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American Airlines Delay Compensation & Refund for Canceled Flight
American Airlines made the news recently for getting the largest ever fine for tarmac delays, but in Cirium’s February 2024 report, the airline showed a 7-point improvement in its on-time performance ranking. They moved to the 3rd place position with 84.43% on-time performance.
Meanwhile, OAG ranked American Airlines (AA) #8 in their 2023 on-time performance report, The Top 20 Largest Global Airlines. By their calculations, the carrier’s OTP was 79.11% based on 1,988,376 flights. But what does this mean for you as a passenger? What recourse do you have when you have flight disruptions with AA? Read on, because we’re going to explain your rights, compensation, and more.
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Your Air Passenger Rights
Even though American Airlines is a US carrier subject to the regulations of the US Department of Transportation, the airline must also comply with air passenger rights regulations in the regions it serves. This means that no matter where you’re from, you still have air passenger rights in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada as well as in the US.
EU and UK Air Passenger Rights Regulations
If you take an AA flight from any airport in the EU or UK, you will be protected by their regulations. We’re grouping the UK’s Regulation UK261 and EU’s EU261/2004 together because they are virtually identical and provide the same protections if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked. Any time you have an AA flight that departs from an EU or UK airport, you will be covered by these regulations.
Canada
If you have an American Airlines flight to, from, or within Canada, then you are protected by the Canadian Transport Agency regulations that offer similar protections as the EU and UK for flight disruptions. So, if you have a flight delay, cancellation, or denied boarding situation you are protected by Canadian law regardless of your citizenship or country of residence.
United States
If you’re flying with American Airlines on a domestic US flight, then your rights are protected by the United States Department of Transportation. Interestingly, the US has no federal regulations requiring American Airlines or other carriers to provide their passengers with compensation for delays or cancellations.
They do however, require airlines to compensate you for denied boarding situations where you’re involuntarily bumped from an overbooked flight. They also mandate refunds for canceled flights. Unlike the EU, UK, and Canada, American carriers make their own rules for compensating passengers, and what you get is mostly provided as a good will gesture.
Flight Delays | Flight Cancellations | Denied Boarding |
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American Airlines Flight Delay Compensation
The US Department of Transportation reports that in 2023, American Airlines had 940,531 departures for the year. Of these, 205,272 or 21.83% were delayed. So, what can you expect from American Airlines if you have a delayed flight? The answer depends on where you’re traveling, how long you were delayed, and whether or not the airline is to blame for the disruption.
AA Flight Delays in the EU and UK
If your American Airlines flight departs from an EU or UK airport and is delayed, then you could receive both financial compensation, care and assistance, and refunds. What you are entitled to depends on how long you are delayed and whether AA is culpable for the flight disruption. The table below will help you understand what you could receive.
EU and UK Delay Compensation | |
Length of Delay | Compensation |
2 hours or more |
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3 hours or more |
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5 hours or more |
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AA Flight Delays in Canada
In Canada, compensation requirements depend partly on the size of the airline and also the length of your delay. American Airlines counts as a large airline, so the following compensation reflects your entitlements for flight delays from, to, or within Canada on an AA flight.
Canada Delay Compensation | |
Length of Delay | Compensation |
2 hours or more |
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3-6 hours |
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6-9 hours |
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9 hours |
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AA Flight Delays in the US
As we mentioned in the earlier section, the United States has no federal requirements for American Airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays. Instead, each carrier has their own policies.
However, if you have an hours-long delay on the tarmac, American Airlines will “make every reasonable effort” to provide their passengers with:
- Crackers or biscuits
- Water
- Access to the bathroom
- Medical attention if necessary
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American Airlines Canceled Flight Compensation
The US Department of Transportation reports that for 2023, American Airlines had only 9,978 cancellations out of 940,531 departures. Not only that, but during one the busiest travel periods (December 20 to January 8), American Airlines operated 71,000 flights with 7.8 million passengers and only had 16 cancellations. (Business Traveler USA)
David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer at American Airlines said in a company statement,
“When customers purchase tickets on American, they place their trust in us to deliver a safe and reliable operation, and I'm proud to say that thanks to the hard work of our team members, we delivered on that commitment - despite holiday headwinds, including some challenging weather and increased air traffic control congestion.”
While these numbers suggest a steady improvement in the airline’s cancellation rate, you can still expect to experience them from time to time. When you do, here’s what you can expect to receive from AA in different regions.
AA Flight Cancellations in the EU and UK
If you have an American Airline flight cancellation in the EU and UK, the law requires the airline to assist you in getting to your destination as quickly as possible and to offer you care and assistance as well as cash compensation as long as extraordinary circumstances weren’t at play.
- If American Airlines cancels your flight from an EU or UK airport with more than 2-weeks notice, then you will not receive cash compensation.
