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 26, 2014, 1:42 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,646
This does not affect me at all.
All of my last minute travel is work related and we have to use the corporate travel website that has always allowed for cancellation one day after. If any, corporate would pay for any change fee.
My personal travel is booked months in advance, which one can still put on hold.
[shrugs]
All of my last minute travel is work related and we have to use the corporate travel website that has always allowed for cancellation one day after. If any, corporate would pay for any change fee.
My personal travel is booked months in advance, which one can still put on hold.
[shrugs]
Mar 26, 2014, 1:47 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,240
Usually TA held reservations do not guarantee the fare. But of course they have the ability to void tickets within 24 hours, sometimes longer. I'd be surprised if that went away, even within the 7 day period.
Mar 26, 2014, 2:14 pm
#63
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,425
Do you have that link to the spoilage presentation you posted that had a screenshot of people who booked or held tickets under phony names and then had upgrades clear? It was really interesting.
Mar 26, 2014, 3:04 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,607
Certainly disappointing for those who book their flights within 7 days, but I've been told by multiple agents and other AA representatives that the tix booked within 7 days will be able to be canceled and refunded within 24 hrs. of purchase..
Mar 26, 2014, 3:19 pm
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Mar 26, 2014, 3:41 pm
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Mar 26, 2014, 3:52 pm
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Mar 26, 2014, 3:53 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,240
OK, then move along, nothing to see here. 
Mar 26, 2014, 4:22 pm
#69
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
This will suck when a cancellation happens and there are long hold times, I typically now can go on the mobile app, find the flight I want to change to, put it on hold, and then when I get to either a phone agent or airport agent they can rebook me on that flight, now if I buy it outright I would imagine I am stuck paying for the new ticket....
Anyone else have thoughts on this situation? This happened a lot this year with the weather issues.
Anyone else have thoughts on this situation? This happened a lot this year with the weather issues.
It's often that when a flight is cancelled, by the time I can attempt to change my flight, the targeted flight is sold out, and I say to the agent "I already grabbed the space, please implement my change" and it works.
Good-bye the once great AA, death by a thousand cuts as noted.
This is a big cut for me.
Mar 26, 2014, 4:22 pm
#70
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If anything, it seems like USdbaAA has come closer today to doing what DL and UA do with the charging and then refunding.
Mar 26, 2014, 4:23 pm
#71
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
This does not affect me at all.
All of my last minute travel is work related and we have to use the corporate travel website that has always allowed for cancellation one day after. If any, corporate would pay for any change fee.
My personal travel is booked months in advance, which one can still put on hold.
[shrugs]
All of my last minute travel is work related and we have to use the corporate travel website that has always allowed for cancellation one day after. If any, corporate would pay for any change fee.
My personal travel is booked months in advance, which one can still put on hold.
[shrugs]
In other words, my question isn't "does this harm me?" but rather "what's next on the chopping block?"
Mar 26, 2014, 4:30 pm
#72
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Mar 26, 2014, 4:32 pm
#73
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
From a narrow point of view, it doesn't affect me either. I always book 4-6 weeks out. But if you look at this big picture, this affects us all--it's yet another winnowing of an already-thin suite of customer service measures offered by AA.
In other words, my question isn't "does this harm me?" but rather "what's next on the chopping block?"
In other words, my question isn't "does this harm me?" but rather "what's next on the chopping block?"
Mar 26, 2014, 4:39 pm
#74
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
So now we'll have to pay with a CC but we can still get that refunded if we cancel within 24 hours (so basically all they are adding is CC info for the "hold")?
Mar 26, 2014, 5:37 pm
#75
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 5
Sometimes I have needed to have an agent book a ticket under special circumstances (cheaper online fares, fare changes, mileage upgrades for last minute travel? I can't remember but it's happened a number of times). The only way to do it was for me to put the flight on hold with the agent still on the phone,and then the agent retrieved it and ticketed. This is a major deal breaker since most all of my travel is last minute.