American Airlines Blocking Flights
This year has been lots and lots of bad news in the award travel world. We've had one devaluation after another, most recently the implementation of the 2026 Hyatt changes. This week, Dan's Deals discovered that American Airlines is blocking flights from partner airlines, including Alaska Airlines, British Airways and others.
The Backstory
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you likely know that the best way to book American Airlines flights is oftentimes not with its own miles. It is with a Oneworld partner Alaska Airlines. In fact, it's one of Alaska Airlines' sweet spots. As we've highlighted many times, you can book American Airlines short-haul flights with Alaska's Atmos Rewards for as cheap as 4,500 miles in economy and 9,000 miles in first class. Now, these super cheap rewards are somewhat restricted.
American Airlines Blocking Flights
Beginning on or around May 28, 2026, American Airlines began blocking flights at the 144 hour mark before the flight (6 days). This restriction appears to apply to all domestic, non-stop flights during this timeframe. You can see this happening in real-time too. Flights disappear almost exactly at the 144 hour mark, on a rolling basis. For example, for flights between Washington, D.C. and Savannah, Georgia, here is Alaska Airlines' availability over the next 6 days:
Compare the above availability to the following week, which is outside the 144 hour/6 day restriction:
The difference here is that 5/31 through 6/6, which is within the 144 hour/6 day restriction, only has American Airlines flights for 7,500 (economy) or 15,000 (first). This means these flights are not non-stop and stretch into a longer distance redemption bracket. The week of 6/7 and onward, which is outside the restriction window, has 4,500 (economy) or 9,000 (first) everyday.
When you replicate this search on any domestic route, it is virtually the same. All non-stop, domestic flights within 144 hours/6 days are unavailable to Alaska Airlines (and all other partners).
The Good News
There's a few pieces of good news here. First, this 144 hour/6 day restriction only applies to flights within, you guessed it, 144 hours/6 days of the flight occurring. Unless you're looking for a last minute flight via partners, it is business as usual. Second, this new restriction only applies to non-stop flights. So if your local airport didn't offer a non-stop American Airlines flight to your intended destination, you should still have the same availability for one- (or more) stop flights. Third, American Airlines still allows points bookings for flights within 144 hours/6 days with its own program, as American Airlines is only blocking flights to partner airlines. Lastly, these restrictions only apply to domestic flights.
You can still find close-in, non-stop international flights via partners, and at insanely low prices! For example, there are multiple flights daily this week between Miami and Nassau, Bahamas for only 4,500 points in economy via Alaska Airlines.
American Airlines Blocking Flights: ToP Thoughts
This is a really strange development from American Airlines. While this might be a glitch, the restrictions occurring at exactly 144 hours on a rolling basis tells me it is an intentional change. While it last forever? Who knows. No devaluation of a program is ever a good thing. Luckily there are still four pieces of good news highlighted above, that help to mitigate this change. But if you regularly book last-minute, domestic, non-stops on American Airlines via partners, this one is gonna sting for a while.
What are your thoughts? Does this affect your plans or your future bookings for American Airlines? Come over to our Facebook group and let us know.
