American Airlines Policy on Seat Forfeiture for Connecting Flights

With every software or technical innovation, there seems to be a possible downside.

Like this – American Airlines has introduced a new program called Aura and it might be too good.

Here’s what we mean. Aura is predictive software that will automatically rebook if you have a connecting flight that is going to be delayed. That’s a pretty good deal, right? You don’t have to spend precious time on the phone or at the airport counter trying to rebook your connecting flight.

But what happens if the flight is not delayed, if for some reason it can’t get to the connecting flight on time or if you turn into a track star in the airport?

You still could be out of luck.

American Airlines reserves the right to give away your seat on the connecting flight based on the predictive nature of the software.

Repeat: Even if you make your connecting flight, there is a possibility that you won’t have a seat because American Airlines, like any airline eager to fill the whole flight, might sell it to another passenger.

If the technology of Aura is good, it will know that the original flight will make it to the airport on time and whether or not you will be delayed for the connecting flight. But the possibility of getting bumped out of your seat on the connecting flight still exists. In that instance, the seat would go to the passenger who has been waiting. Perhaps on standby.

Then you were at the mercy of the airline to rebook the flight – perhaps it won’t be until the next day – and possibly arrange transportation and lodging.