Short answer: Under the ARC agreement addendum, agencies pay or resolve American's memos within 30 days. A change of 3 hours or more on a domestic trip, or 4 hours or more on an international trip, to departure, arrival or total travel time in each direction qualifies for a refund. A wholly unused ticket must begin travel within one year of the original issue date.
The rules below are American's own, from its agency pages, each with its source and the day we checked it. For the date math on a memo or a credit, open American in the airline policy finder.
How long do you have to dispute an American debit memo?
Under the ARC agreement addendum, agencies pay or resolve American's memos within 30 days. Dispute in Memo Manager with the proof attached, since Agency Relations does not waive memos.
- Window: 30 days to pay or resolve
- Where to dispute: ARC Memo Manager
Source: American SalesLink, Debit memos, checked on November 2, 2026.
The proof to gather depends on the memo's reason. Pick the reason in the finder for the checklist, or read how to dispute an airline debit memo.
Which schedule changes let an American traveler get a refund?
A change of 3 hours or more on a domestic trip, or 4 hours or more on an international trip, to departure, arrival or total travel time in each direction qualifies for a refund. SalesLink words the domestic limit as 181 minutes or more, while aa.com and the DOT rule count 3 hours or more. The traveler must have held a confirmed seat.
Refund with waiver code SCRFND in the system that issued the ticket, GDS or NDC. If American already reissued the ticket as an involuntary change, request the refund through American's refunds site.
Source: American SalesLink, Schedule change, checked on November 2, 2026.
Current waivers: American, travel alerts.
How long does an unused American ticket keep its value?
A wholly unused ticket must begin travel within one year of the original issue date. The issuing agency can exchange it. Once it expires, the fare and taxes have no value. Trip Credits from aa.com redeem only with American.
Source: American SalesLink, Ticket validity, checked on November 2, 2026.
For the exact day a credit runs out, with three dates to remind the traveler, open the credit in the finder. Tracking credits across a corporate account is in how a TMC tracks unused ticket credits.
How long can you void an American ticket?
Void in the GDS by 11:59 PM local time one business day after issue, and Friday to Sunday tickets by Monday. Exchanges void the same day. Void in both IAR and the GDS, or the traveler may still be charged.
Source: American SalesLink, Voiding a ticket in ARC, checked on November 2, 2026.
Where do agencies find American's policies?
American publishes its agency rules on its agency site. American tickets carry the prefix 001 and the code AA. Rules change, so check the airline's page before you act.
Common questions
How long does an agency have to dispute an American debit memo?
30 days to pay or resolve. Agencies dispute in ARC Memo Manager.
What schedule change lets an American traveler get a refund?
A change of 3 hours or more on a domestic trip, or 4 hours or more on an international trip, to departure, arrival or total travel time in each direction qualifies for a refund.
How long is an unused American ticket good for?
A wholly unused ticket must begin travel within one year of the original issue date.
How long can an agency void an American ticket?
Void in the GDS by 11:59 PM local time one business day after issue, and Friday to Sunday tickets by Monday.
Sources
- American SalesLink, Debit memos Airline policy
- American SalesLink, Schedule change Airline policy
- American SalesLink, Ticket validity Airline policy
- American SalesLink, Voiding a ticket in ARC Airline policy
Checked on November 2, 2026. Rules change, so check the source before you act on a date or an amount.
