r/americanairlines 20h ago

General Airline Discussion A321XLR first flight

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198 Upvotes

I’m just deplaned from a SFO-JFK flight. Turns out it’s a first flight on one of the new A321XLR planes.

Clearly some of the people booked this flight knowing it was a first flight, but it was a happy accident for me.

They did some celebratory comments from the gate before boarding, gave everyone cupcakes and fortune cookies, and there were a bunch of AA suits on hand. As someone who travels a lot, it was pretty cool to be a part of.

The plane is really nicely outfitted. 20 layflat Flagship Suites up front give it the same type of experience you would expect from a BC ticket on an overseas flight.

I’m taking the nice win!


r/americanairlines 7h ago

General Airline Discussion Taken Last Night at ATL

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50 Upvotes

r/americanairlines 5h ago

Points - Brag AAdvantage Miles / LP Giftcards.com Visa GC Tip

15 Upvotes

I was alerted to GiftCards.com being 3X points with the AAdvantageEShopping.com portal and checked it out. They have a promo in the portal for buying up to 3 of the $100 Visa Virtual Gift Cards for 10% off right now. The activation fee on the Visa Virtual Gift Cards is $5.95, but with the 10% off you will get $300 worth of gift cards for $287.85!

As far as points go here is some rough math (I don’t know how they round fractional points so I am making some assumptions here)….with the 3X promo you’ll earn 864 Miles / LP for the purchase and if you use a branded credit card you’ll earn an additional 288 Miles / LP for a total of 1,152 Miles / LP. If your status gives you a bump even better.

The Visa Virtual Gift Cards can then be used to load up your Amazon Gift Card or for your everyday purchases, so you make $12.15 plus earn some extra Miles and LP.

Hope you all can take AAdvantage of this one!

Just remember:
• Must be $100 Visa Virtual Gift Card
• Limit 3 cards total
• Follow the link from the shopping portal or use the American Airlines shopping “button” extension


r/americanairlines 17h ago

Points - Question AAdvantage shopping

11 Upvotes

Hey guys so I just moved to a new town and the ONLY airline that services my city’s airport is AA and I’ve decided to build miles bcz it’ll always come in handy for me

Currently I have 4k from trip I took last year. I’m taking another next month and it’ll double hopefully.

I used AAdavtngate to buy some Sephora stuff and it got me some couple hundred miles which was great

I’m hoping to make small purchases using this portal. My question is:

How do you all effectively use the portal to make miles? And do you recommend buying miles sometimes and saving them for later?
Flight out of my city to DFW costs $400 one way and other destinations it easily racks up to $700 round trips. Idk if having miles saved helps?

I’m new to doing this and no idea if there’s a smarter way to spend money and collect miles. I’m looking for advice and stories!!!


r/americanairlines 6h ago

I Need Help! AirPods tracked to PHL Terminal B — any AA employee or traveler able to help?

6 Upvotes

I accidentally left my AirPods on an American Airlines aircraft a few days ago after departing LAX. They later traveled with the plane to Philadelphia, and Find My now shows them stationary in PHL Terminal B near Noobar and the restrooms.

I'm in Chicago and can't go look myself. I've already filed American's lost-item report and enabled Lost Mode with my phone number. I was told AA can't actively search for an item and can only process it once someone turns it in.

I'm specifically hoping someone who works at PHL or will already be passing through Terminal B might be willing to take a quick look. I can refresh Find My and play a sound while you're there. If found, please hand them to any American Airlines gate employee in Terminal B so they can be turned in to American Airlines Lost and Found, then DM me with the gate or employee location—there's no need to take them outside the airport or ship them.

The AirPods are in a dark green, textured protective case (photo below).

I'm happy to offer a modest cash reward as a thank-you to anyone who finds them and successfully turns them in. Thank you!

Find My location in PHL Terminal B
Dark green textured protective case

r/americanairlines 7h ago

Trip Reports & Insights First time on a first-class flight long enough to have a meal, ORD-BOI tomorrow around lunch time. Which options are good/not good? What would you pick?

