American Airlines

American Airlines Review: Strong Day-of-Travel Tools, Clumsier Booking

Changing or Cancelling in the App: $0 Fee, Except Basic Economy

For trips that start in North or South America, a voluntary change made before the day of travel costs nothing on Main Cabin and premium fares; you pay only any difference in fare. Trips that begin elsewhere can be charged up to $400. Doing it in the app also avoids the $50 fee for phone help from Reservations. Basic Economy is the exception: after the first 24 hours it cannot be changed at all. AAdvantage members may still cancel it before the first flight, online or in the app, for travel credit minus a fee: $99 within the 48 contiguous states, $129 for Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico or the Caribbean, and $199 for Europe, Asia and other long-haul routes. Any ticket bought at least 7 days before departure can be refunded within 24 hours. Same-day changes start at $60. Fees vary by route and may change.

Check-In From 24 Hours Out, a Boarding Pass Cached for 48

In-app check-in opens 24 hours before departure and closes 1 hour out on domestic flights, 2 hours on international ones. It needs a seat assignment and a first flight operated by American; travelers with an infant under 2 are sent to aa.com instead. Once opened, the boarding pass stays cached for 48 hours, so it should load without signal, although some Play reviewers say theirs would not. Checked bags can be prepaid in the app, up to 3 per person: $45 for the first and $55 for the second within the U.S. and nearby regions, plus $5 each on Basic Economy, at May 2026 rates. If a bag goes missing, the delayed-bag form accepts a Share Item Location link from an AirTag, and domestic reports are due within 4 hours of landing.

Free AT&T Wi-Fi Needs an AAdvantage Login

Since January 2026, AAdvantage members get free Wi-Fi sponsored by AT&T on every Airbus A319, A320 and A321, every Boeing 737, select 787s and most regional jets. You connect to aainflight.com and sign in with your member number; non-members pay from $10 per flight or $49.95 for a subscription. On Wi-Fi flights the app also streams the free entertainment library, including Apple TV originals, and Apple Music subscribers can listen on Viasat-equipped planes. Rivals run similar member-only offers: SkyMiles members on Fly Delta get Delta Sync Wi-Fi on more than 1,200 aircraft, and United Airlines gives MileagePlus members free Starlink on over 400 planes as of June 2026. Joining costs nothing, but status starts at 40,000 Loyalty Points for Gold, and Basic Economy tickets bought since December 17, 2025 earn no miles or Loyalty Points.

Canceled Flights, DOT Refunds and What the App Shares

If American cancels a flight or changes it significantly and you decline the rebooking, you get the fare, taxes and fees back, even on a non-refundable ticket; the airline's own refund pages cite Department of Transportation rules. Significant means a shift of 3 hours or more domestically or 4 internationally, a different airport, a lower cabin or an extra connection, and a change of 90 minutes or more inside 72 hours of departure also counts. Card refunds are processed within 7 business days, and travel credit, if you prefer it, stays valid for 5 years. The Play data-safety label says in-app search history is shared with third parties for advertising or marketing, and health information such as a medical clearance is collected. The privacy policy, updated March 12, 2026, allows targeted ads on other sites based on flights you viewed.