What’s the distinction between American Airways journey credit and flight credit?

American Airways affords two major sorts of journey credit: “journey credit” and “flight credit.”

On condition that the names are virtually synonymous, we perceive if you happen to’re confused. However American Airways journey credit and flight credit are literally very totally different animals, so it is essential to know which sort you may have and the way you should utilize it. Let’s dive into the nuts and bolts of each.

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American Airways Journey credit

American points journey credit for issues like flight cancellations, vital delays, compensation and refunds.

You may redeem journey credit for airfare, together with taxes and costs, however not for extras like baggage charges or seat upgrades. This is applicable to flights operated by American or American Eagle; it additionally applies to flights marketed and offered by American however operated by considered one of American’s codeshare or Oneworld companions. Nevertheless, you possibly can solely use your journey credit score towards flights that begin within the U.S. and choose nations.

In keeping with AA’s web site: “When you cancel your journey on aa.com earlier than departure, we’ll cancel your ticket and concern a Journey Credit score. Your Journey Credit score can be legitimate till the date listed on the credit score.” Be aware that you will need to cancel earlier than the primary flight departs, otherwise you’ll lose the worth of the ticket, and it could’t be redeemed for future journey.

In case your journey credit score is not sufficient to cowl the total price of your flight, you possibly can pay the distinction. Alternatively, in case your flight prices lower than the worth of the credit score, you may be issued a brand new credit score for the distinction.

Though journey credit are nontransferable, you should utilize them to e book journey for anybody, not simply your self. You may redeem as much as eight journey credit in a single transaction.

It is essential to notice that you will need to undergo the American web site or the reservations telephone line to redeem your journey credit score. You may’t redeem it by every other channel, together with airport ticket counters.

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Journey credit have an expiration date listed on the credit score, sometimes 12 months from concern for AAdvantage members and 6 months for nonmembers.

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American Airways Flight credit

Flight credit are similar to journey credit: They’re redeemable for airfare on each American and associate carriers however not for add-ons like seats or luggage. There are a number of key variations, although.

Flight credit are issued when a buyer cancels their ticket by “every other channel” apart from AA.com. To obtain credit score, you will need to cancel your flight earlier than the primary phase of your itinerary departs — in any other case, you may forfeit your entire worth of your unique ticket.

When redeeming flight credit, there isn’t a limitation on the place your journey can originate. Nevertheless, whenever you e book your new journey on American’s web site, your flight credit score can solely be utilized to flights throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You may e book different tickets over the telephone.

You may redeem flight credit on-line or by the reservations telephone line, however you may as well do it in particular person at an airport. When reserving on-line, you possibly can solely use one flight credit score at a time; contact Reservations to make use of multiple.

Not like journey credit, flight credit can solely be used to e book journey for the passenger named on the credit score. Flight credit even have a unique expiration coverage. Most often, the brand new journey you e book together with your flight credit score should start inside one yr of the unique ticket date.

And simply to make issues slightly extra complicated, if you happen to use a part of your flight credit score on a visit, American will concern the remaining quantity to you as a journey credit score, not a flight credit score.

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Backside line

American Airways points journey credit when the airline cancels tickets, experiences vital delays, or if there’s a remaining worth when exchanging tickets; it points flight credit whenever you cancel a ticket your self. Each can turn out to be useful for future journey so long as you know the way to make use of them. Additionally, remember the fact that you possibly can’t mix a flight credit score and a visit credit score on the identical reserving.