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AMERICAN AIRLINES

american airlines issues

My 2-year-old gave up his seat on an American Airlines flight. Where’s my refund!

January 10, 2026December 29, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

If you pay for an airline seat, you should get to actually sit in it?

That’s what’s at the heart of John Bailey’s case against American Airlines. He bought five round-trip tickets from Dallas to Boston for a family event. One of them was for his 2-year-old grandson, Riggs.

Categories Advocacy, Popular
Teresa McGee thought she'd done everything right before her flight from Detroit to Charlotte. But she never expected American Airlines to not do everything right.

She showed up two hours early for her flight. Why did American Airlines cancel her ticket?

December 26, 2025December 15, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Teresa McGee thought she’d done everything right before her flight from Detroit to Charlotte. But she never expected American Airlines to not do everything right. 

Categories Advocacy, Popular
When Laura MacLennan's business class seat breaks, she's sent to economy class. An American Airlines agent promises a refund and $500 in compensation, but it never comes through. Can she recover the money -- or was this a case of a broken promise?

Help! American Airlines downgraded me and then refused a refund

December 10, 2025December 10, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Laura MacLennan’s business class seat breaks, she’s sent to economy class. An American Airlines agent promises a refund and $500 in compensation, but it never comes through. Can she recover the money — or was this a case of a broken promise? 

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Rhonda Bryant’s trip to San Francisco was ruined when American Airlines canceled her connecting flight. Despite a new federal rule requiring automatic refunds, she spent nearly seven months chasing down $403 the airline withheld. Her case reveals how major carriers sidestep refund rules—and what you must do when they do. From “trip in vain” policies to DOT complaints, here’s what travelers need to know when the refund isn’t automatic.

Are airline refunds automatic now? For this canceled American Airlines flight, they weren’t

October 27, 2025October 27, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

All Rhonda Bryant wanted was a refund for her airline ticket. She’d booked three tickets with American Airlines for a trip from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco. But when American canceled her connecting flight from Charlotte to San Francisco after hours of delays, her plans fell apart. 

Categories Advocacy
Thomas Larson booked a flight with a 93-minute layover, but an American Airlines agent refused to check his bag — claiming it wasn’t long enough. Forced to buy a second ticket, Larson faced airline finger-pointing and silence. Who’s responsible when partner airlines don’t agree on the rules?

“Not enough time for your bags”: How a 90-minute connection rule upended a flight

October 29, 2025October 20, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Thomas Larson thought he’d done everything right when he booked a flight from Raleigh-Durham to Ketchikan, Alaska. He’d bought a multi-airline itinerary through Alaska Airlines: The first leg was on American Airlines to Phoenix, then continuing on Alaska Airlines to Seattle and Ketchikan.

Categories Advocacy
After turbulence forced a change of plans, American Airlines told the Pruchas their return tickets were still valid. But the airline later canceled their flight, forcing them to pay $969. With only boarding passes as proof, they fought a flawed system—and won their money back with help from a travel advocate.

American Airlines canceled my return flight because I missed a leg. But it said I could fly!

October 29, 2025October 6, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

The trouble didn’t start on their flight from Buffalo to Philadelphia, when their 50-seat regional jet got tossed around in the heavy turbulence. It was so violent that Christopher Prucha’s wife begged him not to continue their trip to Wilmington, N.C., and to drive instead.

Categories Advocacy
Passenger experienced a 14-hour American Airlines flight delay and was promised compensation, but never received it. Learn about EU 261 regulations and how to get your due.

American Airlines promised me compensation for my flight delay. Where is it?

October 14, 2025June 25, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines promises Joseph Muskovich compensation for a lengthy flight delay. But despite repeated promises, it never pays. How can he get American Airlines to honor its promise?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
After American Airlines canceled Nathan Ciurzynski's flight due to Hurricane Milton, he was offered only a flight credit. Frustrated, he sought a full refund. Learn how he navigated the refund process, leveraging new regulations to secure his $321 back, and what steps he took to resolve the issue. American Airlines

American Airlines canceled my flight after a hurricane — why am I only getting this credit?

June 28, 2025May 28, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Nathan Ciurzynski’s flight from Tampa to San Diego is canceled because of a hurricane. When he asks American Airlines for a refund, it offers a flight credit instead. Can he get his money back?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
American Airlines changes Erica Remer's flight without telling her. Now she's trying to get a refund for the original ticket. Why won't the airline help her?

American Airlines refund policy: How to get your money back after a flight schedule change

May 29, 2025April 30, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines changes Erica Remer’s flight without telling her. Now she’s trying to get a refund for the original ticket. Why won’t the airline help her?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Erin Wright was banned by American Airlines, accused of intoxication and engaging in sexual activity with a stranger during a flight. But Wright insists it's a case of mistaken identity — she’s a 24-year-old lesbian who wasn’t involved. Determined to clear her name, Wright turned to an advocacy team for help. Although American Airlines eventually reinstated her, Wright’s fight wasn’t over. She posted a viral TikTok video and fought for a refund for an extra ticket she had to buy. What really happened on that flight?

Banned by American Airlines for being “intoxicated and engaging in sexual activity” — but was it her?

June 28, 2025October 7, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines says Erin Wright was drunk and had sex with a man on a recent flight, and now she’s banned. Wright says American Airlines didn’t give her a chance to tell her side of the story and that this is a case of mistaken identity — and she can prove it

Categories Advocacy
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