Have you ever completed a fantastic trip with American Airlines, returned home, and then realized those valuable AAdvantage® miles haven't appeared in your account? It's a common scenario, and thankfully, it's usually quite easy to rectify! Earning miles is a key part of maximizing your travel, and ensuring every eligible flight counts towards your AAdvantage® balance and status is crucial. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to add old flights to your American Airlines AAdvantage® account, step-by-step, ensuring you don't miss out on those hard-earned rewards.
How to Add Old Flights to American Airlines AAdvantage®: A Step-by-Step Guide
Adding old flights to your American Airlines AAdvantage® account is typically a straightforward process, but it requires a bit of attention to detail and some key information from your past travels. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Engage and Gather Your Essential Information!
Before we even think about logging in or filling out forms, let's make sure you have everything you need. Think of it like packing for your trip – you wouldn't leave home without your passport, right? The same goes for claiming your miles!
Your AAdvantage® Number: This is your unique identifier for the American Airlines loyalty program. You'll need this without fail. If you don't have one, you'll need to sign up for a free AAdvantage® account first. Miles generally cannot be retroactively credited for flights taken more than 30 days before you enrolled in the AAdvantage® program, though it's always worth contacting customer service in such cases.
13-Digit Ticket Number: This is a crucial piece of information. You can usually find it on your:
Confirmation email or receipt: This is often the easiest place to locate it.
Airport receipt.
Credit card statement: Look for a 13-digit number near the flight charge.
Flight Details: Be prepared with:
Flight number(s)
Date of travel
Origin and destination airports
Class of service (e.g., Economy, Business, First)
Confirmation Code (PNR): This is the 6-character alphanumeric code for your reservation. It's usually found on your booking confirmation.
Boarding Passes (Optional but Recommended): While not always strictly required for online submissions, having your boarding passes can be incredibly helpful as backup documentation, especially if there are any discrepancies.
Tip: Keep digital or physical copies of all your travel documents for at least 12 months after your flight. This makes claiming missing miles much easier!
Step 2: Determine Eligibility and Timeframes
Before you proceed, it's important to understand the rules around retroactively claiming miles. American Airlines has specific guidelines:
Sub-heading: American Airlines Operated Flights
For flights operated by American Airlines, you can generally request missing miles at least 3 days after your travel is completed.
The deadline to submit a request is typically 12 months from the flight date.
Sub-heading: Partner Airline Operated Flights (oneworld® Alliance and other partners)
If your flight was operated by a oneworld® alliance partner (e.g., British Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific) or another American Airlines partner, the process can sometimes take a bit longer.
You should still be able to claim miles within 12 months of the flight date. However, it's a good idea to allow up to 30 days for miles from partner airlines to post automatically before submitting a missing miles request.
Crucially, for partner airline flights, ensure your AAdvantage® number was associated with the booking or that you were an AAdvantage® member at the time of the flight. Some partner agreements may have specific earning rules.
Sub-heading: New AAdvantage® Members
If you joined AAdvantage® after you flew, you might still be able to claim miles. American Airlines' terms state that transactions occurring more than 30 days prior to your enrollment date are generally not eligible for AAdvantage® miles. However, as mentioned in Step 1, it's worth contacting customer service to see if they can make an exception, especially for recent flights.
Step 3: Access the American Airlines "Request Flight Miles" Form
Now that you have your information ready and understand the eligibility, it's time to submit your request!
Option A: Online Form (Recommended)
Go to the official American Airlines website:
www.aa.com Log in to your AAdvantage® account. This is the most direct way to ensure your miles are credited to the correct account.
Navigate to the "AAdvantage® Program" section. You might find a link for "Answers and Support" or "AAdvantage® FAQ."
Look for a section related to "Missing Miles" or "Request flight miles." American Airlines usually has a dedicated online form for this purpose. You can often find it directly by searching "Request flight miles American Airlines" on Google or navigating to
www.aa.com/forms/request-flight-miles/.Once you've found the form, fill in all the required fields accurately. This will include your AAdvantage® number (which might auto-populate if you're logged in), the 13-digit ticket number, flight number, date of travel, and origin/destination.
Double-check all the information before submitting. A small typo can cause delays!
Option B: Contact AAdvantage® Customer Service
If you encounter issues with the online form, or if your situation is unique (e.g., very old flight, complex partner booking, or specific circumstances like a name mismatch), you can contact AAdvantage® Customer Service directly.
Find the relevant phone number on the American Airlines website under "Contact American" or "AAdvantage® customer service." Be prepared for potential wait times.
Have all your essential information (from Step 1) ready to provide to the representative.
Step 4: Confirmation and Waiting Period
Once you've submitted your request, it's a waiting game.
Confirmation: If you used the online form, you should receive an email confirmation that your request has been received. Keep this email for your records.
Processing Time:
For flights operated by American Airlines, it typically takes 1 to 10 days for the miles to be credited to your account after you submit a missing miles request.
For flights operated by partner airlines, it can take up to 30 days.
Check Your Account: Periodically log in to your AAdvantage® account summary to check if the miles have posted.
Step 5: Follow Up (If Necessary)
If the designated processing time has passed and your miles still haven't appeared, it's time to follow up.
Review Your Submission: First, re-check the confirmation email you received (if applicable) and compare it with your original flight details to ensure there were no errors in your submission.
Contact AAdvantage® Customer Service: If everything appears correct, contact AAdvantage® customer service again.
Reference your initial request (if you have a confirmation number for it).
Politely explain the situation and provide all your flight and account details once more.
Be persistent but patient. Sometimes, a human touch is needed to resolve issues, especially with partner airline credits.
Have your documentation ready to send if requested. They may ask for copies of your e-ticket receipt or boarding passes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are 10 common questions about adding old flights to American Airlines, with quick answers:
How to check if my miles have posted to my AAdvantage® account?
You can check your AAdvantage® mileage summary by logging into your account on aa.com. The "Activity" section will show recent transactions.
How to find my 13-digit American Airlines ticket number?
You can typically find your 13-digit ticket number on your e-ticket receipt, confirmation email, or your credit card statement for the flight purchase.
How to claim miles for a flight on a partner airline?
Use the same "Request flight miles" form on aa.com. Ensure you select the correct operating airline and have your AAdvantage® number associated with the booking.
How to claim miles if I wasn't an AAdvantage® member when I flew?
Sign up for an AAdvantage® account first. You can usually claim miles for eligible flights taken within 30 days prior to your enrollment. Contact customer service for older flights.
How to resolve a missing mileage claim that's taking too long?
After the stated processing time (1-10 days for AA, up to 30 days for partners), contact AAdvantage® customer service with your flight details and any previous request confirmation.
How to ensure I always get miles for my flights?
Always provide your AAdvantage® number when booking your flight, whether directly with American Airlines or through a travel agent/partner. Verify it's on your boarding pass.
How to find my AAdvantage® number if I forgot it?
You can retrieve your AAdvantage® number on aa.com by entering your name and other identifying information, or by contacting AAdvantage® customer service.
How to get miles for a flight booked through a third-party website?
As long as it was an eligible fare on American Airlines or a qualifying partner, you can still claim miles using the same process, provided you have your ticket number and flight details.
How to earn AAdvantage® miles on non-flight activities?
You can earn AAdvantage® miles through co-branded credit cards, hotel stays, car rentals, AAdvantage® Dining, AAdvantage® eShopping, and other partners.
How to contact American Airlines AAdvantage® customer service?
You can find the AAdvantage® customer service phone numbers on the American Airlines website under "Contact American" or "AAdvantage® customer service."
