American Airlines change and cancellation policy (2026)

Policy checked against American Airlines's own pages on November 1, 2026 by the Fos Travel Deals travel desk. Sources are listed at the end.

We are not American Airlines. Fos Travel Deals is an independent travel agency. We can change only tickets we issued; for a ticket you bought from American or another website, use American's My Trips or contact the seller. We can book you a new flight.

The 24-hour window comes first

American gives you 24 hours from the moment you first buy to make changes or cancel for a refund, as long as you booked at least 7 days before departure. This applies whether the ticket is refundable or not, and it is the only time a Basic Economy ticket is flexible.

In select markets aa.com also lets you hold a trip for up to 24 hours without paying, again only when you are booking 7 or more days ahead. You can't hold several trips around the same dates; American cancels duplicates.

Changing after 24 hours

On aa.com or the American app, find your trip and choose to change it. You can change the departure or arrival airport, the date, or both, then review and confirm, and a confirmation email follows. A difference in ticket price may apply, and travel on the changed ticket must be completed within one year of the original ticket date.

American's own wording splits tickets into two kinds. Refundable and unrestricted fares can be changed or cancelled without a change fee, subject to seat availability. Non-refundable fares can be changed under their fare rules, and American notes you may pay a change fee as well as any fare difference. The agent or the change screen shows the exact amount before you confirm.

Same-day flight change vs same-day standby

Same-day flight change confirms you a seat on a different American flight on your day of departure, where eligible seats exist. It covers trips within or between the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and the Caribbean, plus New York JFK to London Heathrow. The new flight must use the same departure and arrival airports and can be confirmed only within 24 hours of its departure.

If a confirmed change isn't available, same-day standby puts you on the list for an earlier American flight on the same route that day. All customers can stand by at no charge, but standby doesn't guarantee a seat. Some AAdvantage elite and oneworld status members receive confirmed same-day changes free; American notes that perk excludes Basic Economy tickets bought on or after May 18, 2026.

Trip credits and what they can't pay for

When a non-refundable ticket's value is kept as travel credit, you apply it on the payment screen of a new booking using the credit's ticket number. American says travel credit can't be used for extras like seats, upgrades or bags, so budget for those separately.

If American cancels your flight or changes it significantly and you choose not to travel, federal rules entitle you to a refund rather than credit. See the refund rights section below.

Your refund rights if American cancels or changes your flight

Whatever the airline's own policy says, U.S. Department of Transportation rules give you a refund, not just a credit, when the airline cancels your flight or makes a significant change and you choose not to travel. A significant change includes departing 3 or more hours earlier or arriving 3 or more hours later on a domestic trip (6 hours internationally), a different origin or destination airport, more connections, or a downgrade to a lower class.

If you bought directly from the airline, the refund is automatic once you decline the rebooking or credit: within 7 business days for card purchases and 20 business days for cash.

The DOT 24-hour rule applies to tickets bought at least seven days before departure: the airline must either let you cancel for a full refund within 24 hours or let you hold the fare for 24 hours without paying.

Bought your ticket from a travel agency or website?

If a travel agency or another website issued your American ticket, start with that seller: it holds the booking and its own fees and rules apply on top of American's.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• American: Reservations and tickets FAQs
• American: Flying with American (customer commitments)
• U.S. DOT: Refunds

Other airline policy guides

Last checked November 1, 2026. Airlines change these rules without notice; American's own website is the final word for a ticket it issued.