American Airlines limits 24-hour refunds for bookings made within 7 days

American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, PC: Wikipedia American Airlines has narrowed its 24-hour cancellation policy, ending a more generous refund option for passengers who book flights close to departure. Previously, tickets purchased at least 2 days before departure could generally be cancelled within 24 hours for a full refund, regardless of fare type. American's customer service information now says tickets must be purchased at least 7 days before departure to qualify for the 24-hour refund option. That means passengers booking a flight less than a week before departure can no longer rely on the same automatic 24-hour cash-refund window if they change their plans shortly after purchasing. The change brings American's policy in line with the minimum requirement set by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which applies its 24-hour refund-or-hold rule only to tickets purchased at least 7 days before departure. The airline had previously offered a more generous window for some last-minute bookings.What the Department of Transportation actually requires airlines to offerAccording to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines must provide passengers who purchase a ticket at least...