Yes, it is possible to purchase American Airlines tickets at the airport. Here are some key things to know about buying American Airlines tickets at the airport:
Buying Tickets at Airport Ticket Counters
American Airlines has ticket counters at most major airports they service. You can go directly to an American Airlines ticket counter and purchase a ticket for a flight on the same day or in the near future. Some key things to keep in mind when buying at a ticket counter:
- Tickets may be more expensive – Buying last minute at the airport often means paying more compared to advance purchase discounts.
- Limited flight options – You can only buy tickets for flights departing very soon from that airport.
- Cash or credit card payment – Bring a credit/debit card or cash to pay for the ticket.
- Identification required – You’ll need a valid government-issued ID to purchase tickets.
So buying at a ticket counter is convenient if you need a last minute ticket, but options will be limited compared to booking in advance online.
Using Airport Kiosks
Many airports also have self-service ticketing kiosks for American Airlines passengers. Here are some key things to know about using AA kiosks to buy tickets:
- Only existing reservations – Kiosks cannot be used to book new flights. You need an existing reservation number to retrieve tickets.
- Print boarding pass – The kiosks allow you to print your boarding pass once you have an existing reservation.
- Change flights (for a fee) – Kiosks let you change flights, but you’ll pay a same-day change fee.
- Payment – Kiosks accept credit/debit cards for any fees or changes.
So kiosks are only for existing bookings, not for purchasing brand new tickets. But they can be handy for printing boarding passes or making same day flight changes.
Buying at Partner Airline Ticketing Counters
American Airlines is part of the Oneworld airline alliance. This means for flights involving multiple Oneworld airlines, you may be able to buy tickets at partner airline counters. For example:
- British Airways counter – Can purchase ticket for flight operated by American Airlines and British Airways.
- Iberia counter – Can buy ticket for American Airlines and Iberia jointly operated flight.
- Qantas counter – Can purchase American Airlines ticket for flight also involving Qantas.
So if your itinerary involves Oneworld partners, look for their counters as another option for ticketing when at the airport.
Same Day Airport Changes or Standby
If you already have an American Airlines ticket but need to make a same day change or go on standby, you can do so at the airport. Some key considerations:
- Go to AA ticket counter – Request a same day change or standby at ticketing counter.
- Standby fees – Last minute standby requests incur a fee.
- Change fees – Same day flight changes also incur a fee.
- Space available basis – Standby and changes are subject to seat availability on new flight.
So talk to an agent at check-in if you need a last minute flight change or standby, just expect additional fees in most cases.
Using Mobile Boarding Passes
The American Airlines app allows you to check-in and access mobile boarding passes. This means you may not need to visit a ticket counter at all. Key perks of mobile boarding passes:
- Check-in done on app – Avoid counters by checking in remotely via the app.
- Digital boarding pass – Add boarding pass to Apple Wallet or Android equivalent.
- Real-time updates – Get gate change and other status notifications.
- Boarding alerts – Receive boarding group alerts when at airport.
With mobile check-in, you may be able to bypass the ticket counter entirely for many American Airlines itineraries.
Airport Location Considerations
Where you can buy American Airlines tickets at an airport also depends on the specific airport location. Things that can vary by airport:
- Number of ticket counters – Bigger airports have more counters and agents.
- Wait times – Busier airports mean potentially longer wait times.
- Kiosk availability – More kiosks at larger airports.
- Partner airline counters – Alliances like Oneworld more common at big hubs.
So consider the specific airport when deciding the best option for purchasing tickets there. Larger airports offer more flexibility.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several options for buying American Airlines tickets right at the airport:
- AA ticket counters – Buy last minute tickets for departing flights.
- Partner airline counters – Purchase tickets for Oneworld itineraries.
- Self-service kiosks – Print boarding passes (not for new bookings).
- Mobile check-in – Use the app to bypass counters entirely.
- Standby or flight changes – Request at check-in but fees apply.
Airport ticketing allows great last minute flexibility but prices may be higher than advance purchase discounts. Consider airport location size and wait times when deciding best option. With mobile check-in, counters can sometimes be avoided altogether.