How to Get Discounts With American Airlines

Taking a trip on an airplane can be an exciting experience; however, coupling that with high ticket prices could put a damper on anyone's fun. Imagine purchasing a ticket on American Airlines only to find out your seatmate paid $300 less for a discounted fare. This situation would give the average passenger a reason to grumble, but it can be avoided by using a few simple tips and applying them before purchasing your next ticket on American Airlines.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide whether you are able to purchase your ticket in advance. American Airlines offers a discount for tickets purchased in advance. The most discounts are offered for tickets purchased at least two weeks in advance.

2. Visit resource websites for free information on gaining the best travel discounts. (See Resources 1) Searching coupon websites such as couponcabin.com is an excellent way to locate the latest discount codes for American Airlines. Coupon Cabin offers a multitude of various discounts on flights and also has a section dedicated to American Airlines. (See Resources 2)

3. Call the American Airlines reservations desk and request the lowest available flight prices for your dates of travel. Be sure to inform the agent if you do not mind traveling late at night: these flights often have lower fares due to the time. Ask the reservations agent about any seasonal discounts that may also be available. Some airlines offer discounts to travelers that purchase seats during traditional low ridership days, such as Christmas day and even on Friday the 13th.

4. Sign up for the American Airlines "Advantage" program to receive web-only flight discounts to your email account. This program is a frequent flier program that offers discounts on flights as well as other pertinent savings. (See Resources 3)

5. Download the free American Airlines Dealfinder program from their website to be informed about the discounts offered by American Airlines

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to purchase your ticket online once you have located all available discounts. Purchasing online will afford you the ability to avoid airline reservations fees when calling to purchase by phone.

• As with most discounted fares, these types of tickets are usually non-refundable. If you think that you may need to cancel your flight before traveling, it is advisable to thoroughly read the fine print that comes with discounted fares to avoid losing your money due to discount clauses. Such discount clauses may include requiring the traveler to use the ticket by a certain date, purchasing days or weeks in advance of the departure date and even staying at the destination a certain length of time before traveling on the return ticket.

References

• American Airlines: Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

• How to Get Cheap Flights
• Coupon Cabin Website
• American Airlines Advantage Program