AAdvantage Award Ticket Change & Cancellation Rules

Quick Answer Box

• A change fee is not applicable for eligible award tickets.
• If you cancel the award ticket before the first flight departs, the miles will be reinstated to your account.
• Taxes and fees associated with the award ticket will be refunded when canceled.
• Miles will not be reinstated for canceling partially used award tickets.

An award ticket is booked with AAdvantage miles rather than entirely with money. You earn American Airlines miles through flying, everyday spending, credit cards, and retail partnerships. Plus, every mile you earn doubles as one Loyalty Point, which counts toward tracking progress for elite status. AA Award reservations depend entirely on award-seat availability. Once an award ticket is confirmed, American Airlines states the passenger will have a one-year window for award travel.

Can I Make Changes to My AAdvantage Ticket?

You can change all eligible award trips through American Airlines' current award-travel page option, Change Trip. American Airlines allows passengers to change award tickets without a fee. However, you will have to pay the difference in miles or taxes. Let's understand what happens when you change an Award ticket.

• American Airlines will retrieve the original award reservation.
• Once you make changes through the Change Trip option and choose the new available itinerary, American Airlines will reinstate the miles from the original trip.
• The miles will be reinstated to the original AAdvantage account.
• Now, the miles required for the new itinerary you chose will be deducted from the original account.
• If the new flight ticket has any fare/miles or tax difference, you will have to pay the difference.
• If you owe money back, American Airlines will refund it to the credit card used for the original booking.
• American Airlines will email you the new ticket information after the change is complete.

Are there any Restrictions to Make Changes to AAdvantage Award Tickets Online?

Some AAdvantage Award tickets may restrict online changes through American Airlines' standard online Change Trip tab. Therefore, you will have to contact Reservations if the award flight has already started, the itinerary involves partner-airline travel, the ticket has already been changed since it was originally issued, or special passenger arrangements may require agent assistance.

Also, having an award ticket on the original flight does not guarantee space on the new flight. When changing the itinerary, the new flight must have eligible award ticket availability. If the desired replacement flight has no eligible award space, you cannot substitute it as the new award itinerary.

Some passengers may face restrictions when changing an award flight, mainly because award travel requires additional servicing. Therefore, eligible AAdvantage award travel for an unaccompanied minor must be handled through Reservations, and any changes to that award ticket must be handled through American Airlines, not through the ordinary online change process. If an infant under two is traveling on a parent's lap, the domestic tickets must be managed, and any changes must be handled through the AA Reservations team.

A change caused by an event outside your control will be handled differently from a voluntary award ticket change. American Airlines will identify award tickets changed due to uncontrollable events and offer special assistance. Contact American Airlines Reservations for the appropriate award handling, as it differs from a standard voluntary online award change.

1-  Award Routing & Segment Restrictions

When changing to the award flight ticket, the new itinerary must continue to satisfy American Airlines' applicable award-routing and segment limitations. A one-way award flight within the U.S. and Canada, including Alaska and Hawaii, may include up to three flight segments. A one-way award to other destinations, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, may include up to four flight segments. However, when making changes, the planned itinerary cannot exceed the applicable segment limit, and the replaced routing must remain eligible for AAdvantage award travel.

2-  Partner Airlines Restrictions on AAdvantage Award Ticket

An award ticket containing partner-airline flights can have additional availability and restrictions. Partner-airline award ticket availability can differ from American-operated award ticket availability. Some partner awards may incur additional fees, and changing partner airline award tickets may require assistance from American Airlines Reservations.

3-  AA Award Ticketing & Validity Restrictions

The validity and status of the AAdvantage award ticket can affect how we handle a change. American Airlines AAdvantage Terms treat award reservations differently before and after ticketing. Changes to a ticketed award may require miles or fees when the ticket is reissued. Once an award is ticketed, American Airlines gives one year to complete all award travel. Changing the itinerary does not extend the validity period.

Can I Transfer my Award Ticket to Family Members or Friends?

When changing an AAdvantage Award ticket, you cannot transfer it to another traveler, as AAdvantage Award tickets are non-transferable and non-assignable. The award recipient is designated the first time the award is ticketed, and changing the award flight itinerary does not allow you to replace the passenger name with another traveler. Therefore, itinerary changes only allow you to change travel arrangements, not the person associated with the ticket.

Steps to Change AAdvantage Award Tickets

Change your award flight ticket in just a few steps. American Airlines does not charge any change fee. However, you may have to pay the difference for the new flight or changes made.

Step 1: Log in to the American Airlines official website or AA mobile app. Enter your AAdvantage account details to view your active itineraries. You can also select Manage Trips/Your Trips and enter the 6-character confirmation code received via email.

Step 2: To modify the itinerary, search for the Change Trip option, choose whether to modify your departure or return flight, or the entire segment.

Step 3: Enter your new preferred travel dates, destination airport, or desired class of service. Finally, review the live award schedule and select an itinerary that fits your plan.

