Want to lock in that perfect American Airlines flight without hitting "purchase" just yet? You're in the right place!
We've all been there: you find an amazing flight deal, but you're not quite ready to commit. Maybe you need to confirm dates with travel companions, check your work schedule, or simply ponder if that beach vacation is truly in the cards. The good news is, American Airlines offers a valuable feature that allows you to hold your reservation, giving you precious time to finalize your plans without the stress of missing out or seeing the price jump.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how American Airlines' flight hold works, step-by-step, to ensure you can leverage this fantastic benefit effectively.
Step 1: Start Your Flight Search – The First Spark of Your Journey!
The process begins just like any other flight booking.
Sub-heading: Navigating to American Airlines' Website
Go to the American Airlines official website: Open your preferred web browser and navigate to
aa.com. This is the most reliable place to find accurate information and utilize their hold feature. While some online travel agencies (OTAs) might offer their own hold options, the American Airlines direct hold policy applies specifically to bookings made on their platform.
Sub-heading: Inputting Your Travel Details
Enter your travel details: On the homepage, you'll see the flight search engine. Input your desired departure and arrival airports, your travel dates (both departure and return, if applicable), the number of passengers, and your travel class (e.g., Economy, Business, First).
Click "Search flights": Once all details are entered, hit the search button to display available flights.
Step 2: Choosing Your Perfect Itinerary – The Art of Selection
Now comes the fun part – Browse through the flight options and finding the one that suits you best.
Sub-heading: Reviewing Flight Options and Fares
Browse through the results: American Airlines will present you with a variety of flight options, including different times, layovers, and fare types. Take your time to review these, considering factors like:
Departure and arrival times
Number and duration of layovers
Fare type (Basic Economy, Main Cabin, etc.)
Total travel time
Select your preferred flights: Click on the flights you wish to select for both your outbound and return journeys (if it's a round trip). As you select, the total fare will update.
Step 3: The "Hold Your Trip" Option – Your Golden Ticket to Flexibility
This is the crucial step where you can choose to hold your reservation instead of immediate purchase.
Sub-heading: Locating the Hold Option on the "Review and Pay" Page
Proceed to the "Review and Pay" page: After selecting your flights, you'll typically be directed to a page where you review your itinerary, passenger details, and the total cost. This is where the "Hold your trip" option usually appears.
Look for "Hold your trip" or similar wording: On this page, before you enter any payment information, look for a button or link that says "Hold your trip," "Hold this reservation," or something similar. It's often located near the "Continue to Payment" or "Purchase" button.
Important Note: American Airlines generally offers a free 24-hour hold on select flights, especially if you're booking 7 or more days before departure. This is a great benefit, as many other airlines only offer 24-hour cancellations with a full refund after purchase, rather than a hold without payment.
Award Tickets: If you're booking an award ticket using AAdvantage miles, you might also have the option to hold it. Historically, these holds were longer (up to 5 days), but American Airlines has made changes and now award ticket holds are also typically limited to 24 hours.
Sub-heading: Understanding the Hold Duration
Be aware of the hold duration: When you select "Hold your trip," the system will usually inform you exactly how long the hold is valid for. For most standard bookings, this is 24 hours. The timer starts from the moment you initiate the hold.
Paid holds (less common now): In the past, American Airlines offered paid options for extended holds (e.g., 3, 5, or 7 days). However, based on recent information, these paid extended hold options have largely been eliminated due to lack of use. The primary hold option available now is the free 24-hour hold.
Step 4: Confirming Your Hold – Securing Your Spot
Once you click the "Hold your trip" option, you'll go through a quick confirmation process.
Sub-heading: Providing Necessary Information for the Hold
Enter passenger details: You'll likely need to enter the passenger(s) names as they appear on their government-issued identification. Ensure these details are accurate to avoid issues later.
Receive confirmation: After successfully holding your trip, American Airlines will typically provide you with a confirmation code (a 6-letter code) and send a confirmation email to the address you provided. Keep this confirmation code and email safe! It's essential for retrieving and paying for your held reservation later.
Step 5: Managing Your Held Reservation – Your Decision Window
Now you have a window of time to decide!
