Do you know that feeling? You've found the perfect flight – the right dates, the ideal destination, and a price that makes your heart sing. But then reality sets in. You need to coordinate with travel buddies, finalize your leave from work, or maybe you're still waiting for a bonus to hit your account. Panic starts to set in. Will the price go up? Will those seats be gone?
Fear not, savvy traveler! American Airlines offers a fantastic solution: the ability to put a flight on hold. This invaluable feature allows you to lock in your fare without immediate payment, giving you crucial time to solidify your plans. Let's dive into a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to leverage this benefit.
Step 1: Embark on Your Flight Search Adventure!
First things first, you need to find the flight you want to hold.
A. Navigate to the American Airlines Website
Open your preferred web browser and head over to the official American Airlines website:
B. Initiate Your Flight Search
Enter Your Travel Details: On the homepage, you'll see the flight search widget. Input your:
Departure City/Airport
Arrival City/Airport
Departure Date(s)
Return Date(s) (if it's a round trip)
Number of Passengers
Cabin Class (Economy, Business, First, etc.)
Click "Search Flights": Once all your details are entered, hit that "Search Flights" button.
Tip: Keep the flow, don’t jump randomly.
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| How To Put A Flight On Hold American Airlines |
Step 2: Unearthing Your Ideal Itinerary
After your search, you'll be presented with a plethora of flight options. Take your time to review them.
A. Browse and Select Your Flights
Compare Options: Look at different flight times, layovers, and prices. Consider what best suits your schedule and budget.
Select Outbound and Inbound Flights: Click on the specific flight segments (outbound and inbound) that you wish to select for your itinerary. As you select them, the total price will typically update.
B. Review Your Selections Carefully
Before proceeding, double-check that you've selected the correct:
Dates
Times
Airports
Number of passengers
Step 3: The Moment of Truth - Holding Your Trip
This is where the magic happens!
Tip: Watch for summary phrases — they give the gist.
A. Proceed to the "Review and Pay" Page
Once you've selected your flights, you'll be guided to the "Review and Pay" page. This page summarizes your itinerary and displays the total cost.
B. Locate the "Hold Your Trip" Option
Spot the Option: On the "Review and Pay" page, carefully look for an option that says "Hold your trip" or "Hold reservation." This option is typically available when your flight departure is 7 days or more away from the booking date.
Important Note: American Airlines generally offers a free 24-hour hold for flights booked at least two days before departure. This aligns with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rule that requires airlines to either offer a 24-hour hold or a 24-hour risk-free cancellation period.
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C. Confirm the Hold
Click "Hold Your Trip": Once you've found and clicked this option, you'll likely be asked to confirm your intention to hold the reservation.
Provide Contact Information: You might need to enter your email address to receive the confirmation and details of your held reservation.
Step 4: Confirmation and Managing Your Held Reservation
Congratulations! Your flight is now on hold. But the process isn't quite over.
Tip: Jot down one takeaway from this post.
A. Receive Your Confirmation Email
Check Your Inbox: American Airlines will send you a confirmation email. This email is crucial! It will contain:
Your confirmation code (a 6-digit alphanumeric code).
The details of your held itinerary.
The deadline by which you must complete the purchase before the hold expires.
Save This Email: Keep this email safe, as you'll need the confirmation code to access and pay for your held trip later.
B. Accessing Your Held Trip
Via Email Link: The confirmation email will usually have a direct link to "Pay for your trip" or "Manage your trip."
Via AA.com: Alternatively, you can go back to
www.aa.com
C. Finalizing Your Booking (Payment)
Within the Hold Period: To convert your held reservation into a confirmed ticket, you must complete the payment within the specified hold period.
Payment Options: American Airlines offers various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and potentially travel credits or gift cards.
Complete the Transaction: Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your payment details and finalize the purchase. You'll receive a new confirmation with your ticket number once the payment is successful.
Additional Considerations and Tips:
FareLock (Paid Hold Option): While American Airlines offers a free 24-hour hold, for those who need more time, they sometimes offer a paid service called FareLock. This allows you to extend the hold period, often up to 7 days, for a fee. If available for your itinerary, you'll usually see this option during the booking process on the "Review and Pay" page. It's a great option if you need more flexibility than the standard 24 hours.
AAdvantage Award Tickets: Historically, American Airlines allowed AAdvantage members to hold award tickets for a longer period (up to 5 days if booking two weeks out). However, this policy has become more restrictive, and currently, award tickets can generally only be held for 24 hours, regardless of how far out you're booking. This is still a valuable benefit for securing award space!
Duplicate Holds: Be aware that American Airlines' system might flag and cancel duplicate trips held to the same or similar destinations around the same dates/times. It's generally not advisable to hold multiple identical itineraries.
Customer Service Assistance: If you encounter any issues or need clarification, don't hesitate to contact American Airlines customer service. They can assist you with placing a hold, confirming details, or finalizing your payment.
Putting a flight on hold is a fantastic tool for flexible travel planning. It removes the immediate pressure of payment while ensuring you don't miss out on your desired itinerary or a great fare.
Tip: Reading in chunks improves focus.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to check if my American Airlines flight can be put on hold? You can check for the "Hold your trip" option on the "Review and Pay" page when booking your flight on aa.com. It's typically available for flights departing 7 days or more in the future.
How to extend the hold time for an American Airlines flight? American Airlines offers a paid option called "FareLock" which allows you to extend the hold period beyond 24 hours, often up to 7 days, for a fee. Look for this option on the "Review and Pay" page during booking if you need more time.
How to pay for a held American Airlines flight? Go to "Manage trips / Check-in" on aa.com, enter your last name and the confirmation code from your hold email, and then select "Pay for trip" to complete the payment within the hold period.
How to find my American Airlines held flight confirmation code? Your confirmation code will be sent to the email address you provided when you placed the flight on hold. Check your inbox (and spam folder!) for an email from American Airlines with the subject related to your held reservation.
How to cancel an American Airlines held flight without penalty? If you simply let the hold expire without making payment, the reservation will automatically cancel, and you won't incur any penalty. There's no need to actively "cancel" a held flight unless you wish to remove it from your "Your Trips" section earlier.
How to use American Airlines travel credit to pay for a held flight? When you proceed to pay for your held flight on aa.com, you will see various payment options. If you have valid American Airlines travel credit, you should be able to apply it during the payment process.
How to hold an American Airlines award ticket? American Airlines generally allows AAdvantage members to hold award tickets for 24 hours. The process is similar to holding a revenue ticket; look for the hold option at the end of the booking process.
How to avoid duplicate held flights on American Airlines? To avoid duplicate held flights being canceled by American Airlines, refrain from holding multiple identical itineraries to the same or similar destinations for the same travel dates. Only hold the one itinerary you are seriously considering.
How to contact American Airlines customer service for help with a held flight? You can contact American Airlines customer service by calling their reservation line (phone numbers are available on aa.com under "Contact American") or by using their online chat support if available.
How to know if the 24-hour hold policy applies to my American Airlines booking? The 24-hour free hold policy typically applies to flights booked directly with American Airlines (on aa.com or through their call center) that are departing at least 2 days in the future. Always look for the "Hold your trip" option on the review page to confirm availability for your specific booking.
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