Changing a ticket on American Airlines can incur fees depending on the type of ticket, when the change is made, and the change being requested. Generally speaking, the earlier changes are made, and the simpler they are (such as changing dates or times), the lower the fee will be. Significant changes close to departure dates can result in paying the difference in airfare.
Change Fees
The change fee charged by American Airlines depends on the fare class of your ticket:
Full Fare First/Business Class Tickets
Tickets booked in first or business class at the full fare can be changed for free, with no change fees applied. You will only need to pay any difference in airfare if applicable.
Discounted First/Business Class Tickets
If you booked a special deal on a first or business class ticket, you can make a one-time change for free as long as travel originates in the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. Additional changes will incur a $200 fee.
Full Fare Economy/Coach Tickets
For Main Cabin tickets purchased at the full fare, American allows your first change for free except on Basic Economy tickets. Additional changes are $200 for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. For international travel on full fare tickets, all changes incur a $200 fee.
Discounted Economy/Coach Tickets
Changes to discounted Main Cabin fares and Web Special fares incur a $200 change fee for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. For international discounted economy tickets, the change fee is $250.
Basic Economy Fares
Basic Economy tickets are American’s most restrictive and lowest fare class. These tickets cannot be changed or refunded at all after the 24-hour booking cancellation period.
Award Tickets
If you booked an award ticket using AAdvantage miles, changes incur a $150 change fee. Additional fees may apply for changes in origin/destination.
Timing of Changes
Making changes farther in advance will save you money in airfare differences:
Timing of Change | Change Fee | Airfare Difference |
---|---|---|
More than 60 days before departure | Lowest | None or minimal |
30-60 days before departure | Low-moderate fee | Moderate airfare difference |
7-29 days before departure | High fee | Large airfare difference likely |
Less than 7 days before departure | Highest fees | Paying for an entirely new ticket likely |
As you can see, last minute changes can be extremely costly. If your travel plans are flexible, make changes as early as possible.
What kind of ticket changes are permitted?
You can make the following changes to your American Airlines ticket, although change fees and fare differences will apply:
- Change the dates and/or times of travel
- Change your origin and/or destination cities
- Correct passenger name(s) due to misspellings
- Change the booking code to upgrade ticket class
Some types of changes are not allowed:
- Changing from a roundtrip to one-way ticket
- Adding segments to your itinerary
- Transferring your ticket to other travelers (except for corrections)
How to Make Ticket Changes
There are a few ways you can go about changing your American Airlines ticket:
Online at AA.com
You can log into your reservation online at aa.com and make simple changes like flight times, dates (within a 21-day range) and passenger details. The fees will be displayed so you can confirm the changes.
Through the American Airlines App
The American Airlines app allows you to make the same simple changes as on aa.com. Download the app and access your reservation to see your change options.
Over the Phone
For more complex changes like changing origin/destination or class of service, you’ll need to call American’s reservations team directly. The number is 800-433-7300 within the U.S. or Canada. The agents can price out change options including fees and fare differences.
At the Airport
You can make some limited same-day ticket changes at the airport ticket counter, such as changing flights on a connection because your first one was delayed. Big changes still need to go through the reservations team.
Through a Travel Agent
If you booked through a travel agent, reach back out to them to make any ticket changes. They can access your reservation and pricing to present your options. There is typically no extra fee when using an agent.
Avoiding Change Fees
A couple tips to avoid getting hit with hefty change fees:
- Book flexible fares when possible if unsure of plans. Full fare first class tickets incur no change fees at all.
- Make any changes as far in advance as you can to avoid airfare spikes.
- Consider trip insurance – some policies will refund change fees under certain covered circumstances.
- Don’t book Basic Economy if you think you may change plans – these are 100% non-changeable.
And if you need to make a same-day flight change at the airport due to a missed connection or delay, ask an agent if they can waive the change fee given the circumstances. They will sometimes make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Conclusion
Changing an American Airlines ticket can lead to change fees of $150-$250 in most cases, plus any difference in airfare for the new itinerary. First class full fare tickets offer the most flexibility with unlimited free changes. The lowest Basic Economy fares cannot be changed at all after booking.
To maximize savings, book early and change early if your plans are in flux. And consider flexible fares or trip insurance for additional protection against change fees. Avoiding last minute changes is the best way to prevent getting hit with expensive airline change fees.