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- American Airlines requires bookings be made at least seven days before departure to qualify for a full refund within 24 hours on nonrefundable tickets.
- Previously customers could cancel nonrefundable tickets within 24 hours if purchased at least two days before departure.
- The Department of Transportation requires a 24 hours refund or ticket hold for bookings made at least a week before; American Airlines offers both.
- Refund policy unchanged for refundable tickets and airline-initiated cancellations; contact your travel agency for bookings and note some countries have different rules.
With a recently updated refund policy, American Airlines customers who regularly make last-minute bookings of nonrefundable flights might want to think twice.
A quiet change has narrowed what those who purchase nonrefundable airfare with short notice are entitled to. According to the airline’s Conditions of Carriage, last updated July 30, customers who cancel a nonrefundable ticket within 24 hours of purchase are eligible for a full refund only if they booked the flight at least seven days before departure.
Before the late July shift, the airline’s travelers with nonrefundable airfare were eligible for a refund within 24 hours, provided their departing flight ticket was purchased at least two days in advance.
The Department Of Transporation’s Refund Rules For Airlines
American Airlines’ adjusted 24-hour refund policy impacts travelers who’ve purchased nonrefundable airfare less than seven days before departure and must cancel their flight. However, the carrier’s updated policy still aligns with the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s regulations. If a booking is made at least a week before departure, federal rules require United States-based airlines to offer at least one of two options. The first is to allow consumers “to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without a penalty for 24 hours.” The second would be to “reserve a ticket (place it on hold) at the quoted prices without paying for the ticket for 24 hours.” Though not federally mandated, American Airlines offers both options.
Worth noting, the carrier’s refund policy will remain the same for those who’ve purchased a refundable ticket or had their travel canceled or significantly changed by the airline. Its refund policy will also remain unchanged for passengers who booked their flights at least seven days in advance.
“If you bought your ticket through a travel agency or another booking source, contact them for a refund. Some countries have different rules about refunds, and if so, we will follow those rules,” the company further explains in its Conditions of Carriage.
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