American Airlines ending 24-hour free hold on ticket reservations
Tuesday, 01 Apr, 2016
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American Airlines is scrapping its policy of allowing customers to hold a reservation without paying for 24 hours.
The option will instead be replaced with free cancelation of a paid reservation within 24 hours of the booking, which is typical policy at most other airlines.
This takes effect today for all new bookings made via a call center and a later unspecified date for online bookings.
The carrier said its different policy caused some confusion with customers.
"Up until now, we’ve done it a little differently than other airlines. Reasonably enough, people assumed the policies were the same," said American Airlines spokesman Josh Freed.
Federal rules require airlines to provide a 24 hour window for free cancelation after a booking is made.
American will still continue to offer a 24-hour hold on trips if booked with rewards miles, Freed said.
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