Can you swap tickets for an earlier flight?

Yes, you can reschedule or cancel a flight. However, you may need to pay a change or cancellation fee depending on the airline you booked with and the fare class of your ticket.



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If you purchase a ticket that is an unrestricted fare, you can make changes to your flight with no change fee (based on seat availability). However, an additional collection of fare may apply.

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If you ask nicely the check-in agent might give you a seat on the earlier flight for free. Being registered on the airline's loyalty programme, and your status on that programme, might also help. An airline canceled a flight that was booked 6 months earlier and wants twice the amount to fly on another flight.

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Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

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*Customers traveling on a Basic Economy fare can't make changes at a kiosk and should find their trip on the American app, aa.com or visit a ticket counter to request a change.

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Basic Economy fare tickets cannot be changed*. However, you have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket to cancel and get a refund if you booked at least 2 days before departure. After 24 hours, refunds are not allowed.

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If you purchased a round-trip flight and need to change the first leg to a different day, your best bet will likely be to pay the change fee and book a new flight. If you only need to change the return portion of a round trip, however, it may be cheaper to book a new one-way flight than to pay the cancellation fee.

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And abolishing change fees made it easier for airlines to raise fares on fee-free tickets – while leaving you the option of buying a cheaper ticket that cannot be changed at any price. So few people were flying that airlines finally realized that change fees angered passengers.

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If you'd like to change or cancel your flight, contact the airline or online travel agency directly for help.

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Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

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You have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket for a refund if you booked at least 2 days prior to departure. The 24-hour refund policy applies to all ticket types, but you have to cancel the trip to get a refund.* Reservations booked as part of group block do not qualify for the 24 hour refund.

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No, Basic Economy flights with American Airlines are non-refundable and non-changeable unless you request a refund within 24 hours of booking. You can receive a refund if you've purchased a refundable American Airlines flight and the ticket type is Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business Class or First Class.

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The Department of Transportation has a long-standing policy that requires airlines to provide free changes to consumers within 24 hours of purchasing, so long as a ticket is bought at least seven days before a flight.

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Rescheduling a nonrefundable fare to a different date is usually possible, but it most often comes with a substantial penalty charge. For passengers in some deeply discounted fare classes, like basic economy, rescheduling a nonrefundable fare is not allowed.

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Plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date. According to the CheapAir 2019 Annual Airfare Study, you can expect rates to go up after that period.

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How to know if you purchased refundable American Airlines tickets or not
  1. Viewing fine print on your original booking confirmation email.
  2. Calling American Airlines Reservations at 800-433-7300.
  3. Logging into your American Airlines account to see your booking details.


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