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American Airlines updates travel credit policies with new membership benefits

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American Airlines updates travel credit policies with new membership benefits
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American Airlines has introduced changes to the duration of travel credits, offering new options for customers to maximize their benefits. During the pandemic, many airlines eliminated change fees on most tickets, a practice that continues today. This policy allows travelers more flexibility, though travel credits often come with expiration dates.

Southwest Airlines' travel credits do not expire. In contrast, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines require that travel credits be used within a year from the original ticket date. Specifically, new travel must commence within one year of the original ticket purchase date. However, a workaround exists: if a traveler books a future trip that costs more than their credit and then cancels it, they receive a new credit valid for another year.

American Airlines has made its policy more restrictive. Non-members of the AAdvantage program have only six months to use their travel credits, while members get a full year. To facilitate this transition, American Airlines now offers an option for customers canceling their tickets by phone to join AAdvantage immediately, thus extending their credit validity to 12 months.

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"Customers cancelling their tickets by phone can now be offered the option of joining AAdvantage on the spot in order to get 12-months of validity instead of six," reads American’s internal documentation on this change.

Basic economy customers also benefit from this adjustment. They can cancel their trips for a credit worth $99 less than what they paid if they are AAdvantage members; otherwise, they receive nothing. Reservations agents can now enroll customers in AAdvantage during cancellations to help them avoid this loss.

Joining the AAdvantage program is a straightforward way to navigate these rules effectively. Notably, American Airlines starts the 12-month validity period from the cancellation date rather than the original ticket purchase date. Consequently, travelers should cancel as close to the last minute as possible to maximize their credit's lifespan.

Additionally, partially-flown trips can now be canceled online for future flight credits.

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