Have you ever found the perfect flight on American Airlines, only to hesitate because you need a little more time to finalize your plans, coordinate with travel companions, or confirm details? Perhaps you're waiting for a payment to clear, or simply want to double-check your itinerary without the pressure of immediate payment. If so, you're in luck! American Airlines offers a fantastic feature that allows you to "hold" a flight, securing your fare and seat without having to pay right away. This guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step, ensuring you can confidently lock in your travel plans.
The Power of the Hold: Why It's Your Travel Buddy
Think of holding a flight as putting a temporary bookmark on your dream itinerary. In the fast-paced world of air travel, where prices can fluctuate rapidly, this can be an absolute game-changer. It gives you a crucial window to:
Avoid price increases: Lock in that great fare before it disappears.
Coordinate with others: Get confirmation from travel partners without fear of the flight selling out.
Finalize logistics: Confirm hotel bookings, car rentals, or meeting schedules.
Review details thoroughly: Take your time to ensure all passenger names, dates, and times are correct.
Let's dive into how you can make the most of this valuable option!
Step 1: Embark on Your Flight Search Adventure!
Alright, let's get started! The very first thing you need to do is head over to the official American Airlines website.
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Booking Portal
Open your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.).
In the address bar, type in
www.aa.comand hit Enter. This will take you directly to the American Airlines homepage.Look for the flight search module, typically prominently displayed on the homepage. It usually has fields for "From," "To," "Depart," and "Return."
Sub-heading: Inputting Your Travel Details
"From" (Departure City): Enter the airport code or city name from where you wish to depart (e.g., "MUM" for Mumbai or "New Delhi").
"To" (Arrival City): Enter your destination airport code or city name (e.g., "DFW" for Dallas/Fort Worth or "London").
"Depart" (Departure Date): Click on the calendar icon and select your desired departure date.
"Return" (Return Date): If you're booking a round-trip, select your return date. For one-way trips, leave this blank or select the "One-way" option if available.
"Passengers": Specify the number of adults, children, and infants traveling.
"Cabin": Choose your preferred cabin class (e.g., Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First). For the general 24-hour hold, Economy is usually the most common.
Once all details are entered, click the "Search Flights" button.
Step 2: Scouting for the Perfect Itinerary and Locating the Hold Option
After your search, American Airlines will present you with a list of available flights and their respective fares. This is where you'll start narrowing down your choices and looking for that crucial "hold" feature.
Sub-heading: Reviewing Flight Options
Browse through the search results. Pay attention to:
Departure and arrival times: Do they fit your schedule?
Layover durations: Are they too long or too short?
Aircraft type: While not critical for a hold, it's good to be aware.
Price: Compare different options and note the fare differences.
Select your desired outbound and inbound flights (for round-trip). As you select, the total fare will update.
Sub-heading: The Elusive "Hold Your Trip" Button
Proceed to the "Review and Pay" or "Checkout" page. This is usually the final step before payment.
Carefully scan this page for an option like "Hold your trip," "Hold my reservation," or "Hold for 24 hours." Its exact wording might vary slightly, but it will typically be presented as an alternative to "Purchase" or "Pay Now."
Important Note: The availability of the "hold" option is subject to American Airlines' policies and certain conditions.
24-Hour Free Hold: Generally, American Airlines offers a free 24-hour hold on select flights, especially if you are booking 7 or more days before departure. This is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation for flights to/from the U.S.
Paid Holds: For some international or premium class bookings, American Airlines may offer a "Hold for a fee" option that allows you to secure your fare for a longer period (e.g., 3, 5, or 7 days). These fees are typically non-refundable.
Exclusions: Be aware that certain fare types, like Basic Economy, promotional tickets, or award tickets (using AAdvantage miles), might not be eligible for a hold, or their hold policy might be different (e.g., award tickets sometimes have a 24-hour hold). You also cannot hold multiple trips to the same destination around the same dates.
If you see the "Hold your trip" option, click on it!
Step 3: Confirming Your Held Reservation and What to Expect Next
Once you click "Hold your trip," you're almost there! American Airlines will process your request and provide confirmation.
Sub-heading: Receiving Confirmation
After clicking the hold option, you'll typically be redirected to a confirmation page. This page will display your reservation details, including:
Your unique confirmation code (Record Locator). Make sure to write this down or take a screenshot! This code is vital for retrieving your reservation later.
The expiration date and time of your hold. Pay close attention to this deadline!
A summary of your itinerary.
Check your email: American Airlines will also send a confirmation email to the address you provided during the booking process. This email will contain all the same details, including your confirmation code and the hold expiry time. Save this email!
Sub-heading: Understanding the Hold Period
For the free 24-hour hold, your reservation will automatically cancel if you do not complete the booking (i.e., pay for the tickets) before the expiration time.
