Planning a family trip can be exciting, but navigating airline policies, especially when it comes to adding family members to your account and ensuring everyone is seated together, can be a bit of a maze. American Airlines, like many carriers, has specific ways of handling family travel that aren't always as straightforward as a "household account" button. But don't worry, we're here to guide you through it!
Ready to get your family flying with American Airlines? Let's dive into how you can effectively manage their travel, from booking to boarding!
Understanding American Airlines Family Travel: No "Household Account"
First things first: American Airlines does not offer a traditional "household account" or "family pooling" of miles in the same way some other airlines do. This means each family member typically maintains their own AAdvantage account and earns their own miles.
However, this doesn't mean you can't manage your family's travel efficiently or book them on the same flights. American Airlines provides several methods to ensure your family travels together and you can oversee their bookings.
Step 1: Setting Up Individual AAdvantage Accounts for Each Family Member
Even if miles aren't pooled, having individual AAdvantage accounts for each family member is a crucial first step. This allows everyone to earn miles for their own flights, which can then be redeemed individually or, in some cases, used to book travel for others (more on that later).
Sub-heading: Why Separate Accounts Are Important
Mileage Earning: Each person earns miles based on their own travel, which can add up faster than you think, especially for frequent flyers in the family.
Status Qualification: If family members fly frequently, they can individually work towards AAdvantage elite status, unlocking benefits like upgrades, free checked bags, and priority boarding.
Personalized Offers: American Airlines often sends personalized offers and promotions to individual AAdvantage members.
Sub-heading: How to Create an AAdvantage Account
Visit the American Airlines Website: Go to aa.com.
Navigate to AAdvantage: Look for the "AAdvantage" section or "Join AAdvantage" link, usually found in the top navigation bar or footer.
Provide Information: You'll need to enter basic personal details for each family member, including:
Full Name (as it appears on their government-issued ID)
Date of Birth
Gender
Address
Email Address (ideally, a unique one for each adult, or a shared one for children that you manage)
Phone Number
Create a Password: Choose a secure password for each account.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all information before submitting.
Receive Confirmation: You'll receive a confirmation email with their AAdvantage number. Make a note of these numbers and passwords for easy access.
Step 2: Booking Flights for Your Family
Once everyone has an AAdvantage account, you can proceed with booking flights. American Airlines allows you to book up to 9 passengers in a single reservation online. For larger groups, special group booking services are available.
Sub-heading: Booking Online (Up to 9 Passengers)
Log In to Your AAdvantage Account: While not strictly necessary for booking, logging in allows you to save traveler details and access any travel credits.
Start a New Search: On the American Airlines homepage, enter your travel details (departure/arrival airports, dates).
Add Passengers: Crucially, specify the correct number of adults, children (ages 2-11), and infants (under 2).
Enter Passenger Details: For each passenger, you'll need to enter:
Full Name (matching their ID)
Date of Birth
Gender
Their AAdvantage Number: This is important! Ensure you input each family member's AAdvantage number in their respective passenger detail fields to ensure they earn miles for the flight.
Select Flights and Seats: Choose your desired flights. American Airlines offers various fare types.
For Main Cabin or higher fares: You can typically select seats for free at the time of booking.
For Basic Economy fares: Seat selection usually incurs a fee. However, American Airlines does guarantee that children 14 and under will be seated next to at least one accompanying adult at no additional cost, even with Basic Economy fares.
Review and Pay: Review all flight details, passenger information, and the total cost before proceeding to payment.
Sub-heading: Managing Traveler Information in Your Profile
If you frequently book for family members, you can store their passenger details in your AAdvantage profile under "Traveler Information." This saves time during future bookings.
Log In to Your AAdvantage Account.
Go to "My Account" or "Profile."
Find "Traveler Information" or "Saved Travelers."
Add New Traveler: Enter the required details for each family member, including their AAdvantage number.
Step 3: Ensuring Family Seating Together
American Airlines has a family-friendly seating policy designed to ensure children are seated with an accompanying adult.
Sub-heading: American Airlines' Family Seating Guarantee
Children 14 and Under: American Airlines guarantees that children aged 14 and under will be seated next to at least one accompanying adult at no additional cost, regardless of fare type. Their system will automatically search for adjacent seats if you don't choose them yourself.
Booking Together: The best way to ensure everyone sits together is to book all family members on the same reservation and select seats at the time of booking, especially if you want the entire family to be adjacent.
Early Booking: Booking your tickets as early as possible increases the likelihood of finding sufficient adjacent seats for your entire family.
Checking In Early: If you weren't able to select seats together, check in online as early as possible. This is often when remaining seats are assigned.
At the Gate: If all else fails, speak to a gate agent upon arrival at the airport. They can often assist with reassigning seats to keep families together. Flight attendants may also ask for volunteers to switch seats once on board.
Step 4: Using Miles for Family Travel
While miles aren't pooled, you can use your AAdvantage miles to book award travel for another person. This is a common way to use miles for family trips.