Step 4: Settle the balance & confirm your flight. The system will automatically recalculate miles and refund the original miles or deduct them if needed for the new flight. However, if the new flight costs more miles or has higher mandatory airport taxes, you will need to pay the difference by credit card.

Step 5: Review and confirm the flight schedule. Check your email for a booking confirmation and updated ticket number. It can occasionally take up to 72 hours for the main AAdvantage account dashboard to reflect the finalized net mileage.

Will I get all the award miles back to my account when canceling?

American distinguishes between wholly unused and partially used award tickets. The miles used for an award ticket will be reinstated based on how much you used. For wholly unused awards, you can reinstate miles when you meet the applicable cancellation requirements. For partially used awards, miles are not reinstated under the normal award-cancellation rule. When one or more segments are already used, do not assume the unused portion can be canceled for mileage reinstatement.

American's current consumer guidance states that eligible award cancellations can have the miles reinstated at no charge. You will not have to pay a separate mileage-reinstatement fee for an eligible cancellation, and it applies only when the award meets American's reinstatement requirements. However, certain fees related to AAdvantage optional services might not be refunded.

To reinstate AAdvantage miles from an eligible, wholly unused award ticket, you must cancel before departure. Once the trip has started, the normal mileage-reinstatement rule does not apply, and you must contact American Reservations for assistance.

Will The Taxes and Fees Also be Refunded?

When you cancel an eligible award, American refunds the eligible cash portion while reinstating the miles separately. AAdvantage miles go back to the applicable AAdvantage account, whereas eligible taxes and fees are refunded separately. The refund is not normally converted into a travel credit simply because the ticket was an award ticket and some taxes and fees are non-refundable.

American specifically excludes certain amounts from its normal award-ticket refund. Any sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes may not be refunded. Taxes American must pay regardless of whether you travel may not be refunded. All amounts associated with travel that has already started may not be refundable. However, country-specific refund requirements can apply differently.

Can I Cancel Before Ticketing If I No Longer Want an Award Reservation?

American's AAdvantage Terms treat an award reservation that has not yet been ticketed separately from a ticketed award. Before ticketing, you may cancel an AAdvantage flight-award reservation without charge unless otherwise stated. However, once the award is ticketed, the mileage-reinstatement requirements above apply. Therefore, cancellation before ticketing and cancellation of an issued award ticket should not be treated as identical situations.

What Are The Steps To Cancel an AAdvantage Award Ticket?

American Airlines allows you to cancel an AAdvantage award ticket for free and get a full redeposit of your miles anytime before the first flight departs.

Step 1: Visit the American Airlines website and find your reservation using the 6-character confirmation code you received when you booked. Open the Award Trip and retrieve the reservation containing the AAdvantage award ticket. Now select the AAdvantage award reservation you want to cancel.

Step 2: Select the Cancellation Trip option from the online trip-management tools and follow the prompts shown by American Airlines.

Step 3: Review the cancellation and refund information before canceling the award ticket. Check the information displayed for cancellation, applicable mileage reinstatement, and refund of eligible taxes and fees.

Step 4: Confirm the cancellation by clicking the Cancel Trip tab again when prompted. Check your email for cancellation information after the cancellation is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change an AAdvantage award ticket after booking?

Yes. Eligible award trips can be changed online, with no award-ticket change fee, although a difference in miles or taxes may apply.

How long does it take to get AAdvantage miles back after cancellation?

Allow up to 72 hours for the mileage reinstatement to be processed and reflected in your AAdvantage account.

What are the Rules for international award ticket changes?

International award ticket changes are subject to different rules and regulations. International award tickets are subject to applicable governmental approvals. Any immigration-related charges, departure taxes, security and inspection fees, or airport charges may apply.

Can I change or cancel an AAdvantage award ticket booked with a partner airline?

Yes, but you may need to contact American Reservations for mileage reinstatement when the award involves partner-airline travel.

Do I get my taxes and fees back when I cancel an AAdvantage award ticket?

Eligible taxes and fees are refunded, except certain sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes, taxes American must pay regardless of travel, and amounts associated with a trip that has already started.

What happens if I cancel a partially used AAdvantage award ticket?

The miles will not be reinstated. American's AAdvantage terms specifically exclude partially used awards.

Can I cancel an expired award ticket?

American does not reinstate miles from an award ticket that has expired, as it won't qualify for normal mileage reinstatement. Therefore, the award must be canceled before its expiration.

Can I change or cancel an AAdvantage award ticket after the trip has started?

To reinstate AAdvantage miles from an eligible, wholly unused award ticket, you must cancel before departure. Once the trip has started, the normal mileage-reinstatement rule does not apply, and you must contact American Reservations for assistance.

Cheapflightsfares is an independent agency and is not affiliated with American Airlines. The given policies are subject to change. It is always advisable to verify current policies published by American Airlines on their official website.