Cancelled an American Airlines award ticket and wondering where your miles went? The good news: AA has no redeposit fees, and miles usually return to your account within minutes. Here's everything you need to know.
Does American Airlines Refund Award Tickets?
Yes. American Airlines allows you to cancel AAdvantage award tickets and get your miles back at no charge — as long as you cancel before your first flight departs.
Key rules:
- No redeposit fees on any AAdvantage award ticket
- Miles reinstated within 3–5 minutes for wholly unused AA/American Eagle tickets
- Taxes and fees refunded to your original credit card within 7 business days
- Deadline: Must cancel before scheduled departure — tickets are forfeited if you no-show
How to Cancel an Award Ticket and Get Miles Back
Option 1 — Online (Fastest)
- Log in to aa.com → My Trips
- Select your award booking
- Click "Cancel trip"
- Confirm cancellation — miles return to your AAdvantage account immediately
- Taxes and fees refund to your card within 7 business days
Option 2 — By Phone
Call 1-800-433-7300 (24/7). Ask the agent to cancel and redeposit your award miles. Have your booking confirmation and AAdvantage number ready.
How Long Does an Award Miles Redeposit Take?
| Ticket Type | Miles Return Timeline | Taxes & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Wholly unused AA/American Eagle award | 3–5 minutes (automatic) | 7 business days |
| Partly used award ticket | 24–48 hours (agent required) | 7 business days |
| Partner airline award (Oneworld, etc.) | 24–48 hours (agent required) | 7 business days |
| AA cancels your flight | Instant redeposit | 7 business days |
Note: If miles haven't reappeared after 48 hours, call 1-800-433-7300 and ask an agent to manually process the redeposit.
Award Ticket Refund: Key Rules to Know
Cancellation Deadline
You must cancel before your first flight departs. If you miss your flight without cancelling first, your entire award ticket is forfeited — miles and all.
1-Year Ticket Validity
Award tickets must be cancelled within 1 year of the original ticket issue date to be eligible for a refund. Tickets older than 1 year cannot be refunded.
American Airlines Cancels Your Flight
If AA cancels your award flight, miles are automatically redeposited and taxes/fees refunded in cash — no action required from you. Check your AAdvantage account within 24 hours.
Partner Award Tickets
Awards booked on Oneworld partners (British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, etc.) require an agent to process the redeposit. Call 1-800-433-7300 and allow 24–48 hours.
Partially Used Tickets
If you've already flown the outbound leg and need to cancel the return, miles for the unused segment are redeposited minus the value of the flown portion. An agent processes this manually.
Do AAdvantage Miles Expire?
AAdvantage miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity. Any earning or redemption resets the clock. Redeposited miles from a cancelled award ticket count as activity and reset expiration.
Award Ticket vs. Cash Ticket Refund: Key Differences
| Award Ticket | Cash Ticket | |
|---|---|---|
| Refund form | Miles redeposited | Cash to original card |
| Fees | None | None (if AA cancels) |
| Processing time | 3–5 min (automatic) | 7 business days |
| Expiry rules | Miles expire after 18 months inactivity | Cash never expires |
| Cancel deadline | Before first departure | Before first departure |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any fees to cancel an American Airlines award ticket? No. American Airlines eliminated all award redeposit and change fees. Cancellation is free regardless of how far in advance you cancel.
What happens to my miles if American Airlines cancels my flight? Miles are automatically redeposited to your AAdvantage account, typically within minutes. Taxes and fees are refunded to your card within 7 business days.
Can I cancel just one leg of an award trip? Yes, but it requires calling 1-800-433-7300. Agents can cancel individual segments and redeposit the miles for unused legs.
I cancelled online but my miles haven't returned. What do I do? Wait 30 minutes for the system to process. If still missing after 2 hours, call 1-800-433-7300 with your cancellation confirmation number and ask for a manual redeposit audit.
Can I transfer redeposited miles to someone else? No. AAdvantage miles are non-transferable. Redeposited miles return to the account of the member who originally redeemed them.
For full details on cash ticket refunds, see our American Airlines refund guide.