Sub-heading: Retrieving and Paying for Your Held Trip
Accessing your held trip: To retrieve your held reservation, you can either:
Click the link in your confirmation email: The email will usually contain a direct link to your reservation.
Go to "Your trips" or "Manage trips" on aa.com: On the American Airlines website, look for sections like "Your trips" or "Manage trips / Check-in." You'll need to enter your confirmation code and the last name of one of the passengers to access your booking.
Review and pay: Once you've accessed your held trip, you'll have the option to review all the details. If you're ready to proceed, select "Pay for trip" or "Complete purchase" and enter your payment information.
Sub-heading: What Happens if You Don't Pay?
Automatic cancellation: If you do not pay for your held reservation within the specified hold period (usually 24 hours), the reservation will be automatically canceled. The seats will be released back into American Airlines' inventory, and the fare you held will no longer be guaranteed. There's no penalty for letting a hold expire, but you will lose the specific fare and seat selection.
Key Considerations and Best Practices:
24-Hour Rule vs. Hold: It's important to differentiate between American Airlines' 24-hour hold policy and the DOT's 24-hour cancellation rule. The 24-hour rule mandates that for flights to/from the US, booked at least 7 days in advance, airlines must either allow you to hold a reservation for 24 hours without payment or offer a full refund for cancellations within 24 hours of purchase. American Airlines typically offers the hold option, which is often more convenient as you don't need to make a payment and then await a refund.
Duplicate Holds: American Airlines generally does not allow multiple held trips to the same or similar destinations, or around the same dates/times. Their system is designed to detect and cancel duplicate held reservations. So, if you're trying to compare a few options, it's best to hold only one at a time.
Fare Changes: While your reservation is on hold, the fare is locked in. This is one of the biggest advantages of the hold feature – you are protected from price increases during your decision window. However, if the hold expires, the price is no longer guaranteed and may change if you try to re-book.
Seat Selection: You can often select your seats on a held reservation. These seats are typically reserved for you during the hold period, preventing them from being booked by others.
Booking in Advance: The free 24-hour hold is primarily available for flights booked 7 or more days before departure. If you're booking a last-minute flight, the hold option might not be available.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to put an American Airlines flight on hold for free?
You can put an American Airlines flight on hold for free for up to 24 hours by selecting "Hold your trip" on the "Review and pay" page during the booking process, provided your flight is booked 7 or more days before departure.
How to extend an American Airlines flight hold beyond 24 hours?
Currently, American Airlines has largely eliminated options for paid extended holds beyond 24 hours. The primary hold available is the free 24-hour option.
How to find my American Airlines held reservation?
You can find your American Airlines held reservation by going to "Your trips" or "Manage trips" on aa.com and entering your 6-letter confirmation code and the last name of one of the passengers, or by clicking the link in your confirmation email.
How to pay for an American Airlines flight that is on hold?
To pay for an American Airlines flight on hold, retrieve your reservation using your confirmation code on aa.com and then select the option to "Pay for trip" or "Complete purchase" and enter your payment details before the hold expires.
How to cancel an American Airlines flight that is on hold?
You don't actively "cancel" a held American Airlines flight. If you decide not to purchase it, simply let the 24-hour hold expire, and the reservation will automatically cancel without any penalty.
How to know if my American Airlines flight qualifies for a hold?
The option to "Hold your trip" will appear on the "Review and pay" page if your chosen American Airlines flight qualifies for a hold. This is typically for flights booked 7 or more days in advance.
How to hold multiple American Airlines flights at once?
American Airlines generally does not allow holding multiple trips to the same or similar destinations or around the same dates/times. Their system may automatically cancel duplicate held reservations.
How to hold an American Airlines award ticket?
Yes, you can hold American Airlines award tickets. Similar to paid tickets, award ticket holds are now typically limited to 24 hours. The option will appear during the booking process for award travel.
How to ensure the price doesn't change on a held American Airlines flight?
The primary benefit of holding an American Airlines flight is that the fare for that specific itinerary is locked in for the duration of the hold (usually 24 hours). As long as you purchase before the hold expires, the price will remain the same.
How to avoid losing my held American Airlines reservation?
To avoid losing your held American Airlines reservation, ensure you complete the purchase and pay for the ticket within the 24-hour hold period. Set a reminder for yourself to complete the transaction.