Sub-heading: Booking Award Travel for Others
Log In to Your AAdvantage Account.
Search for Award Travel: Use the "Redeem Miles" or "Award Travel" option when searching for flights.
Enter Passenger Details: When prompted for passenger information, enter the name, date of birth, and gender of the family member you are booking for. You do not need to enter their AAdvantage number here as they won't be earning miles on an award ticket you've paid for with your miles.
Confirm and Book: Proceed with the booking. The miles will be deducted from your AAdvantage account.
Sub-heading: Transferring Miles (with caution!)
American Airlines does allow you to transfer miles to another AAdvantage member, but be aware that a fee applies (typically $5 per 1,000 miles). This is generally not recommended as a cost-effective way to pool miles, as the fees can be substantial. It's almost always better to simply use your own miles to book an award ticket for another person if you have enough.
Step 5: Managing Bookings and Special Considerations
Once your family's flights are booked, there are a few other aspects to keep in mind.
Sub-heading: Accessing and Managing Trips
"My Trips": You can access and manage any trip you've booked, whether for yourself or others, through the "My Trips" section on aa.com or in the American Airlines app. You'll need the confirmation code (record locator) and the last name of one of the passengers.
Linking Trips: While not a "household account," if family members are on separate bookings but traveling together, you can call American Airlines reservations to link their records. This helps agents see that you are part of a traveling party for purposes like seating and irregular operations.
Sub-heading: Traveling with Infants and Children
Infants (under 2):
Lap Infants (Domestic): Infants can often travel on your lap for free on domestic flights.
Lap Infants (International): For international flights, a percentage of the adult fare (plus taxes/fees) typically applies for lap infants.
Infant in Seat: You can purchase a separate seat for an infant at the child's fare, which is highly recommended for safety and comfort, especially on longer flights, by using an approved car seat.
Children (2-11): Children aged 2 and older require their own seat and standard ticket.
Strollers and Car Seats: American Airlines generally allows parents to check strollers and car seats for free, often at the gate or ticket counter.
Sub-heading: Unaccompanied Minors (Children Traveling Alone)
Mandatory Service: For children aged 5-14 traveling alone, American Airlines requires the use of their unaccompanied minor (UM) service. A fee applies ($150 each way, covering siblings on the same flight).
Optional Service: For children aged 15-17, the UM service is optional but available if requested.
Restrictions: UM service has specific rules regarding non-stop flights, connections (only certain hub airports), and international travel. It's crucial to contact American Airlines reservations directly to book and understand the full policy for unaccompanied minors.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities: The adult dropping off the child must remain at the airport until the flight departs, and the adult picking up the child must have a valid government-issued photo ID.
Conclusion: Making Family Travel Seamless
While American Airlines doesn't offer a consolidated "family account" for mileage pooling, their system is designed to allow you to effectively manage family travel. By setting up individual AAdvantage accounts, utilizing the "My Trips" feature, understanding seating policies, and knowing how to book award travel for others, you can ensure your family enjoys a smooth and stress-free journey with American Airlines. Happy travels!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related FAQ questions, starting with "How to," along with quick answers:
How to add my child's AAdvantage number to an existing reservation?
You can add your child's AAdvantage number when booking the flight. If you forgot, you can often add it by calling American Airlines Reservations or by asking a gate agent or check-in desk agent at the airport.
How to ensure my family sits together on an American Airlines flight?
Book all family members on the same reservation, select seats at the time of booking, and check in as early as possible. American Airlines guarantees children 14 and under will be seated next to an accompanying adult.
How to use my AAdvantage miles to book a flight for a family member?
Log in to your AAdvantage account, search for award travel, and when prompted for passenger details, enter your family member's information. The miles will be deducted from your account.
How to transfer AAdvantage miles to another family member's account?
You can transfer miles via the American Airlines website, but a fee applies per 1,000 miles. It's generally more cost-effective to use your miles to book an award ticket for them directly.
How to find my family's bookings if they are on separate reservations?
You'll need the confirmation code (record locator) for each separate booking and the last name of a passenger on that reservation to access it via "My Trips" on aa.com or the app.
How to book an unaccompanied minor on American Airlines?
You must contact American Airlines Reservations by phone to book an unaccompanied minor. There are specific age requirements, flight restrictions, and fees involved.
How to add an infant to my existing American Airlines reservation?
Contact American Airlines Reservations to add a lap infant to your booking. For international flights, a fee usually applies. If you want a separate seat for the infant, you'll need to purchase a ticket for them.
How to check car seats and strollers for free on American Airlines?
American Airlines allows you to check one car seat and one stroller per child for free, either at the ticket counter or at the gate.
How to link separate family bookings on American Airlines for better coordination?
Call American Airlines Reservations and ask them to link the separate reservation records. This helps agents see that you are part of a traveling party for seating and operational purposes.
How to get priority boarding as a family with American Airlines?
Families with children under 2 years old are invited to board during "Family Boarding," typically after First and Business Class passengers and ConciergeKey members, but before general boarding groups.
