What are American Airlines Refund Policy Rules?

American Airlines Refund Policy

Many times, changes follow your travel plans. So, you must be prepared. Understanding this, American Airlines covers its travelers with its customer-friendly approaches. One of these is the American Airlines Refund Policy that makes sure your money is not lost to uncertain situations.

That’s why whenever an emergency occurs, a flight delays, or you have to change or cancel your booking, the airline helps you. No wonder, in any of such situations you can get your ticket money or value back as per your ticket type.

Now, let’s go through the refund policy of American Airlines, how to raise a refund request, booking cancellation charges, and much more.

Can I Get a Refund on an American Airlines Ticket?

Yes, you can get a refund on your booking cancellation by American Airlines. However, non-refundable tickets get a refund only as per the 24-hour refund policy. Refund is issued to the original payment mode.

Bookings made as part of a group block don’t qualify for a 24 hour refund.

What is the American Airlines Refund Policy?

If you have to call off your trip with AA, it is good to know if you can get a refund or not. So, for your reference here is the AA refund policy. To make things easier for you, American Airlines Ticket Refund Policy highlights are mentioned below –

The American Airlines 24 hour refund policy

  • Have you purchased your flight ticket at least 2 days before the scheduled departure of your flight? You can cancel it up to 24 hours for a full refund, no matter your ticket type. However, your flight scheduled with this booking must be after 7 days or more.
  • After this risk-free 24-hour window, non-refundable tickets have to pay the cancellation charges.

Travel Credit for Non-Refundable Tickets

  • Non-refundable tickets are eligible for a refund (as a travel credit) if –
    • A flight schedule changes for over four hours and you don’t want to travel
    • A traveler’s plans are affected because of military orders
    • A schedule changes for 90 minutes or more within 72 hours of your flight’s departure time, and you decide not to fly
    • The traveler and/or the travel companion dies

For Group Bookings

  • Bookings as part of a group are not eligible as per the American Airlines 24 hour refund policy and you must cancel your reservation first. You will get a full refund, except –
    • Sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes
    • Service charges for booking through Reservations

Please note

  • Refundable taxes and fees are refunded to the original payment form.
  • Submit the refund requests when your ticket validity is 1 year from the original booking date. AA doesn’t consider expired tickets for refund.
  • If you cancel your ticket after 24 hours, there are certain charges that you have to pay as per your ticket type.
  • Cancel your American Airlines tickets first for your money return request as per the refund policy rules.
  • Submit the requests individually for every ticket in a record locator and separately for seats, flight tickets, and other things purchased.
  • For tickets purchased through a travel agency or a third-party source of booking, contact them for a refund.

How to Request an American Airlines Refund?

Here are the American Airlines cancel flight refund request steps –

Initiate Cancellation and Refund Request

  • Visit the official website of American Airlines.
  • Go to the My Reservations section.
  • Cancel the booking for the travelers as applicable.
  • Now, go to prefunds.aa.com.
  • Scroll down to find the section of Request a Refund.
  • Enter the following details in the fields –
    • Your ticket number
    • Last name of the passenger
  • Click on the Submit button.

The representatives of the airline will take a look at your request and the ticket. Thereafter, they will help you through your eligibility to get a refund and other options, as required.

Please note

  • The refund amount depends on when you purchase your flight tickets and when you cancel those.
  • If you have booked an AAdvantage Award ticket, don’t use the refund form on the prefunds.aa.com page.
  • Go to the AAdvantage section of the airline’s website. You can also call 1-800-882-8880 for any assistance.

Review and Verify

  • Review your refund request details.
  • Choose Reason for Refund from the drop-down menu.
  • Click on the Submit button.
  • Attach additional documents (like medical issues), if required.

You will get a confirmation number. Keep it handy for American Airlines cancellation refund request follow up.

How to Know If I Have Refundable American Airlines Tickets?

While booking your trip, the airline gives you the option of refundable and non-refundable tickets. Usually, the advantages of refundable tickets are provided as an add-on while making a reservation.  That’s why refundable tickets are more expensive than the nonrefundable ones.

Moreover, you can know if your American Airlines ticket is refundable by following the steps below – 

  • Call 800-433-7300 to contact the American Airlines Reservations.
  • View fine print in your booking confirmation email.
  • Check your American Airlines account for booking details.

What are the American Airlines Cancellation Charges?

As per the American Airlines refund policy, here are the cancellation charges that you have to pay –

Ticket Types

Cancellation Charges 

Basic Economy

No charges

Economy and Premium Economy

$200

Business Class, First Class, Reward 

No charges

Usually, you get a refund credited to your payment mode within 7-10 business days if you have paid through credit card.

In Conclusion

In a nutshell, if your plans of hopping on an AA flight don’t go as is, know that you won’t lose on your money for ticket booking. The airline keeps you safe with its smart and customer-friendly policies. These are sets of rules or guidelines that help you when you have to cancel your flight. Even in other circumstances when your travel plans are compromised, these policies are helpful. So, count on the American Airlines Refund Policy that is convenient to abide by when you have to raise a refund request under any circumstances.

You May Visit:

What is The American Airlines Low Fare Calendar?

What is American Airlines Missed Flight Policy?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does American Airlines have a 24 hours refund policy?

Yes, American Airlines has a 24-hour refund policy. It gives a full refund on a ticket cancellation booked within 2 days of the flight’s scheduled departure.

Does AA refund on products and services purchased but not used?

There is no refund if the purchased product/service was provided on an alternate flight. AA refunds for priority boarding, bag fees (not applicable to bags bought online), same-day flight change or standby, & pet fees.

Can I use a nonrefundable ticket for future travel?

AA allows you a future trip on your ticket’s unused value if it is within a year of the ticket booking or you cancel it before the first flight’s departure.

What are American Airlines Refund Policy Rules?
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