Oh, welcome, fellow traveler! So you've booked a flight with American Airlines and now you're wondering, "How do I add this flight to my American Airlines account?" Excellent question! Associating your flight with your AAdvantage® account is crucial for earning those valuable miles, tracking your travel, and generally making your journey smoother. Let's get you set up, step by step!
Step 1: Gather Your Essential Travel Details
Before we even touch the American Airlines website or app, let's make sure you have everything you need at your fingertips. Imagine arriving at the airport without your boarding pass – that's the kind of preparation we're aiming for here!
Your American Airlines Confirmation Code (Record Locator): This is a six-character alphanumeric code (e.g., ABCDEF) that you received when you booked your flight. It's your golden ticket to accessing your reservation. You'll usually find it in your booking confirmation email.
Your Last Name: The last name used on the booking. Make sure it exactly matches what's on your ticket.
Your AAdvantage® Number (if you have one): This is your unique membership number for American Airlines' frequent flyer program. If you don't have one, don't worry, we'll cover that too!
Your Email Address (associated with the booking): Sometimes this can be an alternative way to look up your trip.
Pro Tip: If you booked through a third-party site (like an online travel agency – Expedia, Booking.com, etc.), make sure you have the American Airlines-specific confirmation code, not just the third-party booking reference. It might be listed clearly in your confirmation email from the third party.
Step 2: Accessing Your American Airlines Reservation
Now that you're armed with your details, let's navigate to where the magic happens. American Airlines offers a couple of primary ways to access your reservation.
Sub-heading 2.1: Using the American Airlines Website (aa.com)
This is often the most comprehensive way to manage your trips.
Open your web browser and go to the official American Airlines website:
www.aa.com On the homepage, look for a section typically labeled "Manage trips / Check-in" or "Your trips." It's usually prominently displayed.
You'll typically see two options:
"Find your trip using confirmation code": This is what you'll use if you haven't logged into your AAdvantage® account yet, or if you booked as a guest.
"Log in to your AAdvantage® account": If you already have an AAdvantage® account and want to view your existing trips, this is your direct route.
Sub-heading 2.2: Using the American Airlines Mobile App
The American Airlines app is incredibly convenient for managing your flights on the go.
Download and open the American Airlines app on your smartphone or tablet (available for iOS and Android).
On the app's home screen, you'll likely see similar options to the website: "Find your trip" or the ability to "Log in" to your AAdvantage® account.
Step 3: Adding Your Flight to Your AAdvantage® Account (The Core Process!)
This is where we directly link your existing flight reservation to your AAdvantage® profile.
Sub-heading 3.1: If You ARE Logged into Your AAdvantage® Account
If you booked your flight while logged in to your AAdvantage® account, or if you've already found your trip using the confirmation code and now want to link it:
Log in to your AAdvantage® account on either the website or the app.
Once logged in, navigate to the "Your trips" or "My trips" section. Your upcoming flights should automatically appear here if you included your AAdvantage® number during the booking process.
If your flight isn't showing up: Even if you were logged in, sometimes a flight booked separately (perhaps by someone else, or a trip where you forgot to enter your AAdvantage® number) might not auto-populate. In this case, you'll usually see an option like "Add a trip" or "Link a reservation." Click on this.
You will then be prompted to enter your Confirmation Code (Record Locator) and your Last Name.
After entering the details, the system should recognize your flight. There will usually be a clear option to "Add to My Trips" or "Associate with AAdvantage® Account." Click it!
Verify that your AAdvantage® number now appears on the reservation details.
Sub-heading 3.2: If You Are NOT Logged In (and Booked as a Guest or Forgot to Add Your AAdvantage® Number)
This is a common scenario! You booked as a guest, or perhaps simply forgot to input your AAdvantage® number. No problem!
On the American Airlines website (aa.com) or app, go to the "Manage trips / Check-in" or "Find your trip" section.
Enter your Confirmation Code (Record Locator) and your Last Name exactly as they appear on your booking confirmation.
Click "Find trip" or a similar button.
