You might get automatically rebooked on another flight, but it might not be the best option. Check the AA app(IOs or Google Play) instead.
A lot of these cancellations came after the airline recently stripped passengers of their rights. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to know how to protect yourself if American Airlines cancels your flight. Here’s what you need to know if your flight gets canceled.
American Airlines Commitments for Controllable Cancellations
| Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost | Yes: American commits to Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost |
| Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost | Yes: American commits to Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost |
| Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for new flight | Yes: American commits to Meal or meal cash/voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more for new flight |
| Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation | Yes: American commits to Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation |
| Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation | Yes: American commits to Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation |
| Cash compensation when a cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time | No: American does not commit to Cash compensation when a cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time |
| Credit/travel voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time | No: American does not commit to Credit/travel voucher when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time |
| Frequent flyer miles when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time | No: American does not commit to Frequent flyer miles when cancellation results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time |
American Airlines Commitments for Controllable Delays
| Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays | Yes: American commits to Rebook passenger on same airline at no additional cost for significant delays |
| Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays | Yes: American commits to Rebook on partner airline or another airline with which it has an agreement at no additional cost for significant delays |
| Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting 3 hours or more | Yes: American commits to Meal or meal cash/voucher when flight delay results in passenger waiting 3 hours or more |
| Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay | Yes: American commits to Complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay |
| Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay | Yes: American commits to Complimentary ground transportation to and from hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay |
| Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time | No: American does not commit to Cash compensation when a delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time |
| Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time | No: American does not commit to Credit/travel voucher when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time |
| Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time | No: American does not commit to Frequent flyer miles when delay results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time |
Why is American Airlines canceling flights?
It is possible for flights to be canceled for a variety of reasons, depending on whether or not the airline is responsible. Weather delays, mechanical problems, and staffing issues are some common scenarios.
American Airlines flight cancellations: flyer rights
From the carrier
It was recently announced that American Airlines would eliminate flyer rights from its Conditions of Carriage – the contract you sign when you book a ticket with American Airlines.
American Airlines will no longer be held responsible if it cancels, delays, or changes your flight schedule. Let’s say an American Airlines flight is canceled or delayed by more than four hours. As a result, American Airlines is only responsible for refunding the remaining flights on your trip – even if it leaves you stranded.
American Airlines will rebook you on the next American Airlines or American partner flight with available seats if it cancels or delays a flight and you miss a connection.
In certain circumstances, American Airlines makes exceptions – such as military orders, passengers with disabilities, and unaccompanied minors. If you are traveling to a funeral, surgery, or a cruise, the agent may be able to unlock more rebooking options.
From the U.S. Department of Transportation
You are under Contract of Carriage once you book a ticket with American, according to consumer protections from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
American currently offers two options in the event of a flight cancellation:
Your money can either be refunded on the original payment method or accepted as a rebooking from American Airlines.
Even so, the Department of Transportation does not require airlines to provide passengers with additional compensation in the event of delayed or canceled flights. The refund should include seat selection, checked baggage fees, and airfare.
Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004, commonly referred to as EC261, can help with flights departing from European Union countries or territories that are canceled for reasons within the airline’s control. According to distance and delay, passengers on canceled flights can receive additional compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros.
American Airlines Cancellation Policy
Trying to understand airline policies can be challenging when you have to comb through terms and conditions. Listed below are the main points of American Airlines Cancellation Policy:
American Airlines All tickets: can be refunded in full within 24 hours of purchase when booked at least two days in advance.
American Airlines Refundable tickets: tickets can be refunded in full by contacting reservations or by requesting a refund online.
American Airlines Non-Refundable tickets: There is no refund after the 24-hour grace period for nonrefundable tickets. When you cancel a flight before departure, you can apply the unused value of eligible fares toward a future trip, as long as the new trip occurs within one year of the original flight.
Currently, you’re allowed to make changes to your trip once only.
Please note that this policy only applies to purchases made directly with American Airlines. Contact the agency directly if you purchased your ticket through a travel agent or website.
What to do if your American Airlines flight gets canceled
Rebooking or requesting a refund are your primary options when American cancels your flight. Here are some tips for each situation.
How to rebook after an American Airlines flight cancellation
You may still want to take that trip even if your American Airlines flight has been canceled.
When your flight is canceled, time is of the essence. You’re likely to compete with a planeload of passengers – all of whom want to go where they want when they want. As a result, you should act as soon as possible, potentially trying several different angles at once.
Check out the American Airlines app first. You might be able to quickly get a seat on another flight by clicking on the flight cancellation button.
Call American Airlines Reservations if that doesn’t work. A reservations agent will be your best bet for rebooking. You can set up a callback if the wait time is too long if you want to avoid waiting on the phone.
While you wait for a callback, it doesn’t hurt to speak with an airport agent if you are at the airport when the cancellation occurs. To get a quick response, try a help desk or an Admirals Club lounge if there is a long line at your gate.
How to get a refund after an American Airlines flight cancellation
If you decide to get a refund, it depends on whether you bought a cash fare or used miles.
Refunding American Airlines cash fares
Avoid the phone lines for cash fares. Wait times are likely to be long, and the process can be tedious. American Airlines allows you to request a refund right on its website. You can submit your refund request on American Airlines’ dedicated refunds page.
To begin, you’ll need the passenger’s last name and ticket number. Ticket numbers start with 001, and you can find them on your email confirmation from American Airlines with the subject line “Your trip confirmation.”
There is a unique number assigned to each passenger, though the numbers are often very similar if they were ticketed simultaneously. Refund requests must be submitted for each passenger.
Refunding AAdvantage award tickets
There are many AAdvantage award tickets that can be canceled on the American Airlines website. Log into your AAdvantage account, open All Trips, click the reservation you wish to cancel and click “Cancel trip.”
Your miles will be automatically refunded if your ticket is eligible for cancellation. Some award tickets cannot be automatically refunded. These include:
- Trips that have already started.
- Award flights on partner airlines.
- Tickets purchased outside the U.S.
- Trips that have been changed since originally ticketed.
If this happens, you’ll need to contact American Airlines Reservations to request a refund manually.
What to do if your American flight gets canceled
Don’t hesitate to act quickly. It may be possible for the airline to automatically rebook you on a new flight, but that might not be the best option for you. First, check the app to see if there are any options. Call American Airlines Reservations if none of those work.
A refund can generally be requested online, so you won’t have to wait on the phone for an agent if you cancel your trip. The process varies depending on whether you booked your trip with cash or miles.
Finally, suppose you are not able to obtain a refund from the airline. Depending on your credit card’s insurance or a separate travel insurance policy, you may be able to recover some of your expenses.
