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American Airlines NDC: how agencies and developers access AA content

The 2023 NDC switch, the 2024 reversal, what stays NDC-only, GDS NDC availability, and the three ways to connect.

By the Tripgic team · Last updated

What is American Airlines NDC?

American Airlines NDC is the airline’s IATA New Distribution Capability channel, which AA calls Modern Retailing. Agencies use it to book American flights with bundles such as Main Plus and Main Select, dynamically priced fares, ancillaries and Basic Economy, which AA sells to agencies only through NDC.

American pushed harder than any US carrier: in April 2023 it pulled up to 40% of its fares from EDIFACT. A 2024 plan to tie AAdvantage miles to NDC use was dropped after agency pushback, and fares returned to GDS channels, but Basic Economy stayed NDC-only. See our plain-English guide to NDC for the standard itself.

American Airlines NDC timeline: key dates

DateWhat changedSource
Feb 2021American and Amadeus sign a multi-year deal to distribute AA NDC content, including Main Plus, through the Amadeus Travel Platform.source
Oct 2022American signs multi-year agreements with Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport to expand NDC products from 2023.source
Oct 2022Travelport makes AA NDC content available on Travelport+ in 73 countries.source
Apr 2023From 3 April 2023, American removes up to 40% of its fares from EDIFACT channels; agencies need NDC to book them.source
Apr 2023Sabre starts offering AA NDC content through its Offer and Order APIs, Sabre Red 360 and GetThere.source
Feb 2024American announces that agency bookings will earn AAdvantage miles only via corporate deals or ‘preferred’ agencies meeting rising NDC-share targets.source
May 2024CEO Robert Isom drops the plan to limit AAdvantage earning on agency bookings.source
Jun 2024American starts returning fares to GDS channels; Basic Economy stays NDC-only, and dynamically priced fares and some bundles are planned as NDC-exclusive.source
Oct 2024American extends a 10% agency commission on NDC bookings of Main Plus, Main Select and Flagship Business Plus to the end of 2024.source
Feb 2026BCD Travel and American expand their NDC partnership for corporate travel programmes.source

Agency policies and incentives change often. Confirm current rules on American’s Global Sales NDC overview. American Airlines — Global Sales NDC overview.

Three ways to access American Airlines NDC

You can connect to American Airlines directly, through a GDS that carries its NDC content, or through an NDC aggregator. The right choice depends on your engineering capacity and how many airlines you sell.

Direct to American AirlinesGDS NDCAggregator (Tripgic)
Best forLarge agencies and TMCs with their own NDC engineering teamAgencies already working in a GDS desktop or GDS APIOTAs, B2B platforms and startups that want REST/JSON
What you buildAA’s NDC API (AirShopping, OfferPrice, OrderView…) plus onboardingThe GDS’s NDC workflow, separate from EDIFACTOne REST API; American Airlines NDC blended with GDS and LCC fares
Airline policy changesYou track AA’s changesHandled by the GDSHandled in Tripgic’s connector; your JSON stays the same
Other airlinesOne integration per airlineNDC carriers that GDS supportsOther NDC airlines, 3 GDS networks and 67 LCCs

American Airlines NDC vs GDS (EDIFACT) bookings

How NDC differs from the GDS in general: NDC vs traditional GDS.

Frequently asked questions

What is American Airlines NDC?

It is American’s NDC channel, which it calls Modern Retailing. Agencies use it to book bundles such as Main Plus and Main Select, dynamically priced fares, ancillaries and Basic Economy, which is sold to agencies only through NDC.

Did American remove fares from the GDS?

Yes. On 3 April 2023 American removed up to 40% of its fares from EDIFACT channels. From June 2024 it started returning fares to GDS channels, but Basic Economy stayed NDC-only.

Does American charge a GDS surcharge?

We found no American surcharge on EDIFACT bookings. Instead it has used NDC-only content and commission, such as a 10% commission on NDC bundle bookings in 2024.

Can I book American Airlines NDC in Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport?

Yes. Travelport+ offered AA NDC in 73 countries by October 2022, Sabre went live on 3 April 2023, and Amadeus signed an NDC distribution deal in 2021.

How do I access American Airlines NDC through Tripgic?

Tripgic holds the American Airlines NDC connection. You integrate one REST API with sandbox credentials, and AA NDC offers come back blended with GDS and low-cost carrier fares in the same normalized JSON, with no per-airline NDC certification on your side.

Sources

Other airline NDC guides

Related

Sell American Airlines NDC fares through one API

American Airlines NDC, GDS and LCC content in one normalized REST API. Sandbox credentials at no charge.

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