# American Airlines Tightens 24-Hour Free Refund Policy to 7-Day Advance Ticketing

_Aug 4 17:07_

Tags: American Airlines, DOT, Delta, United States, policy change, airline, service policy change

American Airlines has updated its 24-hour free refund policy, requiring tickets to be booked at least 7 days before departure (up from 2 days) to qualify for a full cash refund

## Summary

American Airlines has updated its customer service FAQs to reflect a change in its 24-hour free refund policy. Previously, passengers could cancel for a full cash refund within 24 hours of booking as long as the ticket was purchased at least two days before departure. The new policy requires the ticket to be booked at least seven days before departure, aligning American with standard Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. The policy applies to all ticket types but excludes group block reservations. Passengers booking through travel agencies must contact them directly for refunds. While cash refunds are restricted, many ticket types still qualify for a travel credit usable within 12 months of issuance. This change eliminates one of the key areas where American was more generous than competitors like Delta, which still allows 24-hour refunds for tickets booked as late as the day of departure

Sources add:
• Miles to Memories: American Airlines Tightens Its 24-Hour Cancellation Policy Miles to Memories News Miles to Memories News Miles to Memories Travel Realized Welcome to MTM!

## Why it matters

Affects 3 airline programs (American Airlines, DOT, Delta).

## What each source adds

- **Miles to Memories**: American Airlines Tightens Its 24-Hour Cancellation Policy Miles to Memories News Miles to Memories News Miles to Memories Travel Realized Welcome to MTM!

## Sources cited

- [One Mile at a Time](https://onemileatatime.com/news/american-updates-24-hour-refund-policy-bad-last-minute-tickets) — American Updates 24-Hour Free Refund Policy: Bad For Last Minute Tickets
- [Miles to Memories](https://milestomemories.com/american-airlines-tightens-24-hour-cancellation-policy) — American Airlines Tightens Its 24-Hour Cancellation Policy

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