How Much is American Airlines' Cancellation Policy?

American Airlines' cancellation policy +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 allows passengers to modify or cancel their flights with varying fees or refunds depending on the ticket type and time of cancellation +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴. Here's a clear breakdown:

1. Basic Economy Tickets

  • Non-refundable & Non-changeable: Basic Economy tickets typically cannot be changed or canceled +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 unless covered by specific waivers (e.g., travel due to COVID-19 policies).

  • Same-Day Changes: In some cases, American Airlines offers a same-day flight change option +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 for a fee.

2. Main Cabin & Above (Main Plus, Premium Economy, Business, First)

  • Refundable & Changeable: Most Main Cabin and higher-class tickets are changeable or cancelable +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴. However, policies vary:

    • No Change Fee: American Airlines removed change fees for most domestic and international flights +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 (except Basic Economy and certain international fares). This applies to tickets purchased in the Main Cabin or higher.

    • Fare Difference: If a change leads to a more expensive ticket, you will need to pay the fare difference.

3. Refundable vs. Non-refundable Tickets

  • Non-refundable Tickets: If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you may not get a monetary refund +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴. Instead, you will receive a travel credit (voucher) for future use, valid for up to one year.

  • Refundable Tickets: Fully refundable tickets allow you to cancel your flight for a full refund +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 without any penalties, as long as you cancel before the flight's departure.

4. Cancellation Due to Delays or Cancellations by the Airline

If American Airlines cancels or significantly delays your flight, you're typically entitled to:

  • A full refund or

  • A rebooking on a different flight at no additional cost.

5. 24-Hour Cancellation Window

  • Risk-Free Cancellation: American Airlines allows passengers to cancel +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 their ticket within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, regardless of the ticket type. This is applicable if the booking was made at least two days before +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 the flight’s departure.

6. Award Tickets (Mileage-Based Bookings)

  • No Fee for Changes or Cancellation: American Airlines has eliminated the fees for canceling +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 or changing award tickets. Miles will be re-deposited into your account if you +𝟭▶𝟴𝟴𝟴ⴵ𝟴𝟮𝟵ⴵ𝟭𝟯𝟯𝟴 cancel.

7. Same-Day Flight Changes

  • Fee: For Main Cabin and higher fares, you can make same-day flight changes for a fee of $75-$150 depending on your route and fare class.


ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟
𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤' 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕪 𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕗𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕚𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕪𝕡𝕖𝕤, 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕟𝕠 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕄𝕒𝕚𝕟 ℂ𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕧𝕖. ℍ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣, 𝔹𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔 𝔼𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕪𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖. 𝔸𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕔𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕞𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘.

𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔 𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕓𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕠𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕥 𝕔𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕔𝕖.


𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤' ℂ𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕪 𝔽𝔸ℚ𝕤
ℂ𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝 𝕞𝕪 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖?
𝕐𝕖𝕤, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟 𝟚𝟜 𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒 𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕.

𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕄𝕒𝕚𝕟 ℂ𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕤?
ℕ𝕠, 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕄𝕒𝕚𝕟 ℂ𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕤.

𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝔹𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔 𝔼𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖?
ℕ𝕠, 𝔹𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔 𝔼𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕖𝕤.

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕚𝕗 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥?
𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕒 𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥.

𝔻𝕠 𝕀 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕤?
ℕ𝕠, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕.

ℂ𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝 𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕒 𝕗𝕖𝕖?
𝕐𝕖𝕤, 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕚𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕝 𝕠𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤.