American Airlines will hold flights for connecting passengers at more airports
January 5, 2026
American Airlines is expanding its artificial intelligence-powered connection-saving tool that briefly holds departing flights to help passengers make tight connections at select hubs.
Originally trialled at Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) and Charlotte (CLT), the Connect Assist tool is now in use at Chicago–O’Hare (ORD), Phoenix (PHX), Miami (MIA), Philadelphia (PHL) and Los Angeles (LAX). American plans further expansion to additional hubs over time.
How American Airlines uses AI to help passengers make tight connections
The system, often referred to as Connect Assist, combines automated decision-making tech with airline operational data to decide when a departing flight can be held to assist connecting passengers without significantly disrupting the broader schedule.
It builds on American’s existing processes of manually identifying passengers at risk of missing tight connections, automating and enhancing that logic using data.
Key elements include:
- Automated analysis of flight and connection data to predict when connections are at risk if a departure leaves on schedule
- Gate hold proposals when the system determines a short delay (often around 10 minutes on average)
- Passengers are notified when their onward flight is held and for how long via text and email alerts
While the airline has not publicly detailed every part of the underlying model, this tool is part of a broader technology push by American, including redesigned apps, generative AI assistants, and improved self-service features, to enhance on-time performance and the travel experience.
How to use American Airlines’ Connect Assist to avoid missing your flight
For travellers looking to take full advantage of the connection saver, here’s what to know:
Book connections with reasonable margins
Even with flight holds, connections that are too short (e.g., under 30 minutes) may still be risky — especially if you need to change concourses or terminals.
Enable mobile notifications
American emails and texts passengers when their flight is being held and how long the hold will be. Make sure your mobile number and contact preferences are up to date in the American app.
Know where the service is active
The tool currently operates at key US hubs including DFW, CLT, ORD, PHX, MIA, PHL and LAX. If your itinerary passes through other airports, the automatic hold feature may not yet apply.
Follow gate agent instructions
Ultimately, any hold decision involves a combination of automated recommendations and crew coordination. Pay attention to announcements at the gate – agents may help direct you to the next flight or advise if a hold isn’t possible.
Understand alerts in the app
American’s mobile app increasingly integrates real-time connection information, including alerts if irregular operations occur. It can also show rebooking options if you do miss a connection.
Do other airlines hold flights for connecting passengers?
Holding a departing flight, even briefly, to help passengers connect can reduce travel stress, cut down on rebooking hassles and overnight stays, and improve overall on-time performance. This isn’t just a nicety: technology that intelligently evaluates when a short delay will benefit most passengers without cascading delays represents a shift in how airlines manage connections.
Until recently, United Airlines’ ConnectionSaver tool was the standout example of this approach, with the airline using automated logic to delay flights for connecting passengers at select hubs since 2019. ConnectionSaver factors in gate distances, boarding times and downstream impacts to decide when a hold is feasible, and has helped millions make tight connections.
New, personalized United app features for connecting flights!
— United Airlines (@united) June 25, 2025
👟 Step-by-step directions between gates
⌚️ Real-time flight status updates
🔔 A heads up if we're able to hold the plane for your extra-tight connection
☕️ Hub airport recommendations for longer layovers
Download… pic.twitter.com/WlefvorDSY
American’s expanded system now formally brings a similar capability to more airports in its network.
By contrast, other major US carriers such as Delta do not currently operate an automated flight-holding connection saver tool, though gate agents may occasionally hold flights on a case-by-case basis.
Outside of these established connections tools, broader industry innovation is focused on other travel-flow improvements (like real-time updates and terminal wayfinding), rather than systemic flight holds.
While the technology is still relatively rare, what’s being rolled out now could signal a new era of airline operations where data-driven connection management becomes a standard part of network reliability.
Featured image: American Airlines
