Q:  What forms of payment can I use to purchase my ticket on AA.com?
A: 
Debit / ATM card
See Note below		 American Airlines Credit CardSM (Fly Now Payment Plan)
American Express American Airlines Gift Cards
See Note below
Diners Club Electronic Checks (Checking Account)
See Note below
Discover PayPal
JCB Western Union
MasterCard UATP Card (Universal Air Travel Plan)
Visa  

With the exception of AA Gift Cards, only one credit, debit, prepaid or bank-issued gift card can be used to purchase a ticket at AA.com. Note: If using the AA.com U.K. website, the credit/debit card provided must have a billing address in the United Kingdom or the United States.

You must use a credit/debit card with a billing address in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, the United Kingdom and select countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and South America (special rules and restrictions may apply) to purchase tickets online.

In other countries, customers with credit/debit card billing addresses in Africa, Asia-Pacific or Europe may book through other AA.com sites in Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Russia, Spain or Switzerland.

You may find a list of valid credit/debit cards on the ''Review & Pay' page under the 'Credit/Debit Card' section when you are making your reservation online. Or, you may also obtain this information in 'My Account' under 'Reservation Preferences'. Select 'Credit/Debit Card' and then 'Add New Card'.

You can also pay directly from your checking account using your debit / ATM card or electronic check:

Debit / ATM Card:

  • In addition to debit cards with a Visa, MasterCard or Discover logo, AA.com also accepts ATM cards that require the use of a PIN (for ATM cards issued in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands)
  • As an enhanced security measure for our customers, you may now enter your PIN when using your debit/ATM card on AA.com through the PaySecure® PIN authentication technology for online debit transactions. This PIN-entry feature will be available to you if your debit / ATM card is issued (and has a billing address) in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is enabled for the use of PIN online
  • Note: For AA.com customers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AA.com is now able to accept ATH® debit cards with a PIN.

Electronic Check:

  • A personal check drawn on a bank branch in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands
  • The bank account is funded in U.S. dollars
  • Customer must have a U.S. mailing address and a U.S. driver's license or state-issued ID (customer must be an authorized signer on the bank account)
  • Ticket(s) is purchased more than 15 days prior to travel
  • Transaction amount does not exceed $5,000.00 USD
    Note: Electronic Check payment option not applicable if purchasing ticket on the AA.com U.K. website.

Note: If your electronic check payment is returned for any reason, your reservation will be canceled immediately.

We also accept PayPal from customers in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, and the United Kingdom. Note: If your PayPal payment is declined for any reason, your reservation will be canceled immediately.

Please note that for AA.com bookings in the U.K. paid with a credit card or PayPal, a processing fee of £4.50 per ticket will be charged. The processing fee does not apply to U.K. bookings paid with a debit card. This fee is refundable only for refundable tickets.
Q:  What do I do if I want to book a reservation on AA.com but don't want to use a credit card?
A: 

AA.com provides you with the flexibility and convenience of booking your reservation online even if you don't use a credit card:

  • In addition to debit cards with a Visa, MasterCard or Discover logo, AA.com also accepts ATM cards that require the use of a PIN. And as an enhanced security measure for our customers, you may now enter your PIN when using your debit / ATM card on AA.com through the PaySecure® PIN authentication technology for online debit transactions. This PIN-entry feature will be available to you if your debit / ATM card is issued (and has a billing address) in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is enabled for the use of PIN online.
    Note: For AA.com customers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AA.com is now able to accept ATH® debit cards with a PIN.
  • Using our electronic check payment option, you can purchase tickets also from funds taken directly from your checking account, provided it is a personal check drawn on a bank branch in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands, and the account is funded in U.S. dollars. Your ticket(s) must be purchased more than 15 days prior to travel, and the total transaction amount does not exceed $5,000.00 USD.
  • Use your PayPal account to pay for your tickets. This option is available to customers in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Otherwise, you can hold your reservation online without using a credit card if the fare allows. Once you have made your reservation, you can purchase your ticket at any one of our Airport Ticket Offices or Travel Centers, or at your nearest participating Western Union office. Our Airport Ticket Offices or Travel Centers accept multiple forms of payment including credit/debit cards and cash.

