You can request miles for eligible flights if it's been at least 3 days since you completed travel. We'll reply to the email address in your account.

For American Airlines AAdvantage members, you can retroactively claim missing miles for up to 12 months (one year) after your flight date. To do this, you generally need to wait at least three days after the flight to ensure the system hasn't just been slow to post. You will need your 13-digit ticket number, which can be found on your boarding pass or confirmation email. In 2026, this process is mostly automated through the "Request Flight Miles" section of the AA website. It is important to note that if you were not a member at the time of the flight, American typically only allows you to claim miles for flights taken within 30 days prior to your enrollment date. If you are claiming miles from a Oneworld partner (like British Airways or Qatar), the process can take up to 30 days to reflect in your account, so it is vital to keep your physical or digital boarding passes as "proof of travel" until the miles officially appear in your balance.

Excellent question. For American Airlines AAdvantage miles, the general rule is that you have a 14-day window from the date of travel to claim missing miles.

However, there are important nuances and exceptions to this rule. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

The Standard Rule: 14 Days

• For flights on American Airlines or American Eagle: Miles should typically post automatically within 24-48 hours. If they don’t, you have 14 days from the flight date to submit a claim online.
• For flights on partner airlines (e.g., British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines): Posting can take 7-14 days. You should wait at least 14 days after your flight before submitting a claim, but you must still submit it within the partner airline’s specific deadline (often longer—see below).

The Critical “Backstop” Deadline: 12 Months

American Airlines has a firm policy that no mileage credit requests will be honored for travel that occurred more than 12 months prior. This is an absolute deadline, even with perfect documentation.

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Partner Airline Exceptions & Longer Windows

This is where it gets more complex. While American’s system might only allow claims up to 14 days old for its own flights, partner airlines often have much longer claim windows through their own programs. Since you’re crediting to AAdvantage, you must follow the partner’s deadline.

Important: You must submit your claim to American Airlines before the partner airline’s deadline passes.

Here are some common partner airline claim periods: British Airways: 6 months from the flight date. Qatar Airways: 6 months. Japan Airlines (JAL): 6 months. Iberia: 6 months. Finnair: 6 months. Cathay Pacific: 6 months.

Always check the specific partner’s mileage claim policy at the time of travel.

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How to Claim Missing Miles

1. Wait the appropriate time: For American flights, a few days. For partners, at least 14 days.
2. Gather your documents: You will need your boarding pass and original ticket receipt (e-ticket number). A screenshot or photo is usually sufficient.
3. Submit online (FASTEST method