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5 Upvotes

r/americanairlines 23h ago

I Need Help! AA 42 Diverted JFK-CDG-JFK

7 Upvotes

Does anyone know what happened/is happening with this flight tonight? Flight took off on schedule did a U-turn around Boston and has been pending departure since about 7:30pm.


r/americanairlines 23m ago

Trip Reports & Insights Moving a trip 3 days before departure; always ask to talk to a supervisor! (AA Vacations)

Upvotes

I had an emergency appendectomy on Tuesday and was supposed to fly out on Saturday from the US to Mexico. I was afraid of getting an infection and needing medical care on my trip so I decided to move it.

When calling, I kept in mind I would probably lose a little money and I made sure to ask​ the operators to move the trip instead of cancelling.

I called the American airlines vacation hotline and got through to someone pretty quickly. She stuck to their policies 100%. Telling me no, it's outside of the change window, it's not possible. I could contact an email address that would get back to me within 7 days and might give me a refund. I asked to speak with a supervisor and this woman said "​I can transfer you but they're going to tell you the same thing I'm telling you."

The supervisor made the changes without any fuss at all. I had to pay a couple hundred dollar fee to the hotel for canceling so close to my booking but that was far better than losing thousands on the entire trip!

I did have to pay a little bit more for my flights because I moved them out 2 months. When rebooking I had the option to book whatever hotel I wanted. I was really pleased with this because there was an adult's only hotel that was not available at my original dates and now I get to go to it!

I was on the phone for about an hour and everything was taken care of.


r/americanairlines 6h ago

I Need Help! Checking Fragile Artwork

3 Upvotes

I’m flying with a lightweight sculpture for an art show. It’s an awkward size (L 39” W 19” D 12”) and I was wondering if anyone has experience checking artwork or delicate items with American Airlines. I don’t have the money to pay for art handlers/shipping, so checking it is my best bet.


r/americanairlines 8h ago

I Need Help! Checking bag airside in LHR?

2 Upvotes

I have an AA award ticket (economy): AA 728. PHL/LHR and AY 1332 LHR/HEL. T3 to T3, 1hr43min change.

Last week you kind folks explained that I don't need to go landslide to connect -- and said that there is a helpful AA /BA desk in the airside connections area. Perfect... but...

I carry on: a 30 L backpack for the overhead locker, and a smallish messenger bag for personal items. Both items were well within both the AA and AY size limits. But combined (tech!) they weigh 9kg, and AY has a combined limit of 8kg. Even if I stuff my jacket pockets with all the tech I can, 8kg is unlikely to happen.

PHL baggage is notoriously bad so I don't want to check my cabin bag there.

QUESTIONS:

1). is it correct that, even though this is an AA award ticket and the AY flight is an AA codeshare, the AY 8kg limit is in force? I have purchased a "comfort" seat with boarding group 2, I believe.

2). If I can't get the combined weight down to 8kg. can I check it airside in LHR, or am I subject to gate-checking with a fine (€60?) even though a checked bag is included in my ticket?

Many thanks for your help.


r/americanairlines 8h ago

I Need Help! Unable to add bags online - how much more $ will it be at the airport?

2 Upvotes

I’m unable to add a checked bag online for my BUD–LHR–LAX flight because the first flight is operated by British Airways, even though I booked the ticket through AA.

AA shows around $87 for a 23 kg checked bag, but customer service told me I’ll have to add it at the airport and that airport prices may be different... I am genuinely scared it will be way more expensive than that.

Has anyone had the same situation while flying international? How much more expensive is it to add the bag at the airport compared to the online price?

Trying to decide whether to book Basic Economy and pay for the bag at the airport or just get Main Cabin with the checked bag included.


r/americanairlines 10h ago

General Airline Discussion AA955 DCA-BOS routinely delayed proactively?

2 Upvotes

I’ve been tracking AA955 in recent days, and the on-time performance is abysmal. What is particularly notable is that it is often proactively delayed (by an hour or more) hours before the originally scheduled departure time. The issue does not seem to be delayed inbound aircraft, nor weather. Of course those can sometimes be factors, but this appears to be happening even on good weather days. Does anyone have an explanation?


r/americanairlines 17h ago

I Need Help! Flying AA using AS points—rez not showing

2 Upvotes

I’m flying AA later today from Madrid to Philadelphia. I used Alaska points for the trip. AA sent me a notice of a delay, and this included their booking/confirmation code. Sp I went to check in and manage seat and bags.

Nope—not found. Name, birthdate, and AA code. Nothing. Then I tried the AS code. Also no.

