American Airlines Strikes: Your Rights & Tips to Prepare for Flight Disruptions

Joanna Teljeur

By:  Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated:  June 3, 2025

The last time American Airlines employees went on strike was a few days before Thanksgiving back in 1993. Flight attendants stopped working for 5 days which led to countless flight disruptions. Since then, the airline has only had strike threats which were resolved before a walkout took place. 

Nevertheless, any news of a possible strike can be gutting if you have travel plans, but there are some things you can do. In this guide, we’ll explain when you can get a refund, what you can do to avoid disruptions, and your rights as an American Airlines passenger.

Your American Airlines Passenger Rights

Even with relatively few protections, passengers in the United States can still count on the Department of Transportation to enforce some rules for flights disrupted by airline strikes. 

Unlike the regulations in Europe, the US doesn’t require American Airlines to compensate you in any way for delays or cancellations no matter the cause, but you are due a refund in certain circumstances.

Strike-Related Flight Disruptions

If an American Airlines strike is pending or underway, and your flight is canceled or ‘significantly changed’, the airline must give you the choice between a refund OR a rebooking. 

When Your American Airlines Flight is Canceled

If your flight is canceled, and the rebooking options don’t work for you, then you can get refund, that must be given to you within:

• 7 days for credit card purchases, and 
• 20 calendar days for other methods of payment.

When Your Flight is Changed or Delayed Because of a Strike

The U.S. DOT says that if your American Airlines flight is delayed by more than 3 hours for domestic routes or more than 6 hours for international ones, then you must also be given the choice of a refund or a rebooking. 

You’re also entitled to a refund if the strike causes your flight to change in any of the following ways:

• Your connecting airport changes from what you’d originally planned
• The arrival or departure airport changes
• You are moved to a lower class of service, meaning you bought a first class ticket and were downgraded to economy.
• You have more connections added to your itinerary.
• Your reassigned to a less-accessible flight or airport if you have a disability

Extra Expenses Caused by a Strike

American Airlines says in its Contract of Carriage that they consider a strike to be an event outside their control. Because of this, you will not receive any reimbursement for purchases made as a result of strike-related cancellations and delays. So, if you have to buy meals, hotel accommodation, refreshments, or anything else while you wait at the airport, American Airlines will not pick up the bill.

How to Protect Yourself from an American Airlines Strike

• Check the American AIrlines travel alert page for any news of pending strikes
• Download the airline app or sign up for SMS and email alerts. These will help keep you informed about any changes to your flight.
• If you hear a strike is pending, check with American Airlines to see if you can shift your booking to a later date. In most cases when a strike is underway, airlines will not charge additional rebooking fees.
• You can also ask about being rebooked on a flight with one of American Airlines’ partners including British Airways, JetBlue, and Japan Airlines.
• If no rebooking options work, then you can opt for a refund and look for alternate travel plans.
• Check to see if your travel insurance or credit card offer any coverage for strike-related flight interruptions.

When Will American Airlines Strike?

It’s impossible to say if or when the airline will see another employee strike. Airline strikes in the US are nearly impossible because federal law, regulating the airline industry, will block a strike unless it is determined that continued negotiations would be futile.

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Author:

Joanna Teljeur

Job/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead

Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development, specialising in consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work focuses on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.

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