If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations than 
there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding against his or her will 
until airline personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservation 
willingly, in exchange for compensation of the airline’s choosing. If there are not 
enough volunteers, other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in 
accordance with the following boarding priority of American. In such events, 
American will usually deny boarding based upon check-in time, but we may also 
consider factors such as severe hardships, fare paid, and status within the 
AAdvantage® program.

If you are denied boarding involuntarily, you are entitled to a payment of 
‘‘denied boarding compensation’’ from the airline unless:

 - You have not fully complied with the airline’s ticketing, check-in and 
reconfirmation requirements, or you are not acceptable for transportation 
under the airline’s usual rules and practices; or

 - You are denied boarding because the flight is canceled; or

You are denied boarding because a smaller capacity aircraft was substituted 
for safety or operational reasons; or

 - On a flight operated with an aircraft having 60 or fewer seats, you are denied 
boarding due to safety-related weight/balance restrictions that limit payload; or

 - You are offered accommodations in a section of the aircraft other than
specified in your ticket, at no extra charge (a passenger seated in a section 
for which a lower fare is charged must be given an appropriate refund); or

 - The airline is able to place you on another flight or flights that are planned 
to reach your next stopover or final destination within one hour of the 
planned arrival time of your original flight.