- If American Airlines cancels your flight with less than 2-weeks notice, then you will be able to get up to $650/€600 in cash compensation as long as AA was not to blame for the cancellation.
- If your American Airlines flight is canceled with less than 2-weeks notice, they are required to offer you the choice of a rescheduled flight or a full ticket refund. (You could also get financial compensation as well)
- If you accept a rescheduled flight that is delayed by 2 or more hours, then you are entitled to free meals and refreshments and access to communication.
- If you accepted a rebooked AA flight, but it doesn’t depart until the following day, then the airline must provide you with:
Complementary overnight accommodation
Transport to and from the accommodation
Access to communication
Meals and refreshments
The amount of compensation you get is calculated by the distance of your flight and the length of your delay. The following table will give you a better idea.
American Airlines Compensation in the EU & UK | |||
Delay Time | Flight Distance | ||
Flights under 1,500km | Flights between 1,500-3,500km | Flights over 3,500km | |
Over 3 hours | $270 USD (€250) | $433 USD (€400) | $650 USD (€600)* |
Under 3 hours | €0 | ||
* American Airlines might try to reduce this amount by as much as 50%, but AirAdvisor always works to get the full amount.
AA Flight Cancellations in Canada
If your American Airlines flight is canceled in Canada, the airline is required by law to provide you with the following provisions:
- Cash compensation up to $738 USD if American Airlines is to blame for the flight disruption, and you are given less than 2-weeks notice.
- The choice of a rescheduled flight or a full ticket refund
- Complementary overnight accommodation, if your rescheduled flight doesn’t leave until the next day
- Transport to and from the accommodation
- Access to communication
- Complementary meals and refreshments
It’s important to remember that if the airline is at fault for the canceled flight then you could receive the care and assistance, rebooking, or refund as well as cash compensation.
American Airlines Compensation in Canada | |
Duration of Delay | Compensation Amount |
3 to 6 hours | $295 USD / $400 CAD |
6 to 9 hours | $517 USD/ $700 CAD |
9 or more hours | $738 USD/ $1,000 CAD |
AA Flight Cancellations in the United States
When you have an American Airlines flight cancellation in the US, the airline has no contractual obligations for its passengers except to reschedule you on the next available flight to your final destination.
American Airlines says they will try to seat you in the same seating class as your original booking, but if they can’t or if you aren’t happy with any of their alternate flights, they will offer you a refund for the “remaining ticket value”. Additionally, they will provide hotel accommodation if they are at fault for the canceled flight, and if your rebooked flight doesn’t depart until the next day.
Some passengers who experience a flight cancellation make the mistake of securing a hotel stay without American Airline’s approval. As a result, they don’t get reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses. So, if you have a cancellation and you’ve accepted an AA rebooked flight that doesn’t depart until the following day, make sure that you get written authorization from the airline before you make a hotel reservation.
Similarly, if the delay or cancellation is beyond American Airlines’ control and caused by extraordinary circumstances, then they will not pay for a hotel, meals, or refreshments. In fact, their contract of carriage states:
“If the delay is beyond our control or you book your own arrangements without written authorization from American Airlines, you’re responsible to pay for your hotel, meals and other expenses.”
If you feel intimidated about submitting a flight compensation claim with an airline as big as American, you’re not alone, but that’s why AirAdvisor is here to help. Our legal team has been defending passengers’ rights since 2017, so we know what it takes to secure the compensation you’re owed. Plus, we only get paid if you win your case! Check to see how much compensation you could get with our free compensation checker.
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Denied Boarding with American Airlines
Passengers can be denied boarding for many reasons, but if your American Airlines flight was overbooked, and you're involuntarily “bumped” as a result, then you will be protected in the EU, UK, Canada and even the US.
But how often are passengers denied boarding because of overbooked flights?
According to the US Department of Transportation, American Airlines had 6,764 instances of involuntary denied boarding out of 147,514,287 enplaned passengers in 2023.
To put this in perspective, during the same period, Delta had no instances of involuntary denied boarding out of 148,562,283 enplaned passengers. So, while this is a fairly uncommon occurrence, you’re more likely to encounter this situation when you fly with AA.
You might be wondering why airlines overbook flights to begin with. Here’s what American Airlines says:
“We do this because historical information shows that some people do not cancel their reservations when they change their travel plans. Overbooking is done in the best interest of both customers and the airline. Without the revenue produced by filling seats that would otherwise go empty, every airline would have to compensate by raising fares.”
Your Entitlements for Denied Boarding with American Airlines
Denied Boarding in the EU and UK
When it comes to compensation for denied boarding, the EU and UK regulations require American Airlines to put you on another flight to your final destination or give you the option of a full ticket refund. These two regions also require the airline to provide care and assistance as well as cash compensation for the inconvenience caused. The exact amount you receive could be as much as $650 USD and is calculated by the distance of your flight and the length of your delay.
