American Airlines has introduced a new policy to control and reduce rebooking of delayed or cancelled flights for economy passengers on other airlines.

A new policy at American directs airport agents not to rebook economy passengers on competing airlines — with no stated limit on how long they must wait for a seat on another American flight.

The exceptions might be made only to people flying to wedding or funeral and travellers left without a hotel room overnight.

Previously, American had loose guidelines, with airport and reservations agents given broad discretion on rebooking passengers on other airlines. If American Airlines nonstop flight from Chicago to New York was cancelled and there was a nonstop on United that got there fastest, the passenger could be switched to that flight.