AA Cancellation Policy

Here is the information you need to know about the AA Flight Cancellation Policy and what constitutes a refund if you booked a flight with them and want your ticket reimbursed.

We created this guide (in collaboration with the Department of Transportation) to explain what you need to know because American Airlines doesn't offer a "easy to find" overview of its refund policy.

This article explains whether circumstances warrant a refund, the procedures I followed to properly submit a refund request, how long it took to obtain my refund, and other relevant information. I didn't realise how simple it would be.

American Airlines Refund Policy

Although each airline has its unique refund policy, they are all subject to the same set of regulations set out by the Department of Transportation ("DOT").

The DOT's regulations, which are upheld by American Airlines' refund policy, specify the following situations that call for a full or partial return:

24-Hour Refund: You have up to 24 hours from the time you originally purchased your ticket to obtain a refund when you purchase a ticket at least 2 days before departure. All ticket categories are subject to the 24-hour refund policy, but you must cancel your trip to receive a refund.

Flight Cancellation - If American Airlines cancels a flight for any reason and you decide not to go, you are entitled to a reimbursement.

Schedule Change/Significant Delay: If American Airlines significantly alters the schedule or delays a flight and you decide not to fly, you are entitled to a reimbursement.
Since the DOT doesn't define what "significant" means, each airline will define it differently. For the most recent policy, see American's customer service website.
According to my personal experience, if American changes their timetable and it delays your arrival by more than four hours, they will refund you. My recent journey to Lima, Peru, was altered by 3 1/2 hours by American, and they refused to give me a refund because the difference was less than 4 hours. They did not provide a refund, only a credit for another flight.
Change in Class of Service - If you are unintentionally transferred to a lesser class of service, you are entitled to a reimbursement.  For instance, you would be responsible for paying the difference in costs if you bought a first-class ticket but were ultimately relegated to an economy seat as a result of an aircraft exchange.
Fully refundable ticket - If you buy a fully refundable ticket, you are entitled to a refund if you don't use it to finish your journey.

Baggage fees - If you paid a baggage charge and your luggage has been reported missing, you are entitled to a reimbursement.

The criteria used by airlines to decide whether a luggage is considered lost may vary.  Between five and fourteen days following the trip, most airlines will declare a luggage lost, however this might vary from airline to airline.  For the most recent policy, see American's customer service website.
You are entitled to a full refund of the ticket price if your flight is cancelled and you do not wish to be rebooked on another flight.

Since COVID, the laws governing air travel have evolved. To stay current on these changes, visit American Airlines' travel updates website.