E-ticket eligible travel originating in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, may be paid for wholly with American Airlines Gift Cards. American Airlines gift cards cannot be used for payment at Travel Centers, airport ticketing locations or Western Union.

Note: Reservations ticketed by our reservations offices, airport ticket counters or travel centers are subject to an additional charge.
Q:  How do I enter my PIN on AA.com when using my debit / ATM card?
A: 

If your debit / ATM card is issued in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is enabled for the use of PIN online, a graphical PIN pad will appear on AA.com for you to enter your PIN. PaySecure automatically detects whether your card can be used with a PIN online, and if your financial institution participates with PaySecure. As you enter each digit of your PIN using a mouse or touchscreen, the secure PIN pad will scramble, keeping your PIN safe. If you mistype or forget your PIN during the first try, you will have one more chance to re-enter your PIN. The process is similar to using your PIN at an ATM or at the point of sale in groceries or retail stores. You also have the option not to enter your PIN (i.e., process the transaction as 'credit') if you choose to.
Q:  How do I use the Fly Now Payment Plan to make a ticket purchase on AA.com?
A:  Visit the Fly Now Payment Plan information page for instructions on how to complete your transaction.
Q:  How do I pay for my ticket using Electronic Checks?
A:  From the payment screen, select the 'Pay with your Checking Account' option. You will be prompted to enter the following information:
  • Bank routing number (9-digit number, also known as the ABA code)
  • Bank account number (we do not need a check number)
  • Customer's name and U.S. address (customer must be an authorized signer on the bank account)
  • Customer's valid U.S. driver's license number or state-issued ID number, and the issuing state
You may use electronic checks provided it is a personal check drawn on a bank branch in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands, and the account is funded in U.S. Dollars. Your ticket(s) must be purchased more than 15 days prior to travel, and the total transaction amount does not exceed $5,000.00 USD.

If your electronic check payment is returned for any reason, your reservation will be canceled immediately.
Q:  How do I pay for my ticket using PayPal?
A:  From the payment screen, select the 'Pay with PayPal' option. You will be temporarily redirected to PayPal's Web site where you can log in to your account and confirm your payment. You will then be returned to AA.com to complete your purchase. Note: If your PayPal payment is declined for any reason, your reservation will be canceled immediately.

If you don't have a PayPal account, you can create one upon checkout. From the payment screen, select the 'Pay with PayPal' option and you will be temporarily redirected to PayPal's Web site where you can create a new PayPal account. Signing up for a PayPal account is easy, it takes just a few minutes to complete, and it's free.

This payment option is available to customers in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Q:  How do I pay for my ticket using Western Union?
A:  Visit our Western Union information page for complete details.
Q:  How do I apply the value of an unused ticket or travel voucher as credit towards an online ticket purchase?
A:  You may apply the value of an unused ticket (subject to the rules of your ticket) or travel voucher as credit towards an online ticket purchase if the following applies to your reservation:

  • The reservation can be placed on hold
  • You are traveling wholly on American Airlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection®, certain American codeshare flights or oneworld partners

In order to complete these transactions, you must allow at least 12 days (or at least 21 days for residents of Canada) before your departure date.

Simply make your reservation online and select the hold option, write down your record locator, then call our reservations agents to set up the ticketing. The reservations agent will arrange for you to mail in the unused portion of your ticket or transportation voucher and apply it towards full or partial payment.
Q:  Can I buy a ticket for someone else?
A:  Yes, you can purchase a ticket for someone else. AAdvantage miles applicable will be credited to the AAdvantage member traveling.
Q:  What is a Card Security Code?
A:  The card security code is the 3 or 4 digit code which provides added protection against credit card fraud. By capturing the Card Security Code, we are validating that the customer placing the online reservation is in possession of the credit or debit card and that the account is legitimate.
Q:  Where is the Security Code Located?
A:  VISA and Mastercard:
Look on the back of your card in the Signature Panel. You should see a 3-digit code following either your entire 16-digit credit card number or just the last 4-digits of your credit card number. This 3-digit code is your Card Security Code.

