American Airlines Is the Latest To Hike Checked Bag Fees While Scaling Back Basic Economy

Updated: April 9, 2026, 12:45pm CDT

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American Airlines Increases Checked Bag Fees
American Airlines Changing Basic Economy Terms
Final Thoughts

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American is the latest airline to pass increased operating costs onto passengers amid soaring oil prices.

Along with increased checked bag fees, American will make negative changes to basic economy fares, including removing complimentary seat selection and tightening its upgrade and boarding priority policies.

Here are the details you need to know.

American Airlines Increases Checked Bag Fees

American Airlines is increasing checked bag fees, but the rates vary by cabin class and destination.

As of today, April 9, 2026, here are the new checked bag fees on Main Cabin flights within the U.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) or to Canada:

First checked bag: $45 fee when prepaid online, or a $50 fee at the airport
Second checked bag: $55 fee when prepaid online, or a $60 fee at the airport
Third checked bag: $200 fee regardless if you pay online or at the airport

These changes represent a $10 increase for the first and second checked bags, and a $50 increase for the third checked bag.

4 American Airlines AA bag drop JFK — Brutal, yet unsurprising increases to checked bag fees. Image Credit: Michael Y. Park

Other changes are impacting basic economy bookings and fees for certain international routes. Also starting today, April 9, on basic economy flights to South America (excluding Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, and Peru), the first checked bag will cost $70 and the second will cost $100, whether prepaid online or at the airport.

Several changes are starting on flights booked on or after May 18, 2026:

Basic economy flights within the U.S., or to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean (excluding Cuba and Haiti), Central America (excluding Panama), and Guyana: The first checked bag will cost $50 when prepaid online or $55 at the airport, and the second checked bag will cost $60 when prepaid online or $65 at the airport.
Basic economy flights to Panama: The first checked bag will cost $55, and the second checked bag will cost $100, whether paid online or at the airport.
Basic economy flights to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru: The first checked bag will cost $70, and the second checked bag will cost $100, whether paid online or at the airport.

Hot Tip:

If you prepaid for a bag before these changes, the previous bag fees will apply. In addition, these baggage fee increases won’t impact American’s AAdvantage status holders or eligible AAdvantage credit card holders.

American Airlines Changing Basic Economy Terms

More changes are coming for tickets purchased on or after May 18, 2026.

All basic economy passengers — even those with AA elite status — will have to pay a fee to select their seat. Elite status holders also won’t be eligible for complimentary or systemwide upgrades when flying on a basic economy ticket.

It’s unclear at this time what the fee will be, but we can expect it to be dynamic once it launches in May.

American Airlines also says it will tweak its boarding process later this year. AAdvantage members without status or a co-branded credit card who purchase a basic economy fare will board in Group 7.

Final Thoughts

Airlines are scrambling to mitigate the negative effects of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Some airlines, such as Delta, JetBlue, and now American, are using increased fuel costs as a reason to charge passengers more for certain things, especially checked bags.