight dates this week.

How would you go about this and is there anything we can do to not lose a total of $7500 in flights? TIA

DM them on Twitter. Do you have any status with them?

Would be tempted to go ahead with the trip but not go hunting.

Reach out on Twitter for sure. But I second the above idea that I'd try to turn this into another kind of vacation if you can't get help quickly. Argentina is a wonderful place

It may be easier to find another last minute outfitter since everyone was ready to go.

I would try every form of communication to get them to extend the dates you can use the tickets. I don't fly with AA, but I've always had success sending a dm to United on Twitter.

If that doesn't work then I would go ahead with the trip to Argentina. Buenos Aires is a great city. You could also take the boat over to Montevideo for a few days.

Good luck!

Wondering if you could rebook random fully refundable or changeable flights with the credit and then cancel those flights for a refund or future flight credit?

We just got my wife's canceled flight credit extended and it was 3 months past 1 year from purchase.

I do not recall it always being that way with American. But if you give them a dollar for x date, and cancel for flight credit expires not 1 year from date you cancelled but from x date plus one year.

Anywho, they were real quick about responding. Believe I emailed customer care.

Am I the only one confused about how this is American's fault?

You and your pals need to grab your hiking boots, get on the plane, snag a connecting flight from BA to El Calafate, hop on the bus to El Chalten, and enjoy some of the finest hiking the world has to offer.

You might be able to book a cheap flight in June with the expiring flight credit and then have American Airlines give you the balance of the Argentina flight in a credit with an extended "travel by" date. Obviously check with them first. Their customer service is highly dependent on who you get on the phone. I've had exceptional customer service and abysmal.

Do not think its a blame American Airlines. Seems more of "things beyond our control changed and we cannot make the trip. We were unclear on how flight credits worked and would like an exception to policy in order to use the value of the ticket."

American should allow as it really costs them nothing to defer the expiration of the credit.

Believe SWA eliminated travel funds expiration, but I would need to check that.

fka ftc said:

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Believe SWA eliminated travel funds expiration, but I would need to check that.

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True.