One of the best features of American Airlines’ website is that it allows customers to hold flights for 24 hours without having to plop down a credit card. No other U.S. airlines offers this super handy function, which always made holding fares and seats on American quick and easy.
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But unfortunately, according the Gary Leff of View From The Wing: “On Tuesday American Airlines removed the option to put a flight on a 24 hour hold, rather than purchasing it right away, for many – but apparently not all – customers. Competitors haven’t had this option for years. It’s one of the things that set American Airlines apart and made them easier to buy from.”
I just tried booking a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) on aa.com for a week from today, and sure enough, the hold option wasn’t there (see screenshot above).
However, when I tried booking the same flight but this time using my AAdvantage miles, the hold option was there (see screenshot above). So it appears American Airlines might have gotten rid of the hold function on cash tickets.
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It’s really a shame because it made reserving flights and seats stress-free. Now, you have to put down a credit card and remember to cancel it within 24 hours if you change your mind. With AA’s hold function, it automatically canceled any flights on hold that weren’t ticketed within the required timeframe.
Remember, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has stated that all US and foreign carriers have to allow consumers the ability “to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty.” See link to the DOT’s full rule (PDF). However, if you’re booking a ticket with fewer than seven days before you fly, this rule doesn’t apply.
If you do book a flight and think there’s a chance you might want to cancel it within 24 hours, then I suggest using the free email service I use to send me reminders for whenever I want. All you need to do is forward an email for whatever time you want to be reminded. For something like this, I would set the reminder for 12 hours later. Here’s more on the service and how to do it.
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“Like trying to work with Republicans” ???… good one! Yeah, I just flew American because it was the only airline that flies into Columbia, MO. Hated that I had to go through DFW to get back home to Portland, OR. Flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours in DFW. They said plane that had come in had experienced mechanical problems that they had to fix!!! Yeah, right… ?♀️
the hold option is still there. departure date must be at least 8 days from booking. people using trip credits should put an itinerary on hold then call in with the record locator and the trip credit ticket numbers
It’s hard to imagine that the credit card companies could convince them to leave the feature rather than having millions of needless charges/refunds transactions, which often take days to process.
Good for them. The HOLD feature just reduces capacity options for many of us that book/ fly often with firm plans in mind, w/o changing.
Changing your plans within 24 hrs while deal shopping mucks up the works while people mark seats, only to cancel shortly after. Stupid.
Good move.
We are Platinum Pro…no chance for free HOLD on regular purchased flights. Just tried it! Interesting that others can.
Yea the hold option is the only reason i would book with them. The airline is simply too big to deliver decent customer service, overworked and stale service personal are one reason i cant stand the airline. I have also experienced misplaced luggage and they have a terrible reputation of delayed flights.
My company will only use them if no other airline flies to our business destinations. Delayed and overbooked flights are the main reason. Its like trying to work with republicans.
It was something that was supposed to be phased out a long time ago once the 24 hour refund option was chosen. Believe it or not, most people wanted the refund option.
Hi , I just was able to put a flight on hold with no trouble. I did see that if I was using a Trip Credit, I couldn’t put it on hold.
Just flew with them worst airline we have every flew on. Left 40 of us waiting at gate. Rude attendant will never fly with them again. They juggle flights to fill plane. Airports are not ready for volume of passengers.
Yep. That’s true. But for A platinum customer it’s still available when logged in
I put one on hold Tuesday and it held for 24 hours. Bought it with a CC last night ( Wednesday). Still worked for me.
About time…. hopefully they will help with operationa many fluke the oversold flight and revenue standbys jumping from a cheap flight purchase to an expensive alot on stand by