Denied Boarding Incidents with American Airlines in Canada
If you’re denied boarding in Canada because your flight has been oversold then American Airlines is required to:
- Rebook you on another flight or
- Offer you a full ticket refund and
- Provide care and assistance while you wait (if you choose to accept the rebooked flight) and
- Cash compensation up to $1,773 USD calculated by the amount of time you are delayed at your final destination.
Compensation for Denied Boarding in Canada | |
Duration of Delay | Amount of Compensation |
Up to 6 hours | $665 USD / $900 CAD |
Between 6 and 9 hours | $1,330 USD/ $1,800 CAD |
More than 9 hours | $1,773 USD / $2,400 CAD |
* Payment must be made to passengers as soon as they are denied boarding or within 48 hours of their flight.
American Airlines Denied Boarding in the United States
Involuntary denied boarding situations, caused by oversold flights, are one area where US passengers can enjoy federally mandated compensation. So, if you’re bumped from an American Airlines flight for this reason you are entitled to a rebooking at no extra charge.
In addition to this, you are entitled to as much as $1,550 USD in cash compensation from American Airlines if you are delayed by an hour or more at your final destination. The amount you receive is based on the price of your ticket and the duration of your delay. Moreover, American Airlines must issue your compensation within 24 hours of your flight.
The following table will give you a better idea of how much to expect for denied boarding compensation from American Airlines for domestic flights.
Compensation for Denied Boarding in the United States (Domestic Flights) | |
Delay Duration | Compensation Amount |
Less than an hour | None |
Between 1 and 2 hours | Up to $775 USD (or 200% of the one-way fare, whichever is less) |
More than 2 hours | Up to $1,550 USD (or 400% of the one-way fare, whichever is less) |
We work on a No-Win, No-Fee basis. AirAdvisor is happy to help with your claim, so you can avoid the stress of dealing with airlines and complicated laws.Check Your Flight
Missed Connections
If you miss a connecting flight because of an American Airlines delay or cancellation, then you will be entitled to the compensation offered for the given flight disruption we discussed in the earlier sections.
For example, if you missed a connection in the EU, UK, or Canada because of an earlier AA delay, then you will be offered a replacement flight, cash compensation (if AA is to blame) as well as care and assistance according to the laws of each region.
In the US, AA will try to book you on the next available flight to your final destination.
What are Extraordinary Circumstances?
We’ve mentioned in earlier sections that extraordinary circumstances will exempt American Airlines from paying you cash compensation. But what does this mean? It means that if a flight disruption happens despite AA’s best efforts or total inability to prevent it, then it is attributed to extraordinary circumstances.
Here are a few examples of what can be considered situations outside the airline’s control.
- Air traffic control restrictions
- Dangerous weather conditions
- Strikes or other airport disruptions
- Civil unrest
- Security threats
If you’re wondering how you can tell when extraordinary circumstances have affected your flight, just ask the airline or airport staff what caused your flight disruption, then see if other flights in the airport are similarly affected.
You can also let AirAdvisor handle your compensation claim process for you. We can do all the hard work, including finding out if your delay or cancellation was caused by American Airlines or by factors outside their control.
Why You Can Trust AirAdvisor
- We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you get paid.
- More than 240,000 passengers have turned to AirAdvisor to get them the compensation they deserve
- We have an outstanding 98% win rate as well as 7 years of experience protecting air passengers’ rights.
You don’t have to fight airlines alone. Let AirAdvisor protect your rights and get you up to $650/€600 in airline compensation.Check Your Flight
People Also Ask
How do you file a compensation claim with American Airlines?
To submit a compensation claim for an AA flight disruption, you will need to send them an email to AmericanAirlinesCustomerRelations@aa.com. You can also do this via their web form. Be sure to include as much supporting documentation as possible including boarding pass, photos of information boards, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. You can also use AirAdvisor and let them take care of the claims process for you.
Are babies and children eligible for flight compensation with American Airlines?
Yes! If you purchased a ticket for your child, then they are eligible for compensation.
If AA cancels your flight, what happens to your checked baggage?
If you have a canceled flight, then AA will either forward your checked baggage to your final destination or send it back to you via the baggage carousel. You can also claim American Airlines compensation for delayed, lost, or damaged baggage.
Flight Compensation Calculator:
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Recent Comments
Coming from Dallas with American Airlines instead of BA which I had previously booked. Getting to Heathrow to connect to another BA to Nairobi, American Airlines could not Land stay inthe air for a long time causing delays for 10hrs waiting to be rebooked to another flight.
Advised by American Airlines customer service that we could orgmanise ESTA at the airport pre flight this was incorrect advice and we were unable to board.
My flight was cancelled the day before at 4:30 pm. I was rebooked on a flight for 5 hours later.