How to book AAdvantage stopovers and open jaws

What is a one-way AAdvantage award?

American's terms describe a flight award as covering one-way travel unless the award is noted otherwise, and they add that certain special flight awards require round-trip travel [2]. Immigration rules in some countries also require proof of onward or return travel, which is worth remembering when a trip is assembled from separate awards [2].

The size of a one-way award is measured in segments. For each one-way flight award, American permits a maximum of three segments when travel is within the United States or Canada, and a maximum of four segments for every other destination, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands [2].

Separately from the segment cap, a ticketed award must be completed within one year of the date it is ticketed, unless the award states otherwise [2].

How do stopovers and open jaws fit into an AAdvantage award?

In everyday travel usage, a stopover is time spent at an intermediate point before continuing to the final destination, while an open jaw is a trip that arrives in one city and later departs from another, leaving the gap between the two to be covered on the ground. Both shapes are measured against the same rules in the AAdvantage terms: whether the award is one-way or round trip, the segment cap that applies to the region, and the one-year window for finishing travel [2].

A one-way award within the United States or Canada holds up to three segments, and an award to any other destination holds up to four [2]. A routing that needs more flights than the applicable cap does not fit inside a single one-way award under those limits [2].

Seat supply differs by carrier. On American Airlines and American Eagle flights, an award can use any available seat, including the last one, though the mileage price may be higher when availability is tight [2]. On AAdvantage Partner airlines, seating availability may be subject to special limitations and the number of miles required can vary with the partner's availability [2].

Where can you book award travel on American and its partners?

Award travel to more than 1,000 destinations can be booked on aa.com and in the American app, and partner airline flights appear in the same search results, with a filter on the "Choose flights" screen for a preferred airline [5]. A ticket issued as an AAdvantage flight award is only applicable on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or certain AAdvantage Partner carriers [2].

Some servicing has to go through Reservations rather than the website: reinstating miles on a trip that has already started, on a trip that involves travel on partner airlines, or on one changed because of an uncontrollable event since the ticket was issued [5].

AAdvantage also sells cash-and-miles bookings, which are separate from a full award: they can only be made on aa.com or in the American app, require an AAdvantage account with a valid U.S. home address (including Puerto Rico and U.S. territories) and at least 500 miles, and are limited to flights marketed and operated by American within the contiguous 48 states [5]. They are unavailable on Basic Economy fares, flights to, from or within Alaska or Hawaii, international flights, multi-city bookings, trips that include another airline, reservations in different cabins, AAdvantage Business bookings and TripLink bookings [5]. American announced the feature on 2 October 2026, with rollout to eligible members over the following weeks [3].

What happens if you change or cancel an award?

Before an award ticket is issued, a flight award reservation can be changed or cancelled at no charge unless American states otherwise; after ticketing, additional miles or fees may apply and are due when the ticket is reissued [2]. American also states that award tickets carry no change fees, while a difference in miles or taxes may still be payable [5]. Miles are reinstated to the original AAdvantage account when an eligible trip is changed, and that reinstatement can take up to 72 hours to process [5].

An award can be cancelled on aa.com, with miles reinstated and eligible taxes and fees refunded at no charge up to one year from the date the ticket was purchased, provided the cancellation happens before the first flight departs [5]. The terms add that miles are reinstated for wholly unused awards cancelled before departure while the ticket has not expired, and that expired tickets and partially used awards are not reinstated [2]. Tax and fee refunds exclude sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes, taxes the airline pays whether or not you travel, and trips that have already started, and some countries apply their own refund rules [5]. The AAdvantage fees guide covers the charges that sit around an award ticket.

Exceptions and limits

• Certain special flight awards require round-trip travel rather than one-way travel, and immigration law in some locations requires proof of onward or return travel [2].
• An award may be withdrawn, or made subject to increased mileage requirements or new restrictions, at any time before it is ticketed [2].
• An award is valid only for destinations served at the time the ticket is used; if American or a participating carrier stops serving a destination for which an award was redeemed, the miles are redeposited to the member's account [2].
• AAdvantage flight awards may not be combined with any other promotion, coupon, discount or special offer, and members may not combine an award with systemwide upgrades unless American permits it [2].
• The passenger or member is responsible for immigration fees, surcharges, departure fees and taxes, security fees, federal inspection fees and passenger facility charges, and any additional award-ticket fees are payable by credit card [2].
• Flight awards for international travel are subject to appropriate governmental approvals [2].
• Cash-and-miles bookings are not eligible for voluntary changes or exchanges; a change means cancelling the trip and making a new reservation [5].
• When a trip already involves partner flights, an uncontrollable event or travel that has begun, reinstating miles is handled by Reservations rather than online [5].

Frequently asked questions

How many flights can one AAdvantage award include?

A one-way award allows a maximum of three segments within the United States or Canada and a maximum of four segments for all other destinations, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands [2].

Are AAdvantage awards priced as one-way or round-trip trips?

A flight award entitles the member to one-way travel unless the award notes otherwise, and certain special flight awards require round-trip travel [2].

Do partner airlines change what an AAdvantage award can cover?

Award tickets apply only to flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or certain AAdvantage Partner carriers [2]. Partner awards may have special limitations on seating availability, and the mileage required can vary with the partner's availability [2].

Can you get the miles back if you cancel an AAdvantage award?

Miles are reinstated for wholly unused awards cancelled before departure while the ticket has not expired, but expired tickets and partially used awards are not reinstated [2]. Cancelling on aa.com up to one year from the ticket purchase date, before the first flight departs, also brings a refund of eligible taxes and fees at no charge [5].

Where can you book an AAdvantage award that uses partner flights?

Partner airline flights are included in award search results on aa.com and in the American app, and can be filtered by airline on the "Choose flights" screen [5].

Related pages

Compare how stopovers work elsewhere in award stopover rules compared, or follow the step-by-step version in how to book American AAdvantage awards. Terms: one-way award, partner award, and the full frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. The page covers awards issued by American Airlines AAdvantage only; other programmes, including United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways Club, are not covered here.

1. AAdvantage terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
2. American Airlines newsroom: cash and miles bookings launch, checked 18 October 2026
3. Using miles for travel – AAdvantage program, checked 18 October 2026