Jan 14, 2015, 11:06 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Free 24 hr. Hold For Reservations Made Within 7 Days Of Travel No Longer Offered
Note: AA no longer refunds tickets purchased within the seven days of flight time frame when one cancels within 24 hours, as of 12 June 2015.
Please follow that topic / policy here: AA No more Refunds within 24 hours if booked inside 7 day window
The 24-hour reservation requirement is mandated by the Department of Transportation’s consumer rule “Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections” (14 CFR 259.5(b)(4), 76 Fed. Reg. 23110, 23166, Apr. 25, 2011) and applies to all reservations made seven days or more prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time.
1) Allowing one to "hold" a booking for 24 hours rather than purchase immediately. Unfortunately, some may not know this and purchase thinking they can cancel within 24 hours free of fees or cost.
Q: How do I "Hold" a reservation?
A: You may place your reservation on hold for 24 hours if you are booking your reservation seven or more days prior to departure. When you make a reservation on aa.com for American Airlines flights, including American flights operated by codeshare partners, look for the “Free 24 hour hold” option on the “Review and Pay” page during the booking process.
AA Reservations FAQ - Link
A: You may place your reservation on hold for 24 hours if you are booking your reservation seven or more days prior to departure. When you make a reservation on aa.com for American Airlines flights, including American flights operated by codeshare partners, look for the “Free 24 hour hold” option on the “Review and Pay” page during the booking process.
AA Reservations FAQ - Link
Hold Your Reservation On aa.com (Link)
As a convenience for your travel planning, aa.com offers hold* options during booking. You may place your reservation on hold for up to 24 hours for free, or you may pay to place your reservation on hold for an extended time period. When you make a reservation on aa.com for American Airlines flights, including American flights operated by codeshare partners, look for the "Hold" option on the "Review and Pay" page during the booking process.
Hold your reservation for 24 hours or more
Book your flight now!
* Actual hold period depends on fare rules. Some fares require purchase by a specific time.
As a convenience for your travel planning, aa.com offers hold* options during booking. You may place your reservation on hold for up to 24 hours for free, or you may pay to place your reservation on hold for an extended time period. When you make a reservation on aa.com for American Airlines flights, including American flights operated by codeshare partners, look for the "Hold" option on the "Review and Pay" page during the booking process.
Hold your reservation for 24 hours or more
* Did you find a good fare, but need more time? Hold your trip.
Here's how it works: * All holds are free for the first 24 hours.
* If you choose to hold longer, you’ll be charged after 24 hours.
* Hold charges are non-refundable.
* When you’re ready, go to the confirmation email or My Trips to pay for or cancel your trip.
* Be sure to pay with a credit card from the same country you used to hold your trip or your fare may change.
Once you select the Hold option, the Free Hold and Extended Hold offers will display:* If you choose to hold longer, you’ll be charged after 24 hours.
* Hold charges are non-refundable.
* When you’re ready, go to the confirmation email or My Trips to pay for or cancel your trip.
* Be sure to pay with a credit card from the same country you used to hold your trip or your fare may change.
Book your flight now!
* Actual hold period depends on fare rules. Some fares require purchase by a specific time.
Link to PDF USDOT "Guidance on the 24-Hour Reservation Requirement"
Updated 1 July 2015
No More Free 24 hr. Hold For Reservations Made Within 7 Days Of Travel
Mar 25, 2014, 4:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
No More Free 24 hr. Hold For Reservations Made Within 7 Days Of Travel
When ticketing with reservation agent, the hold will not be offered. Same limitation already implemented on aa.com.
Mar 25, 2014, 4:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: AUS / DXB
Programs: BA Silver | AA LT Gold | EY Silver | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,838
Does this mean there is a free 24 hour cancellation policy as required by the DOT?
Mar 25, 2014, 4:27 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
seems to be updated on AAgency as well:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/hold_mktpg.jsp
(pre-change: http://web.archive.org/web/201307300...old_mktpg.jsp? )
http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/hold_mktpg.jsp
(pre-change: http://web.archive.org/web/201307300...old_mktpg.jsp? )
Mar 25, 2014, 4:30 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,424
Maybe a response to people holding J and F seats to increase their chances of upgrade?
Mar 25, 2014, 6:10 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Washington, D.C. / Miami, FL
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HHonors Gold, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 113
The hold came in handy last week. I placed a flight on hold which departed 5 hours later, helped me reserve the seat and get home to book it using my aa card.
Mar 25, 2014, 6:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 466
no 24 hr hold - less than 7 days?
no more 24 hr hold if you are making a res, for travel less than 7 days out?
I heard from a res agent today that reservations made within 7 days of departure will no longer be able to put the on a 24 hour hold! They either must be purchased or not ,,,,,,no more 24 hour hold. Anyone else heard of this new policy?
The new policy is not as much of a concern to me ) though I disagree with this as a concept and it will from time to time cause me an inconvenience) as the fact that AA is not communicating any of these changes to us, their most frequent flyers. Especially of note (to me) were the recent change to choice essential and choice plus bundles....... which (to my knowledge) was never announced...... nor (to my knowledge) was any communication attempt made to inform us (thier most frequent fliers) of this change.
Change, change, change.......
I heard from a res agent today that reservations made within 7 days of departure will no longer be able to put the on a 24 hour hold! They either must be purchased or not ,,,,,,no more 24 hour hold. Anyone else heard of this new policy?
The new policy is not as much of a concern to me ) though I disagree with this as a concept and it will from time to time cause me an inconvenience) as the fact that AA is not communicating any of these changes to us, their most frequent flyers. Especially of note (to me) were the recent change to choice essential and choice plus bundles....... which (to my knowledge) was never announced...... nor (to my knowledge) was any communication attempt made to inform us (thier most frequent fliers) of this change.
Change, change, change.......
Mar 25, 2014, 6:14 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
So much for last minute trips on AA. It was nice to book and put on hold make sure I could get a good hotel deal....plus if your UPG came through while on hold I was much more likely to purchase than let it cancel out.
Mar 25, 2014, 6:20 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Sound like the New American does not want to offer any more than is required under the DOT regs:
The 24-hour reservation requirement is mandated by the Department of Transportation’s consumer rule “Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections” (14 CFR 259.5(b)(4), 76 Fed. Reg. 23110, 23166, Apr. 25, 2011) and applies to all reservations made seven days or more prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time
Mar 25, 2014, 7:05 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
Just another cut of a thousand deaths...
Just another cut that chips away at the once great airline.
Mar 25, 2014, 7:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
I guess it's also logical to assume that there will be no more chances of upgrade notifications prior to booking (since the longest upgrade window is 100 hours).
Mar 25, 2014, 7:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
Mar 25, 2014, 8:28 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: NTTB
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,649
^^ although I suspect that AA is mainly trying to limit revenue shrinkage from the hold process. I would be very curious to see the hold data.
Mar 25, 2014, 8:48 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
As far as I can tell, travel agents will still be able to hold reservations subject to fare rules (e.g., TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED BY MIDNIGHT 1 DAY AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.). Of course this just holds the space/inventory and the fare could change or disappear.