American Express: Printed on the front of your card just above and to the right of your embossed credit card number is a 4-digit code. This 4-digit code is your Card Security Code.

Credit Card Back Panel On Visa or MasterCards, your card security code is the 3-4 digit number appearing on the BACK of your credit card. This number is not your PIN. We do not store your security code after verifying your credit card.
  The Security ID may be found in these locations.  
  
Amex Generic Card On American Express credit cards, the security code has 4 digits and appears on the FRONT of the card above the credit card number.

Q:  Will AA.com store my security code?
A:  No. Validation will be done up front and the code will not be stored.
Q:  Can I have a ticket sent to an address other than my billing address?
A:  No. Due to security reasons, in the rare occasion that a paper ticket is issued, we can only mail it to the billing address of the credit card that was used to purchase it.
Q:  What is electronic ticketing?
A:  Electronic ticketing allows you to travel without the use of paper tickets. Ticket information is electronically stored, and you receive only a confirmation of your itinerary and receipt.
Q:  When will I see an electronic ticketing option?
A:  To qualify for electronic ticketing:
  • You must have a billing address in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, the United Kingdom, or in the following Latin American and Caribbean countries: Anguilla, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Netherland Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, Uruguay, Venezuela
  • Your itinerary must be entirely on American Airlines/American Eagle/AmericanConnection® or on a carrier with which we have an interline electronic ticketing agreement, and your itinerary cannot contain more than 16 flight segments.
  • Customers purchasing reservations booked at least two hours before flight departure, customers purchasing reservations with a UATP Card and all Executive Platinum, Platinum or Gold AAdvantage members will see the Electronic Ticketing option when making a reservation on AA.com.
  • Certain destinations in your itinerary may not allow electronic ticketing travel.
Q:  Why do I only see an electronic ticketing option when I purchase my tickets?
A:  All qualifying reservations will be electronic tickets.
Q:  Can I still receive paper tickets if I am eligible for electronic ticketing?
A:  As part of our initiative to streamline your airport experience and reduce costs we will offer paper tickets only if your reservation does not qualify for an electronic ticket.
Q:  Are there any charges associated with tickets issued by reservations offices, airport locations or American Airlines Travel Centers?
A:  AA Reservations
  • A $25 USD charge applies for locations in the U.S. Puerto Rico, Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. (Due to government and market requirements, a higher charge may be charged in Colombia and Chile.)
  • A charge of $25 USD will also apply when our reservations representatives assist with voluntary itinerary changes when the reservation was not created by American Airlines Reservations or on AA.com.
  • A service charge may apply for tickets issued through locations in Europe, based on your reservation details
AA Airport Ticket Counter And Admirals Club
  • A $35 USD charge applies for locations in the U.S. Puerto Rico, Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. (Due to government and market requirements, a higher charge may be charged in Colombia and Chile.)
  • A service charge will apply to tickets issued through locations in Europe, based on your reservation details.
AA Travel Center
  • A $20 USD charge applies for locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
  • A $25 USD charge applies for locations in Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. (Due to government and market requirements, a higher charge may be charged in Colombia and Chile.)
  • A service charge may apply for tickets issued through locations in Europe, based on your reservation details.
This charge does not apply to:
  • Involuntary changes
  • Reissued tickets
  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum members when the member is traveling on either a revenue or award ticket. The service charge will not apply to any passenger booked in the same reservation as the AAdvantage Executive Platinum member.
  • AAdvantage award tickets issued within 21 days of travel and an expedite charge is collected.
  • AAirpass tickets
  • Government/military fare tickets
  • Prepaid tickets
Q:  What is Express Ticket Service?
A:  Express Ticket Service is American Airlines telephone payment service accommodated to our Latin American and Caribbean customers. This exclusive feature on www.aa.com/espanol is a faster, more convenient system which allows customers to hold a reservation online and then complete their purchasing transaction by calling their local American Airlines reservations office.
Q:  How early should I arrive at the airport to buy a ticket that allows purchase on the day of departure?
A:  Check-in times vary based on your departure airport. Please see Suggested Arrival Times for recommended check-in times. Note that if you need to complete other transactions in addition to checking in, additional time may be required. Also note that tickets issued at the airport are subject to an additional charge.

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