United Mileage Plus refunds for award taxes and fees

United has a clean record for me – while the Award cancellation fees now stand at a shocking $200 per redeposit the refund in miles and taxes and fees arrives promptly within a few days. It always works.

American Airlines refunds for award taxes and fees

American Airlines has great reservation agents and they smooth talk you into changes and cancellations like no other. However the actual award cancellation (and ticket change process) is badly broken.

American has trouble redepositing the miles after a cancellation – in several instances I had to call back a few weeks later and request a review.

Even worse is the handling of taxes and fees. American allows free date and route changes 21 before departure and these changes almost never result in a proper charge or refund. Once I had a refund take a full 11 month to come through. Whats troubling is that the reservations agents can’t trace it and refer you to the refund department which refers you to ‘customer relations’ which refers you to the Refund department. It’s insane!

Lufthansa Miles & More refunds for award taxes and fees

Singapore Airlines Krisflyer refunds for award taxes and fees

Singapore Airlines charges a fantastic $30 re-deposit fee. So far any of my award cancellations have resulted in a due refund about seven days later.

The only variable – sometimes the fee is taken from the refund – sometimes the agents say this can’t be done and needs to be charged separately. I’m not sure if there is a rhyme to it.

British Airways Executive Club refunds for award taxes and fees

British Airways Executive Club reduces the refund of your award taxes and fees automatically by the cancellation fee when you cancel it online. Now if your refund is smaller than the cancellation fee you actually do not pay the (full) fee. So far my refund was always smaller than the cancellation fee – so I actually can’t say if they send refunds properly because I have never gotten one.

Air France Flying Blue refunds for award taxes and fees

Flying Blue has given my trouble recently – after an award cancellation I got my miles back the next day but no refund for award taxes and fees. I called a few weeks later and they mentioned they need the SAME credit card numbers again – they could not refund to the credit card they charged automatically. So I gave them the number of my (now cancelled) credit card – they sent only a partial refund a few weeks later. I called again and was told that someone will contact me (from the accounting department) – so far that hasn’t happened.

What are your experiences?

Photo credit freakingnews.com

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