What is American Airlines’ cancellation policy?

An understanding of your airline’s cancellation policy is important when making plans for your journey. American Airlines Cancellation Policy — The Flexible Cancellation Policy Here’s a close-up view of their policies, and what you should know before booking.

Risk-Free Cancellation in 24 Hours

For travelers who book with American Airlines, the airline offers a 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy. If when you book your ticket at least two days before you take off, cancelled your flight within 24 hours of booking, you will receive full refunds. This rule applies to all ticket types, including non-refundable fares.

Non-Refundable Tickets

With nonrefundable tickets, cancellations may be assessed a fee, depending on your destination and fare type. And, after the cancellation fee is deducted, the remaining balance is usually issued as credits for future travel. These credits are valid for a future booking made on American Airlines or its partners.

Refundable Tickets

Refundable tickets are also more flexible — cancel your flight and you won’t face a penalty. Should you need to cancel, you can receive a full refund to your original payment method. This is a good choice if your plans might change.

Award Tickets

If you booked using AAdvantage miles, the loyalty program for American Airlines, cancellations might incur a redeposit fee. However, elite members who are in higher tiers can have that fee waived, making it easier to change travel plans.

Rebookings vs. Cancellations

If you decide to cancel the flight, another option is to change your flight instead. American Airlines — no longer assesses change fees for most domestic and some short-haul international flights, providing passengers with new flexibility.

American Airlines Package Vacations

The cancellation policy can differ if you've booked one of the popular American Airlines vacation packages. These sometimes include flights, hotels and car hires, and your cancellations policy depends on the elements of your booking. Please refer to the terms and conditions you receive at the time of booking, or contact American Airlines Vacations directly for assistance.

Avoiding Headaches When Cancelling