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American Airlines reservations: book a new trip or find an existing one

American’s U.S. site separates those tasks and provides one-way, round-trip, miles and advanced-search options. [American Airlines](https://www.aa.com/homePage.do?locale=en_US) A search phrase such as “American reservations” does not identify which transaction you need. For a new trip, prepare airports, dates, travelers and cabin. For an existing one, locate the ticket seller’s reference and any American reference before assuming an unsuccessful lookup means the booking is missing. Compare the complete price and fare conditions on the selected offer. For miles, review the exact reward itinerary and any cash amount rather than assuming a cash flight can be booked on the same terms with points. Finish a new purchase by checking the issued ticket and complete itinerary. If a payment attempt is unresolved, ask the seller to inspect it before making another reservation.

Flight planning tools for comparing booking and fare details before paying

What to do next

  1. Choose one-way or return according to your plan.

  2. Use the advanced search when your request needs additional itinerary choices.

  3. Keep traveler count and cabin constant while comparing.

  4. Open the entire itinerary to inspect stops, arrival dates, airports and operating carriers before deciding that two prices describe equivalent trips.

More booking questions

New-ticket search

Choose one-way or return according to your plan. Use the advanced search when your request needs additional itinerary choices. American displays those search paths on its U.S. site. 1 The presence of an option does not establish a specific route, award seat or fare condition. Keep traveler count and cabin constant while comparing. Open the entire itinerary to inspect stops, arrival dates, airports and operating carriers before deciding that two prices describe equivalent trips.

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Existing-trip lookup

Start with the purchase confirmation and identify the seller. An agency reference and an airline reference may be different, so label them clearly. Use the appropriate reference with the existing-trip service rather than submitting a new purchase to recreate what you believe you already bought. If the lookup fails, collect the name, reference and receipt and ask the issuing seller to locate the trip. Do not send full payment credentials in a general inquiry.

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Cash or miles

Separate the two comparisons until you have the same itinerary, cabin and conditions. Record both the points requirement and any cash component of a reward offer. Do not assume a universal points value or that an ordinary fare implies award inventory.

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Before and after payment

Read the selected fare’s conditions and include needed services in the total. Confirm names, travel dates and all airport codes at checkout. Save the issued ticket and receipt afterward. For an international trip, complete the relevant document and transit checks before committing to an offer. This guide does not prescribe a current fare, flight availability, reservation hold or refund outcome.

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