American Airlines Will Hold Some Flights for Tight Connections: How the New Connect Assist “Short Hold” Service Works, Where It’s Live, and What Travelers Should Know
American Airlines is using an AI-driven system called Connect Assist to briefly hold certain departing flights for late-arriving connecting passengers, if it won’t disrupt the broader schedule. The tool, tested at Dallas–Fort Worth, analyzes dozens of factors to decide when a short hold is feasible. The program targets tight connections, not all delays. Boarding still closes 15 minutes before departure.