Do you have American Airlines travel credit and are wondering how to make the most of it? Perhaps your travel plans changed, a flight was canceled, or you received compensation, and now you're sitting on a valuable credit. Don't let it expire! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of finding and utilizing your American Airlines travel credit, ensuring you can book your next adventure with ease.
Let's start right now: Are you ready to unlock the value of your American Airlines travel credit and plan your next journey? If so, read on!
Step 1: Understand the Different Types of American Airlines Travel Credit
Before you even begin searching, it's crucial to understand that American Airlines has a few different types of travel credits, each with slightly varying rules and limitations. Knowing which type you have will make the process much smoother.
Sub-heading: Flight Credit vs. Trip Credit vs. Travel Voucher
Flight Credit: This is generally issued when you cancel an eligible ticket before departure. It's typically tied to the original passenger on the ticket and can primarily be used for future flights on American Airlines. You'll usually have a 13-digit ticket number associated with it.
Trip Credit: Often issued for canceled tickets, significant delays, compensation, or as remaining value when exchanging tickets. Trip Credits offer more flexibility as they can often be used by anyone the credit holder designates (not just the original passenger) for non-award trips starting in the U.S. and select countries. You'll typically receive an email with a specific Trip Credit number.
Travel Voucher: These are often paper vouchers, or sometimes electronic, and can be used to book travel for anyone. Their terms can vary, so it's always best to check the specific voucher details.
Key takeaway: Most common are Flight Credits and Trip Credits. If you cancelled a flight, you likely have a Flight Credit. If you received compensation, it's probably a Trip Credit.
Step 2: Locate Your Travel Credit Details
Now that you understand the different types, let's pinpoint your specific credit. The information you'll need includes a confirmation code, ticket number, or the specific credit number.
Sub-heading: Checking Your Email for Confirmation
Your first stop should always be your email. When American Airlines issues a travel credit, they almost always send a confirmation email with the relevant details. Search your inbox (and spam/junk folders!) for emails from "American Airlines" with subject lines related to "cancellation," "credit," "voucher," or "refund."
Look for: A 6-character confirmation code (record locator) from your original booking, or a 13-digit ticket number (often starting with '00115' or '0012'), or a distinct Trip Credit number.
Sub-heading: Logging into Your AAdvantage Account (Recommended!)
This is by far the easiest and most reliable method if you're an AAdvantage member.
Visit the American Airlines website: Go to
www.aa.com Log in: Click on "Log in" and enter your AAdvantage number or username and password.
Navigate to "Your Account" or "Wallet": Once logged in, look for a section typically labeled "Your Account," "Wallet," or "Travel Credit." American Airlines has recently made it easier to view your credits here.
You should see: A list of any active Flight Credits or Trip Credits, along with their values and expiration dates. This is a centralized hub for your available credits.
Sub-heading: Using the American Airlines "Find Your Trip or Travel Credit" Tool
If you're not an AAdvantage member, or prefer a direct lookup, American Airlines offers a dedicated tool.
Go to:
www.aa.com Enter Details: You'll typically need to enter your last name and either your confirmation code (from the original booking) or your 13-digit ticket number. For some specific travel credits, you might also be asked for your date of birth.
This tool will help you: Retrieve the details of your specific travel credit.
Sub-heading: Contacting American Airlines Customer Service (If All Else Fails)
If you've exhausted the online methods and still can't find your credit, don't despair! American Airlines customer service can assist you.
Prepare your information: Have your name, original flight details (dates, routes), and any previous confirmation codes or ticket numbers handy.
Call: You can find the relevant phone numbers on the "Contact American" section of their website. For AAdvantage members, there's a dedicated line: 800-882-8880.
Be patient: Wait times can vary, but a representative can often look up your credit using your personal details. They can also clarify the type of credit you have and its terms.
Step 3: Understanding Your Travel Credit's Terms and Conditions
Once you've found your credit, it's absolutely critical to understand its associated terms and conditions. This includes expiration dates, who can use it, and what it can be used for.
Sub-heading: Expiration Dates Are Key
Most American Airlines travel credits have an expiration date. For Flight Credits, it's typically one year from the original ticket issue date. For Trip Credits, it can vary, but often it's also one year from the issue date, though some DOT-mandated credits for significant delays/cancellations can be valid for up to 5 years.
Don't let it expire! American Airlines is generally not lenient with extensions for expired credits. Mark your calendar or set a reminder.
Sub-heading: Who Can Use the Credit?
As discussed in Step 1, this varies:
Flight Credit: Generally, only the passenger named on the original ticket can use this credit.
Trip Credit: Can often be used by the credit holder to book travel for anyone. This offers great flexibility!
Travel Voucher: Usually can be used by the voucher holder to book travel for anyone.
Sub-heading: What Can the Credit Be Used For?
Flights only: In most cases, American Airlines travel credits are applicable towards the base fare and associated taxes and fees of a new flight.
Cannot be used for extras: They typically cannot be used for ancillary products and services sold separately from the fare, such as:
Upgrades
Baggage fees
Seat selection fees
AAdvantage award travel
Sub-heading: Combining Credits
Typically, you can use one Flight Credit per passenger when booking online. If you have multiple Flight Credits for a single passenger or need to combine more than one, you might need to contact American Airlines Reservations.