For paid holds, the fee is generally non-refundable, even if you decide not to purchase the tickets. The reservation will also automatically cancel at the end of the paid hold period if not purchased.
Step 4: Retrieving and Purchasing Your Held Flight
The time has come to make your temporary hold a confirmed booking! You'll need your confirmation code for this step.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your Held Trip Online
Go back to
www.aa.com.Look for an option like "Your trips," "Manage trips," or "Check-in / My Trips" on the homepage. Click on it.
You will be prompted to enter your confirmation code (record locator) and the last name of one of the passengers on the reservation. Enter these details and click "Find trip" or similar.
Your held itinerary will appear. You should see an option to "Pay for trip," "Complete booking," or "Purchase."
Sub-heading: Completing the Purchase
Click on the "Pay for trip" or equivalent button.
You will be guided through the payment process. Have your credit card or other payment method ready.
Review all details one last time before confirming the payment.
Once payment is successfully processed, you will receive a final e-ticket confirmation, and your flight will be fully booked!
Sub-heading: What if the Price Changed?
If you're within the free 24-hour hold period, the price you held should be honored.
If you had a paid hold, the price should also be locked in.
However, if you let the hold expire and then try to rebook, the price may have changed. Always aim to complete your purchase within the specified hold window.
Important Considerations and Tips:
Act Swiftly: While the hold gives you time, don't procrastinate! Fare availability can still change rapidly after your hold expires.
One Hold at a Time: American Airlines typically does not allow multiple trips to the same destination or around the same dates to be held. They may cancel duplicate held trips.
Basic Economy Fares: These fares often come with significant restrictions, including limited or no hold options, and are usually non-changeable and non-refundable after the initial 24-hour risk-free cancellation period (if booked directly with American Airlines at least two days before departure).
Award Tickets: The hold policy for award tickets (booked with AAdvantage miles) can sometimes differ. It's usually a 24-hour hold, but historically, it was more generous. Always double-check when booking with miles.
Direct Bookings are Key: The 24-hour hold and risk-free cancellation policies primarily apply to tickets booked directly through American Airlines (aa.com or their reservations center). Bookings through third-party travel agencies might have different rules.
Customer Service: If you encounter any issues or have questions about holding a flight, don't hesitate to contact American Airlines customer service.
By following these steps and keeping these tips in mind, you can effectively use American Airlines' flight hold feature to your advantage, making your travel planning process much smoother and less stressful!
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to: What is the American Airlines 24-hour hold policy?
The American Airlines 24-hour hold policy allows you to temporarily reserve a flight at its current fare for up to 24 hours without immediate payment, provided your flight is booked 7 or more days before departure.
How to: Can I hold a flight on American Airlines for longer than 24 hours?
Yes, for some international or premium class bookings, American Airlines may offer a "Hold for a fee" option that allows you to secure your fare for a longer period (e.g., 3, 5, or 7 days). This fee is typically non-refundable.
How to: Does American Airlines charge a fee to hold a flight?
A 24-hour hold on eligible flights is generally free. However, American Airlines may offer "Hold for a fee" options for longer hold periods on certain routes or fare types, which are paid and non-refundable.
How to: What happens if I don't pay for my held flight within the hold period?
If you don't complete the purchase of your held flight before the hold period expires, the reservation will automatically be canceled, and the fare may no longer be available at the same price.
How to: Can I hold a Basic Economy flight on American Airlines?
Basic Economy fares generally have significant restrictions and are often not eligible for a hold. It's best to check the specific fare rules when booking, but often they are "instant purchase" only.
How to: Can I hold an American Airlines award ticket (using AAdvantage miles)?
Yes, American Airlines typically allows you to hold award tickets (booked with AAdvantage miles) for a certain period, usually 24 hours.
How to: How do I find my held reservation on American Airlines?
You can retrieve your held reservation on aa.com by going to the "Your trips" or "Manage trips" section and entering your 6-character confirmation code (record locator) and the last name of one of the passengers.
How to: Can I hold multiple flights at once on American Airlines?
No, American Airlines generally does not allow you to hold multiple trips to one or more destinations or around the same date or time. They may cancel any duplicate trips that are on hold.
How to: What is the difference between "holding a flight" and "24-hour risk-free cancellation"?
"Holding a flight" means you reserve the ticket without paying upfront. "24-hour risk-free cancellation" means you purchase the ticket, but you have 24 hours from the time of purchase to cancel it for a full refund without penalty, provided the departure is at least two days away.
How to: Can I change details of a flight while it's on hold?
Generally, you cannot make changes to a flight while it's on hold. If you need to make modifications, you would typically need to complete the purchase first and then make changes according to the fare rules, which may incur fees. It's usually better to let the hold expire and rebook if you need significant changes.
