American Airlines: Day-Of Travel Details

Day-of-travel information is important for passengers flying with American Airlines. The airline offers a range of services and tools to assist passengers with their travel plans, including mobile boarding passes, flight notifications, and the ability to change or cancel trips. Passengers can also bring up to 3 children under the age of 18 at no additional cost. However, it is important to note that reservations cannot be changed online after check-in, and any changes made within 2 hours of departure must be done at the ticket counter at the airport.

Mobile boarding passes

To get your mobile boarding pass, you must first check in online. You can do this by going to aa.com and choosing the 'Email with Mobile Option' or by checking in through the American Airlines app. You will then receive an email with a link to your mobile boarding pass. Follow the link and save the pass to your device.

When you get to the airport, you can use your mobile boarding pass by scanning the barcode on the screen at security checkpoints and at the gate when boarding. It is important to make sure that the entire barcode is visible on the screen when you show it at security. You can use your mobile boarding pass at most airports, but it is recommended that you check whether your departure or connecting airports accept mobile boarding passes before you leave. You can do this by finding your airport and looking under 'Airport details'. If mobile boarding passes are not accepted, you can print a boarding pass before you go to the airport or from a self-service kiosk once you are there.

If you are travelling through TSA-approved cities, you can use the American Airlines app to view your mobile boarding pass. The app will cache your boarding pass for 48 hours, so you can access it even if you don't have Wi-Fi or 3G access at the airport.

Check-in and arrival

American Airlines recommends that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure time for domestic flights and at least 3 hours before for international flights. This will give you plenty of time to check in and clear security.

You can speed up the check-in process by using curbside check-in or self-service kiosks at most airports. To use curbside check-in, you need to have an electronic ticket that you can scan from your phone.

Online check-in is also available starting 24 hours before your flight and up to 45 minutes before departure for domestic flights (90 minutes for international flights). To check bags or check in at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure: 45 minutes for domestic flights and 60 minutes for international flights.

Please note that some airports have earlier check-in times, including Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, San Juan, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tampa (for the Consolidated Rental Car Center only). Additionally, there are restrictions on checking bags more than 4 hours before departure from Fort Lauderdale and Portland, Oregon, and more than 6 hours before departure from Honolulu.

If you need to change your reservation, you must do so before checking in. After checking in, you won't be able to change your reservation online. Instead, contact Reservations for assistance. If you realise you can't make your flight after checking in, be sure to contact Reservations before the flight's departure to retain the value of your ticket. Charges or penalties may apply for changes, depending on the fare paid for the ticket.

To make the day of travel smoother, you can download the American Airlines app to manage your travel on the go. The app allows you to book flights, select seats, access boarding passes, and view airport maps. You can also chat directly with a team member or get 24/7 virtual help through the app's chat tool.

Flight status notifications

American Airlines offers a flight notification system called BeNotified, which is the best way to get important flight updates. This system allows travellers to set up flight alerts and receive notifications via text or email.

AAdvantage® members can set up flight alerts once and get notifications for every flight. These alerts can be customised to include up-to-the-minute information on day-of-travel delays and cancellations. To set up BeNotified, members can log in to their AAdvantage® account and click on the 'BeNotified' tab.

Travellers can also set a single, flight-specific notification. This can be done by going to the American Airlines website or app and choosing the 'Email with Mobile Option'. After following the link in the email, travellers can save their boarding pass to their device and enable mobile notifications.

It is important to note that to receive flight notifications, travellers must include their AAdvantage® number in their reservation. This allows American Airlines to know how and where to send flight alerts. Travellers can also choose to send these alerts to friends and family.

In addition to flight status notifications, the American Airlines app provides a range of features to assist with travel management, including booking, seating, boarding passes, and airport maps. The app also offers direct communication with team members and 24/7 virtual help through a chat tool.

Same-day flight changes

There are some important rules and restrictions to be aware of. Firstly, your new flight must depart on the same calendar day as your original flight. So, if your original flight is booked for the morning, you can only change to another flight that also departs that morning – you can't bring the flight forward to the night before. Secondly, the change must be made within 24 hours of the new flight's departure time. This means that you won't be able to change your flight until the day before, or the day of. Thirdly, you can't switch to just any flight with an open seat. There needs to be specific availability on the new flight to make the change.

Other restrictions include the fact that you must change to flights on the exact same route as you originally booked. So, if you're connecting through Chicago-O'Hare, you can't rebook onto a nonstop flight or one connecting through Dallas/Fort Worth. You also can't change your flight to a nearby airport. So, if you've booked a flight to New York-LaGuardia, you can't change to a flight to the nearby New York-JFK airport.

There are some exceptions to the $75 fee. Confirmed, same-day flight changes are free for passengers in first or business class, those with full-fare economy tickets, and American Airlines Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro elites, plus one companion in the same reservation. American Airlines AirPass ticket holders are also eligible for free same-day flight changes.

Creating an AAdvantage account

• Visit the American Airlines website, aa.com, to access the AAdvantage program page.
• Look for the "Join AAdvantage" section on the website and click on the relevant link.
• Provide your personal information, such as your name, contact details, and other required details.
• Create your login credentials, including a username and password, to manage your account securely.
• Review and accept the terms and conditions of the AAdvantage program.
• Complete the sign-up process by following any additional instructions provided by American Airlines.

Once you've created your AAdvantage account, you can start enjoying the benefits, such as managing trips and credits, earning miles towards award travel, and accessing exclusive promotions and perks. As a new member, you may also be eligible for bonus miles promotions, so be sure to keep an eye out for those offers.

Remember to keep your login credentials safe and secure, as you will need them to access your AAdvantage account in the future and manage your reservations, preferences, and benefits.

Frequently asked questions