Trip Credits are generally more flexible for combining, with up to 8 often allowed for online bookings (contact Reservations for more).
Step 4: Redeeming Your American Airlines Travel Credit
Now for the exciting part – booking your next flight! The process is fairly straightforward on the American Airlines website.
Sub-heading: Browse and Selecting Your New Flight
Go to
www.aa.com Select your preferred flight(s) and proceed through the booking process.
Sub-heading: Applying Your Travel Credit During Payment
Proceed to the "Review and Pay" or "Payment" page. This is where you'll apply your credit.
Look for an option like "Apply available credits" or "Add travel credit." This will be a clearly marked link or button in the payment section.
Enter your credit details:
For a Flight Credit, you'll typically enter the 13-digit ticket number from your original, unused ticket.
For a Trip Credit, you'll enter the specific Trip Credit number you received.
Follow the prompts: The system will validate your credit and apply its value to your new booking.
Pay any remaining balance: If your new flight costs more than your travel credit, you'll be prompted to pay the difference using a credit card or another accepted payment method.
Receive remaining credit: If your new ticket price is less than the value of your travel credit, American Airlines will typically issue the remaining balance as a new credit for future use. Make sure to note down the details of this new credit.
Sub-heading: What to Do if You Encounter Issues Online
While the online process is usually smooth, sometimes technical glitches can occur.
If you're having trouble applying your credit online (e.g., "invalid ticket" errors, or the option simply isn't appearing), don't force it.
Place your desired flight on hold (if that option is available).
Call American Airlines Reservations. Explain the issue, provide your credit details, and they can often complete the booking for you over the phone. Be prepared for potential wait times. Some users report better success by calling.
Step 5: Post-Redemption and Future Planning
Congratulations! You've successfully used your American Airlines travel credit. A few final tips to ensure a smooth future.
Sub-heading: Keep Records of Your New Booking
Save your new confirmation email and record locator.
If you received a new credit for a remaining balance, make sure you have the details for that new credit as well, including its expiration date.
Sub-heading: Stay Informed About Policy Changes
Airline policies can change. While this guide is current, it's always a good idea to quickly review American Airlines' official "Travel credit" page on their website before your next use, just in case there have been updates.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, specifically starting with "How to," regarding American Airlines travel credits:
How to check my American Airlines travel credit balance?
You can easily check your American Airlines travel credit balance by logging into your AAdvantage account on aa.com and navigating to the "Your Account" or "Wallet" section, where all active credits and their values are listed. Alternatively, use the "Find your trip or travel credit" tool on aa.com by entering your original flight's confirmation code or ticket number.
How to use an American Airlines flight credit for someone else?
Generally, a Flight Credit is non-transferable and can only be used by the passenger whose name was on the original ticket. However, a Trip Credit is often more flexible and can be used by the credit holder to book travel for anyone. Always check the specific terms of your credit.
How to combine multiple American Airlines travel credits?
You can typically apply one Flight Credit per passenger when booking online. For Trip Credits, you can often combine up to 8 for an online booking. If you have more than one Flight Credit for a single passenger, or need to combine more than the online limit, you will likely need to call American Airlines Reservations to complete the booking.
How to extend an expiring American Airlines travel credit?
Unfortunately, American Airlines generally does not offer extensions for travel credits once they are nearing or have passed their expiration date. It's crucial to use your credit before it expires. In rare cases, for elite AAdvantage members or specific circumstances, an exception might be made by contacting customer service, but it is not guaranteed.
How to find my American Airlines ticket number for a flight credit?
Your 13-digit ticket number for a flight credit can usually be found in the cancellation email sent by American Airlines or by logging into your AAdvantage account and checking the "Your Account" or "Wallet" section. It typically starts with '00115' or '0012'.
How to apply an American Airlines travel credit to a new booking?
When booking a new flight on aa.com, proceed to the "Review and Pay" or "Payment" page. Look for an option to "Apply available credits" or "Add travel credit," then enter your specific Flight Credit or Trip Credit number to apply its value to your new fare.
How to get a refund for an American Airlines travel credit?
Travel credits are generally non-refundable for cash. They are issued for future travel only. If you cancel a flight that was originally paid for with a travel credit, you will typically receive a new travel credit for the remaining value, subject to the original credit's terms and expiration.
How to use an American Airlines travel credit for baggage fees or upgrades?
American Airlines travel credits (Flight Credits, Trip Credits) can generally only be used for the base airfare and associated government taxes and fees of a new flight. They typically cannot be used to pay for extras like baggage fees, seat selection, or upgrades.
How to contact American Airlines customer service about a travel credit?
For general inquiries about travel credits, you can use the online customer relations form on aa.com or call American Airlines Reservations. If you are an AAdvantage member, you can call the dedicated AAdvantage Customer Service line at 800-882-8880 for more personalized assistance.
How to check if my American Airlines Basic Economy ticket qualifies for a travel credit?
For Basic Economy tickets issued on or after January 1, 2023, for travel starting March 1, 2023, AAdvantage members may be able to cancel and receive a Trip Credit, minus a cancellation fee, provided their AAdvantage number was in the reservation before cancellation and the trip meets other criteria (booked directly through AA in the U.S., on an AA marketed/operated flight starting in the 50 U.S. states, and canceled before departure). Non-AAdvantage members typically do not receive a credit for Basic Economy cancellations after the 24-hour grace period.
