Eligibility: 65 Point Plan For retirement eligibility, American Airlines uses standard and simplified criteria based on a 65 Point Plan. Simply put, you must have at least 10 years of company service and your age plus years of company service must equal 65 or more when you leave.

Eligibility for retirement from American Airlines generally depends on a combination of age and years of service, often referred to as the "65 points" rule or similar legacy structures depending on the specific employee group (pilots, flight attendants, or ground staff). Generally, employees are considered "retired" if they leave the company at age 55 or older with at least 15 years of credited service. For 2026, employees reaching age 65 are eligible for full retirement benefits, including enrollment in the Post-65 Medicare marketplace plans. Early retirement is possible for those who meet the minimum age and service requirements, allowing them to access "Pre-65" retiree medical options, though the monthly contributions for these plans can be quite high (e.g., over $2,500 for a retiree and spouse). Eligibility also grants "retiree status" for travel perks, which allows former employees to maintain some level of non-revenue flight standby privileges. Specific rules vary between union-represented groups (like APFA or APA) and management, so employees are encouraged to verify their status via the Jetnet portal.