Can You Avoid American Airlines Tickets Change Fees? 

The majority of travel across the country has been halted, but thousands are still buying tickets and flying every day in the United States. Airline tickets can be among the most confusing things we buy. Each ticket comes with a variety of airline fees and charges, but the high price and red-tape can make it hard to tell exactly what you’re paying for. Unfortunately, this also makes it hard to tell when you may be being taken advantage of by airlines out to make a buck.

One of those airlines recently in the news is American Airlines. Certain American Airlines tickets include a ticketing fee on purchases made with a live-salesperson. The airline’s guide to basic fees lists an “on phone” fee of $20 and an “in person” fee of $30 among a page of other miscellaneous fees and charges. This sort of fee isn’t uncommon; however, it is one type of fee that is occasionally not included in customer refunds, even if the ticket was purportedly refunded in full.

What Does an American Airlines Ticket Price Include?

According to their website, American Airlines tickets include a number of different costs. First, they include the base fare and carrier-imposed fees. According to reporting by Business Insider (BI), these carrier-imposed fees are basically a way for airlines to charge more for tickets without raising the base fare past it’s allowed threshold.

This fee goes directly into airlines’ pockets and is used to “collect money for a lot of different things”, one Texas-based carrier told BI. These fees can be as high as $650 per ticket.

American Airlines tickets price also includes a 7.5 percent government excise tax, a security fee of $5.60, an airport passenger facility charge of up to $18, another $4 government excise tax, and another $8.90 tax for those traveling to Hawaii or Alaska.

International flights bring with them a handful of other fees and charges, as well. The domestic fees remain with an additional $240 in government fees and taxes depending on your destination. According to American Airlines, government excise fees are put towards airport construction, airway safety, and operations.

What Do Ticket Change Fees Cover?

There are other fees that make be included in American Airlines tickets depending on changes made to the flight after purchasing. American Airlines lists a $150 to $250 ticket change fee amongst their usual ticket fees. This fee is charged when a passenger changes their flight plans.

This fee is a flat-rate added on to the ticket cost. This means that if you change from one flight to a more expensive one, you will pay the fee as well as the difference in price, according to the Points Guys. This change ticket fee is another that is often wrongfully not included in full refunds.

American Airlines Flight Change Fee Waiver

Often times, change fees vary depending on the type of ticket you’ve purchased. For instance, there are American Airlines tickets that are fully refundable, but these tickets usually cost more, to begin with, according to Airfare Watchdog.

American Airlines originally waived change fees on tickets bought between March 1 and April 30, 2020, but has since extended waivers to cover any American Airlines tickets bought before May 31 so long as the flight is scheduled before Sept. 30. More updates can be found on the airline’s official site.

Avoiding American Airlines Tickets Change Fees

The most reliable way to avoid change fees on American Airlines tickets is to buy fully refundable tickets in the first place. However, that isn’t an option for most people because of the significantly increased cost. If you can’t purchase a refundable ticket, there are a few precautions to take to avoid fees. First, look for a travel waiver and keep track of any schedule changes. Consider booking one-way tickets rather than round-trip and use a credit card to cover your fees. Make sure you have a good reason for any changes, and consider same-day changes as a way to reduce hidden fees.

How to Get a Full Refund on Cancelled Tickets

Again, the only sure way to get a refund on your American Airlines tickets is to purchase refundable tickets. However, if that isn’t an option, you are entitled to a full refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that airlines must refund passengers if their flights are canceled or changed by the airline or if the passenger cancels their purchase within 24 hours as long as you booked at least 2 days prior to departure. 

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.