American Airlines·oneworld
How to Change a American Flight — Fees & Rules
How to Change a American Flight — Fees & Rules — Summary
Change a American booking: change fees, fare difference rules, same-day change and standby, the 24-hour rule, and what happens if you no-show.
Key Travel Facts & Insights
- Change fees: No change fee on Main Cabin and above for domestic, short-haul international and most long-haul international travel.
- Same-day changes and standby: Same-day flight change is offered for a fee and is complimentary for AAdvantage elite members.
- The 24-hour rule: American offers both a 24-hour refund and a 24-hour hold: you can hold a fare without payment for 24 hours, or cancel a paid ticket within 24 hours for a full refund if booked at least two days before departure..
- If you miss the flight: No-show forfeits the full ticket value on non-refundable fares.
Change fees
No change fee on Main Cabin and above for domestic, short-haul international and most long-haul international travel. Fare difference applies. Basic Economy is non-changeable.
Same-day changes and standby
Same-day flight change is offered for a fee and is complimentary for AAdvantage elite members. Standby is free for elites.
The 24-hour rule
American offers both a 24-hour refund and a 24-hour hold: you can hold a fare without payment for 24 hours, or cancel a paid ticket within 24 hours for a full refund if booked at least two days before departure.
If you miss the flight
No-show forfeits the full ticket value on non-refundable fares. Cancel before departure to preserve a trip credit.
Which fare you bought matters
Basic Economy — No changes or refunds after 24 hours, no advance seat selection without paying, and last boarding group. Main Cabin — Fare difference applies on changes; ticket remains non-refundable. Main Cabin Extra — Same cabin and same baggage allowance as Main Cabin. Flagship Business — Flagship First now exists on very few aircraft; most "first" on American is domestic recliner First.
Fastest way to make the change
aa.com and the American app handle rebooking, seat changes, refund requests and bag tracking. The Refunds page is genuinely self-service and avoids a phone queue entirely.
American changing your flight — common questions
Does American charge a change fee?
No change fee on Main Cabin and above for domestic, short-haul international and most long-haul international travel. Fare difference applies. Basic Economy is non-changeable.
Can I cancel a American flight within 24 hours?
American offers both a 24-hour refund and a 24-hour hold: you can hold a fare without payment for 24 hours, or cancel a paid ticket within 24 hours for a full refund if booked at least two days before departure.
What happens if I miss my American flight?
No-show forfeits the full ticket value on non-refundable fares. Cancel before departure to preserve a trip credit.
More American help
Booking American? Talk to a US travel consultant.
Fare rules, baggage allowances and change policies differ by route and fare brand. Our consultants confirm the exact terms attached to your itinerary before you pay — and handle the change or refund if plans move.