What your American Airlines contract says

In short

This is a contract of carriage between you and American Airlines, Inc. for transportation by air. Your ticket is governed by American's Conditions of Carriage and, for international itineraries, the Montreal Convention. Fares are sold in tiers (Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Main Plus, Premium Economy, Business, and Flagship First) and what you get (carry-on, checked bags, seat selection, changes, refunds, upgrades, AAdvantage earning) depends entirely on the fare you bought. Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2024 Automatic Refund Rule (14 CFR Part 259/260), American must automatically refund the original form of payment when it cancels a flight or makes a 'significant change' (3+ hours domestic / 6+ hours international, or material schedule/airport/connection changes) and you choose not to travel. American eliminated change fees on most domestic and short-haul international tickets, but Basic Economy fares remain non-changeable and non-refundable beyond the 24-hour DOT cancellation window. If you are involuntarily denied boarding on an oversold flight, 14 CFR Part 250 entitles you to cash compensation of up to 200% of the one-way fare (capped at $1,075) or 400% (capped at $2,150), depending on the length of the delay.

What you agree to do

• You must arrive at the airport with sufficient time to complete check-in, bag drop, and security screening before American's published cut-off (typically 45 minutes domestic, 60 minutes international); failure to do so forfeits your seat and may forfeit the fare on non-refundable tickets.
• You must hold the carry-on baggage allowance for your fare class (Basic Economy passengers without elite status or an eligible co-branded credit card are limited to one personal item only, and an unauthorized full-size carry-on must be checked at the gate for a fee).

What you can ask for

• You have the right to cancel any ticket purchased directly from American at least 2 days before departure within 24 hours of booking and receive a full refund to original form of payment, per DOT 14 CFR §259.5.
• You have the right to an automatic refund to your original form of payment if American cancels your flight or makes a 'significant change' (3+ hours domestic / 6+ hours international, or material airport/connection/downgrade changes) and you decline rebooking, per DOT 14 CFR Part 260.
• You have the right to leave the aircraft once a tarmac delay reaches 3 hours on a domestic flight or 4 hours on an international flight (excluding safety/security/ATC reasons), and the airline must provide food and water within 2 hours, per DOT 14 CFR §259.4.
• If you are involuntarily denied boarding on an oversold flight, you have the right to cash compensation of 200% of your one-way fare up to $1,075 (1–2 hour domestic delay) or 400% up to $2,150 (longer delay or international), per DOT 14 CFR Part 250.
• You have the right to file a baggage claim within 4 hours of arrival for delayed bags and within 24 hours for damaged bags on domestic flights; on international itineraries, the Montreal Convention caps liability at approximately 1,288 SDR (~$1,700–1,900) per passenger for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage.
• You have the right to earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on most fare classes, but Basic Economy earns at a reduced rate and confers no upgrade or priority benefits.

Points worth knowing

• Basic Economy is functionally non-refundable and non-changeableOutside the 24-hour DOT cancellation window, Basic Economy tickets cannot be changed or refunded for any reason short of an American-initiated cancellation or significant schedule change. There is no flight credit if you simply decide not to travel.
• Carry-on restriction on Basic EconomyBasic Economy passengers without AAdvantage elite status or an eligible AAdvantage co-branded credit card may only bring one personal item that fits under the seat. A standard rollaboard brought to the gate will be checked for a fee plus a gate-handling charge.
• Boarding-time deadlines are strictly enforcedIf you are not at the gate by the published boarding cut-off (typically 15 minutes before departure), American can release your seat to a standby passenger and treat you as a no-show, forfeiting your fare and any onward segments (even if you are inside the airport).
• Mandatory arbitration not standard for tickets but liability waivers are broadAmerican's Conditions of Carriage disclaim consequential damages (missed cruises, hotel costs, lost wages, business losses) caused by delays or cancellations. Federal preemption under the Airline Deregulation Act limits most state-law claims for delayed or denied service.
• Schedule changes can be unilaterally imposedAmerican can change flight times, equipment, routings, and even cancel a flight at any time. Unless the change crosses the DOT 'significant change' threshold (3+ hr domestic / 6+ hr intl), you are only entitled to rebooking on the next available American flight, not a cash refund.
• Checked-bag fees creep upward each yearAmerican charges $40 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second on most domestic Basic Economy and Main Cabin fares (when paid at the airport), with weight overage fees up to $200. These fees are revised periodically without negotiation.

Dates and deadlines

24-hour free cancellation window

Within 24 hours of booking, provided the ticket is at least 2 days before departure

Tarmac delay deplaning rights

After 3 hours on a domestic flight or 4 hours on an international flight

Airport check-in cut-off

45 minutes before departure for domestic; 60 minutes for international

Baggage claim deadline

Within 4 hours of arrival for delayed bags; within 24 hours for damaged bags (domestic)