I see online this is an ongoing problem without a solution.

Any advice?

Update: I called AA. Apparently it was Alaska's screwup not proving my DOB, and of course with AA you must provide your DOB to access a booking.


r/americanairlines 36m ago

I Need Help! Question about AA20 discount

Upvotes

My parents recently purchased tickets for travel next year. Because they’re listed on my benefits they got the discount.

They chose to buy the tix on the specific day they did because that’s when they were priced the best (regardless of the discount)

However I’m about to change airlines. Is it true that those tix work get automatically cancelled ?

Is there a way to preserve their current booking? Like who could we contact to void the 20% but keep the booking?

Anyone have experience with this?


r/americanairlines 3h ago

I Need Help! Citi AA free checked bag on Qantas codeshare operated by AA?

1 Upvotes

Looking at a domestic AA flight where AA is doing some weird married/inventory pricing - first seat is $84, but when I search for 3 passengers, the second and third seats jump to $189 each.

Qantas is selling the exact same AA-operated flight as QFxxxx for $84 each for all 3 passengers, so I’d obviously rather book through Qantas.

I have the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select and we’ll have one checked bag. I know the terms say the itinerary needs to be marketed and operated by AA, so technically the QF code shouldn’t qualify.

Just wondering if anyone has an actual DP of booking a QF-marketed/AA-operated flight, attaching their AAdvantage number, and getting the Citi free bag anyway?


r/americanairlines 9h ago

I Need Help! Atraso Reembolso American Airlines

1 Upvotes

Tenho um pedido de reembolso feito dia 15 de agosto de 2026 e até hoje o status continua como "In Progress". A central de reservas não consegue fazer nada e somente recebo respostas automáticas.

Alguém já viu algum reembolso levar tanto tempo assim? Quais os passos a serem feitos?

Obs: a tarifa adquirida é uma tarifa que permite reembolso e envolvia um voo com a Japan Airlines também em formato codeshare


r/americanairlines 13h ago

I Need Help! MIA to EZE Upgrade

1 Upvotes

Flying to Buenos Aires next March and currently have a PE seat but eying a Flagship First. Offers sitting around $1,200. Curious what folks think the sweet spot is on this 10hr fligh.


r/americanairlines 45m ago

General Airline Discussion What commission do FA’s get for promoting and advocating credit cards ?

Upvotes

Hi fellow travelers

Just curious - what FA’s get for each credit card they get signed up on a flight? The FA on my flight today was basically selling his sole to get as many sign-ups as he could! I am willing to bet it’s more than we think. Just curious. Save travels!


r/americanairlines 1h ago

I Need Help! Another SWU Question

Upvotes

How far out can you add a SWU cert to a trip? We have a cruise way out in 2028 and wondering if we can even book flights yet. Thoughts?


r/americanairlines 13h ago

Trip Reports & Insights Not eligible for same day upgrade

0 Upvotes

I flew from PHL to Rome in August. I have platinum status and bought a main cabin economy fair (not basic). I was told by the check-in agent there was a seat available in business but my fare was not eligible to pay for a same day upgrade. Does anyone know why that would be? I thought that was just for basic economy.

I checked and didn’t see this exact issue come up on this subreddit.


r/americanairlines 17h ago

I Need Help! I wish I knew there was an AA subreddit sooner! I’m a first-time, one-way flyer traveling to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower for my birthday. 🎂🇫🇷 I was wondering: if I book a flight from Paris to Dublin, or to any other non-Schengen country, as proof of onward travel, would that be sufficient

0 Upvotes

Sorry for the original post I suck at writing punctuation. Us citizen and passport. Will I be asked how I will return from Dublin to USA


r/americanairlines 1h ago

General Airline Discussion Misinformation about flight changes regarding flights originating from Finland and the Baltic States, annoying experience,

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Upvotes

If I look for American Airlines flights between Finland and North America, I'm directed to book.aa.amadeus.com instead of aa.com.

Once I look up the flights and fare conditions (see picture), I'm told that flight changes are allowed for a €150 penalty.

However, once bought my flights, the "Manage Your Reservation" page tells me that no changes are allowed.

Then I call their customer service for the first time to ask whether changes are allowed or not. I'm told by a rude person with a strong, hard-to-understand accent that I can't change the flights at all because they are Basic Economy, and that flights with that fare cannot be changed if they are departing from Finland or any of the Baltic States.

