American Airlines Holiday Season Change & Cancellation Guide

Quick Answer Box

• American Airlines also allows standard cancellation and change rules for the holiday season.
• Depending on demand and travel advisories, credits can sometimes replace cash refunds.
• Weather conditions may affect travel. In these cases, American Airlines follows its involuntary change policy.
• During winter storms, specific travel waivers may allow for free changes and waived fare differences.
• The same-day change policy also remains the same. However, availability might be disrupted.
   

American Airlines does not have a specific change and cancellation policy for the holiday season. The airline follows its regular standard policy, which states that a Basic Economy ticket is non-refundable and non-changeable. Main cabin and above fares can be changed or canceled for free.

So how does the airline's policy change by season? What affects the experience is flight availability and the refund process, which depend on seasonal demand.

This blog covers every detail on how to change or cancel an American Airlines flight during the holiday season.
 

Can I Change A Basic Economy Ticket During The Holidays?

You can't change a Basic Economy ticket once booked. The best option is to cancel the flight within 24 hours of booking, provided your departure is scheduled no earlier than seven days after the booking date. Only then can you get a full cash refund.

If you are an AAdvantage member, you can get a partial credit as a refund, provided you pay a $99 fee. This applies to Basic Economy tickets booked and traveled wholly within the United States.

International Basic Economy fares are generally non-changeable and non-refundable, with one exception. Tickets originating in most European countries can be changed for a fee.

You can read more about international policy at American Airlines International Flight Change Policy.

Here is a breakdown of cancellations/changes allowed by AA for different fare categories.

Does American Allow Same-Day Changes During The Holiday Season?

American allows passengers to apply for same-day changes. It can be a confirmed change that guarantees a seat as well as standby. Same-day confirmed changes cost $75 for non-elite AAdvantage members and are waived for elite status members. Same-day standby remains free for most fare classes. You fly standby on an earlier or later flight without a confirmed seat.

Basic Economy is excluded from same-day confirmed changes.

What actually changes during the holiday season is flight availability. Flights around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's run fuller than usual, so the probability of getting a seat at the last moment is low.

Same-day change policies vary, and the destination can affect whether you should request a change.
 

Is There Any Change Fee For American Airlines Flights During The Holiday Season?

No. The airline does not charge any change fees on Main Cabin fares and above. This policy applies to domestic flights and most international routes year-round. This means you can change your Main Cabin ticket anytime before departure. You only need to pay the fare difference. You can make the following changes to your flight:

• Date, which is moving your flight to an earlier or later day
• Time, which is switching to a different departure time on the same day
• Flight/route, where you can pick a different connection or nonstop option, if available
• Destination change, which means changing your arrival city, at a new fare.
• Origin airport, which means switching the airport you depart from if your city has multiple airports.
• Minor name corrections are allowed.
• You can downgrade to a cheaper ticket by booking a new flight of a different date/time.
   

Does American Waive Change Fees Around The Holidays?

While there is no fee for a flight change, AA may offer weather-related travel waivers if a delay, flight change, or cancellation is due to extreme weather.

While the holiday season in America starts in winter, it often brings snowstorms and other major weather disruptions. If, under unforeseen circumstances, the airline fails to operate the flight or delays it by hours beyond what was expected, the airline allows travelers to rebook with no change fee and often no fare difference. The only condition is that the origin/destination cities and the cabin remain the same. The waivers apply to all fares, regardless of ticket type.

If your desired travel dates have no availability, you can request a refund. The airline will give a cash refund rather than credits.

You can read in detail about What to Do When American Cancels Your Flight (Rebooking & Compensation).

Is Cancellation Allowed For An American Flight During The Holiday Season?

Cancellation rules remain the same for American Airlines even during the holiday season. Main Cabin and above can be canceled anytime before departure at no fee. Basic Economy can only be canceled within the 24-hour booking window. AAdvantage members with a domestic itinerary can cancel for a $99 fee. AAdvantage members can cancel international Basic Economy that originates in the U.S. for partial credit, which is $129 short-haul and $199 long-haul.

If weather conditions prevent flight operation, American Airlines provides a full refund for all fare classes.

When you cancel the flight, the refund depends on the ticket type. For nonrefundable tickets, the airline may issue a travel credit, while refundable tickets get a full cash refund to the original payment method.

To better understand the difference, read our blog on American Airlines Refund vs. Travel Credit: Which Do You Get?

How To Change And Cancel An American Airlines Flight During The Holiday Season?

Here are the steps to change a flight.

• Step 1- Go to aa.com or open the American app and select My Trips
• Step 2- Enter your confirmation number and last name (if not logged in)
• Step 3- Select Change Flight
• Step 4- Choose your new date, time, or route
• Step 5- Review any fare difference and confirm

You can see full details in How to Change an American Airlines Flight Online (Step-by-Step).

Here are the steps to cancel a flight:

• Step 1- Go to My Trips on aa.com or the app
• Step 2- Select the trip you want to cancel
• Step 3- Select Cancel flight
• Step 4- Review your refund or travel credit amount
• Step 5- Confirm cancellation

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I get a full refund if I cancel my AA ticket during the holiday season?

The refund depends on the ticket type and fare class. If you have a refundable ticket, you will get a full cash refund. However, you can cancel a non-refundable ticket for travel credits. A Basic Economy ticket is non-refundable.

What happens if American cancels my flight due to weather?

The airline will either issue a full cash refund or reissue your ticket for free when it is canceled due to bad weather.

Can I change my flight to avoid a holiday storm before it's officially declared a waiver?

Yes, you can change your flight before a weather waiver is officially declared. However, note that standard change fees and fare differences will apply.

Can I cancel a ticket if the airline changed my flight?

Yes. You can cancel it and claim a refund.

Can I apply for a same-day change during the holiday season?

Yes, passengers can apply for same-day changes, either confirmed or standby. However, last-minute availability is rare. Confirmed changes are guaranteed, but standby during this time can be risky.
 

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.