Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is an award hold?
A cash and miles hold is an American Airlines cash and miles reservation placed on hold online before the booking is completed. American Airlines states that a cash and miles reservation placed on hold online must be completed online, and that when the member finishes booking they are asked to select the number of AAdvantage miles to use. [1] The hold rule above is for cash and miles bookings. To book a ticket with just AAdvantage miles, American says to select the “Redeem miles” option when searching for flights. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- American Airlines publishes a hold step for cash and miles bookings: a reservation placed on hold online must be completed online, and the member is asked to select the number of miles to use when finishing the booking. [1]
- Cash and miles carries its own conditions: AAdvantage membership, a valid U.S. home address saved in the profile (including Puerto Rico and U.S. territories), at least 500 AAdvantage miles, and flights marketed and operated by American within the contiguous 48 U.S. states. [1]
- Cash and miles bookings are not eligible for voluntary changes or exchanges; American's guidance is to cancel and make a new reservation instead. [1]
- For KrisFlyer, the Miles Redemption Rate that applies is the one in force at ticket issuance, and on reissuance the rate at reissuance applies to any additional charges. [2]
How does a cash and miles hold work?
American Airlines sets out the sequence for cash and miles bookings. The member searches for eligible flights as usual and, during checkout, chooses from the available miles options and pays the remaining balance with cash. [1] If the reservation is placed on hold online, the booking has to be completed online, and the member is asked to select the number of miles to use when finishing the booking. [1]
American's guidance is specific: a cash and miles reservation placed on hold online must be completed online. [1] American also advises members not to check “Redeem miles” unless the whole trip is to be paid with miles. [1]
Finding the space in the first place is covered in the award search workflow.
What does American Airlines say about cash and miles?
American Airlines describes a hold step in its AAdvantage guidance for cash and miles bookings. Cash and miles flight bookings can only be made on aa.com or in the American app. [1] If a cash and miles reservation is placed on hold online, the booking has to be completed online, and at the end of the booking the member is asked to select the number of miles to use. [1]
When searching, American advises members not to check “Redeem miles” unless the whole trip is to be paid with miles; during checkout the member chooses from the available miles options and pays the remaining balance with cash. [1] The separate booking route for tickets paid entirely with AAdvantage miles is set out in how to book American Airlines AAdvantage awards.
American's page describes a hold step for cash and miles bookings, subject to the following conditions: [1]
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Membership | Must be an AAdvantage member |
| Address on file | A valid U.S. home address saved in the AAdvantage profile, including Puerto Rico and U.S. territories |
| Balance | At least 500 AAdvantage miles in the account |
| Flights | Flights that are both marketed and operated by American within the contiguous 48 U.S. states |
| Not available for | Basic Economy fares; flights to, from or within Alaska or Hawaii; international flights; multi-city bookings; trips that include another airline; reservations with travel in different cabins; AAdvantage Business bookings; TripLink bookings |
Trips that include another airline are among the exclusions above. [1] Partner award itineraries are covered in the partner award booking checklist.
What rules apply after booking?
American Airlines cash and miles bookings. Cash and miles bookings are not eligible for voluntary changes or exchanges. To make changes, cancel the trip and make a new reservation. [1]
American Airlines award tickets. Award tickets carry no change fees, although a traveller who changes an eligible trip may have to pay the difference. [1] An award trip can be cancelled at any time 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; reinstatement can take up to 72 hours to process. [1] Taxes and fees are refunded in full except sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes, taxes American must pay whether or not the traveller flies, and bookings where the trip has already started; some countries have different refund rules that American follows. [1] Reservations should be contacted for a trip that has already started, involves partner airlines, or was changed because of an uncontrollable event since the ticket was issued. [1]
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. For redemption with KrisFlyer miles on Singapore Airlines and Scoot, the Miles Redemption Rate — the number of KrisFlyer miles to offset per dollar of spend — that applies is the one in force at ticket issuance. On reissuance, the rate at reissuance applies to any additional charges, and there is no refund of KrisFlyer miles if the rate changes after ticket issuance or reissuance. [2] KrisFlyer miles cannot be used for tickets bought through travel agents, Singapore Airlines Ticket Offices or Call Centres, or Scoot Ticket Offices or Call Centres. [2]
Exceptions and limits
- Holds can be tied to one channel. American's rule is that a cash and miles reservation placed on hold online must be completed online. [1]
- Cash and miles bookings cannot be changed voluntarily. They are not eligible for voluntary changes or exchanges; to make a change, the member cancels the trip and makes a new reservation. [1]
- Eligibility limits apply to cash and miles. It is not available for Basic Economy fares, flights to, from or within Alaska or Hawaii, international flights, multi-city bookings, trips that include another airline, reservations that include travel in different cabins, AAdvantage Business bookings and TripLink bookings. [1]
- American award tickets have no change fees. American states there are no change fees for award tickets, though a traveller may have to pay the difference. [1]
- The KrisFlyer rate is set at issuance. For KrisFlyer, the Miles Redemption Rate applied is the one in force when the ticket is issued, and on reissuance the rate at reissuance applies to any additional charges. [2]
Frequently asked questions
Can a held American Airlines cash and miles booking be finished by phone?
Under American's rules, a cash and miles reservation placed on hold online has to be completed online, and the member selects the number of miles at the end of the booking. [1]
What do I need before placing an American Airlines cash and miles booking on hold?
An AAdvantage membership, a valid U.S. home address saved in the profile (including Puerto Rico and U.S. territories), and at least 500 AAdvantage miles, on flights marketed and operated by American within the contiguous 48 U.S. states. [1]
Is there a change fee on American Airlines award tickets?
No: American states that there are no change fees for award tickets, though a traveller may have to pay the difference when an eligible trip is changed. [1]
How long do I have to cancel an American Airlines award ticket?
Miles are reinstated and eligible taxes and fees refunded at no charge up to one year from the date the ticket was purchased, as long as the trip is cancelled before the first flight departs, with up to 72 hours allowed for the reinstatement to process. [1]
Does the KrisFlyer Miles Redemption Rate stay the same as when I booked?
Not necessarily: the Miles Redemption Rate at the time of ticket issuance applies, and on reissuance the rate at reissuance applies to any additional charges, with no refund of KrisFlyer miles if the rate changes after issuance or reissuance. [2]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. This page covers American Airlines cash and miles holds, American Airlines award-ticket change and cancellation rules, and the KrisFlyer Miles Redemption Rate. It reports no account test. Rules for Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Flying Blue and The British Airways Club are not covered.
- American Airlines — Using miles for travel (AAdvantage program), checked 18 October 2026
- Singapore Airlines — KrisFlyer terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026