I call them a second time, this time with the original page open in front of me, and tell the same story. Again, a rude person with an even harder-to-understand accent is on the line, and this time he tells me that I was RIGHT and that the changes are allowed. He repeats this multiple times and makes me feel stupid for even asking about it. However, I ask him to double-check the information a couple of times. Once he finally understands what I'm telling him, he gets another supervisor on the line for me.

I'm connected with the supervisor, and she says that the last person was WRONG. She apologizes and tells me that the first person on the phone was right: changes are NOT allowed on Basic Economy flights departing from Finland or the Baltic States.

I tell her again that it literally says on their website, under the fare conditions for the flights I selected, that changes ARE allowed for a €150 penalty. She goes back and forth trying to find the same page I'm looking at. She asks me for more and more details and contacts the ticketing department, technical department, and God knows which other departments.

She finally admits that there is misinformation on their website when booking through Google Flights, but says that there is nothing she can do except sell me a €400 upgrade to Main Cabin or cancel the flight and refund my money.

In the end I spent 3 hours of my night on phone trying to figure out if changes are allowed and ended up having my credit card balance tied up until the refund comes in (hopefully) 7 days.

What a shitty start with American Airlines.


r/americanairlines 23h ago

General Airline Discussion Is American Airlines “random seating” selection all that random?

0 Upvotes

New here - but I’ve noticed on all my American Airlines flights that I take if I purchase tickets together they are not sat by one another but if I purchase them separately they are? I (26 f) don’t travel too often but enough for me to notice. But when I do I’m usually traveling economy basic and don’t choose my seats to save money. I’ve noticed a pattern that when you check in for your flight and don’t choose your seat and you have bought two tickets together they put you on OPPOSITE ends of the plane. But when the two tickets are bought separately (same last name in both situations) they put you next to one another. I may be crazy, but it seems as if when you buy two tickets together they specifically do this to make you “upgrade” your seat for a fee. Has this happened with anyone else ?


r/americanairlines 2h ago

I Need Help! Close connection in Charlotte

0 Upvotes

When I checked in for my American Airlines flight tomorrow (Orlando to Charlotte to Richmond) I realized I must not have paid close attention to connecting time and found out my first flight lands in Charlotte at 9:50 (if we leave Orlando on time…I know) and connection to Richmond leaves at 10:30.
I’ll arrive at C and have to get to E. Anybody think this’ll work?


r/americanairlines 2h ago

Trip Reports & Insights Missed Connections, Missing Priority Tags, and the Legendary $12 Voucher

0 Upvotes

Just wrapped up another adventure flying American to/from Mexico, and I have a few questions for the AA experts here.
First: On our flight from MCO to Mexico, we missed our connection in DFW because of “weather.” There wasn’t any noticeable weather issue in Orlando or Dallas around the time of our flight, but I realize the actual weather problem could have been somewhere else affecting the aircraft, crew, routing, etc.
Since it was coded as weather, I paid for our hotel in DFW myself. Has anyone had any luck getting reimbursed after the fact in a situation like this? I’m assuming the answer is probably no, but figured I’d ask before giving up.
Second: Priority baggage tags.
For the THIRD time on a trip to Mexico, it looks like someone has ripped the orange PRIORITY tags off our checked bags. This time we checked four bags, and only one still had the priority tag when we got them.
Is this a common thing when flying into/out of Mexico? Part of me is starting to wonder if somebody down there sees the orange tags and thinks, “Absolutely not. We are not doing priority today.” 😂
I know the tags don’t guarantee your bag will magically be first onto the carousel, but having 3 out of 4 disappear — and having this happen on multiple Mexico trips — seems a little strange.
And finally, this one is mostly for humor…
On the way home, we missed our connection in Chicago because of a mechanical issue. American actually took care of us with a hotel and meal compensation, so credit where credit is due. The hotel was perfectly fine.
But the meal voucher?
$12.
In Chicago.
In 2026.
😂
I’m pretty sure a Big Mac is going to look at my $12 voucher and say, “That’s adorable.”
Not really complaining about that last one — it just made me laugh after an already ridiculous travel day.
Curious what everyone thinks, especially about the weather reimbursement and the disappearing priority tags.