Can I use American Trip Credit for someone else without transferring it?

American distinguishes the owner of a Trip Credit from the passenger whose ticket it buys. A holder can use Trip Credit to pay for another person, but the instrument itself remains nontransferable. Confirm the label on the credit first; the similarly named Flight Credit has a named-passenger restriction.

What this answer depends on

  • An existing American Trip Credit, not Flight Credit or an award ticket.
  • A Trip Credit holder can purchase travel for someone else, whereas Flight Credit may be used only by the passenger named on it.
  • Trip Credit is nontransferable and cannot be sold or bartered.
  • Trip Credit is redeemed through American rather than a travel agency or airport location.

Important exceptions

  • The permission to buy travel for another person is not permission to sell the credit. A ticket issued with someone else’s credit still has its own cancellation conditions. Do not promise the traveler that a later cancellation will produce cash or a credit in a particular name without checking the new ticket.

What to do next

  1. Find the original credit email and read its exact instrument name. Do not start with the passenger name on an old ticket and infer which credit was issued.

  2. Have the intended traveler confirm the spelling of their name and itinerary before you use the credit. Keep ownership and passenger details in separate fields.

  3. Use American’s redemption channel and review the passenger shown on the new ticket. Sharing your account password is not necessary for the traveler to be the beneficiary.

  4. Save the new receipt and any residual-credit notice. Keep them with the original credit so later questions about unused value can be traced.

  5. Credit email, instrument name, holder details, intended passenger’s ticket name, itinerary and any unused-value notice.

More booking questions

Can my friend simply take ownership of my Trip Credit?

That is different from being the passenger on travel you purchase; the instrument is nontransferable.

Checked againstTravel credit

Does this also work with Flight Credit?

No. Flight Credit is restricted to its named passenger.

Checked againstTravel credit

Sources and last checked