Your reservation details will load. Look for a section like "Passenger Information," "Edit Passenger Details," or an option to "Add Frequent Flyer Number."
Click on this section. You'll then be able to enter your AAdvantage® number.
Save your changes! There will usually be a "Save" or "Update" button to confirm the addition of your AAdvantage® number.
It's a good idea to then log in to your AAdvantage® account to confirm the flight now appears under "Your trips." It might take a few moments to update.
Sub-heading 3.3: Adding Your AAdvantage® Number During Online Check-in
If you're closer to your departure date and haven't linked your flight yet, you have another opportunity!
When it's time for online check-in (usually 24 hours before your flight), go to the "Check-in" section on aa.com or the app.
Enter your confirmation code and last name to retrieve your boarding pass.
During the check-in process, you will typically be given an option to add or verify your AAdvantage® number. Ensure it's entered correctly!
Complete the check-in process. Your flight should then be linked.
Step 4: Confirming Your Flight is Linked and Earning Miles
Once you've followed the steps above, you'll want to double-check that your efforts paid off.
Log back into your AAdvantage® account on the American Airlines website or app.
Go to the "Your trips" section. Your flight should now be visible there.
Click on the specific flight. Within the reservation details, you should see your AAdvantage® number associated with your name. This confirms the link!
After your flight: Allow a few days for the miles to post to your account. You can check your AAdvantage® mileage balance in your account summary.
Important Note: If you've already completed your flight and forgot to add your AAdvantage® number, don't despair! You can usually request missing miles credit through the American Airlines website within a certain timeframe (typically up to 12 months after the flight date). Look for a "Request Missing Miles" option under the AAdvantage® section of the website.
Congratulations!
You've successfully added your flight to your American Airlines account! Now you're all set to earn those valuable AAdvantage® miles, track your journey effortlessly, and enjoy the benefits of being a connected traveler. Happy travels!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about managing your American Airlines flights and AAdvantage® account:
How to find my American Airlines confirmation code? Check your flight confirmation email from American Airlines or the third-party booking site. It's a six-character alphanumeric code, also known as a Record Locator.
How to add a flight booked with a travel agent to my American Airlines account? You can add it by using the American Airlines confirmation code (Record Locator) provided by your travel agent. Go to the "Manage trips" section on aa.com or the app and enter the code and your last name, then look for the option to add your AAdvantage® number.
How to add my AAdvantage® number if I already checked in? While it's ideal to add it before check-in, if you've already checked in, sometimes you can still add it at the airport check-in counter or the gate agent. However, for future flights, it's best to do it online beforehand.
How to check if my flight is linked to my AAdvantage® account? Log in to your AAdvantage® account on aa.com or the app, then go to "Your trips." If the flight appears there and you can see your AAdvantage® number on the reservation details, it's linked.
How to earn miles if I forgot to add my AAdvantage® number before my flight? You can request missing miles credit online through the American Airlines website. Look for the "Request Missing Miles" option under the AAdvantage® section, usually within 12 months of your flight.
How to find my AAdvantage® number if I forgot it? On the American Airlines website's login page, there's a "Need AAdvantage number?" link. You can typically retrieve it by entering your name and email address.
How to add a flight to a family member's American Airlines account? Each individual's flight needs to be linked to their own AAdvantage® account. You would follow the same steps for each family member, using their specific confirmation code and last name, and then adding their individual AAdvantage® number.
How to change my AAdvantage® number on a reservation? If you entered the wrong AAdvantage® number, you can usually edit the passenger details in the "Manage trips" section of your reservation on aa.com or the app and correct the number.
How to know if I'm earning Loyalty Points for my flight? When you earn eligible AAdvantage® miles for travel on American, you will also earn Loyalty Points. You can track your Loyalty Point progress in your AAdvantage® account summary on aa.com.
How to contact American Airlines AAdvantage® customer service for help? You can find their contact information on the American Airlines website under "Contact American" or within the AAdvantage® section. They have dedicated lines for AAdvantage® support.
