American Airlines Announces Increased Bag Fees and Updates to Mileage Program

American Airlines just announced changes to how customers will earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. Unfortunately, the announcement doesn’t have all the details laid out, so it’s unclear if and how these changes will impact you going forward.

Plus, there are some new fees for American Airlines baggage — with some going up and others going down.

Let’s dive into all of these changes.

Changes to Earning Miles and Loyalty Points

American Airlines is continuing to update its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline already made changes earlier this year, and today, more were announced.

The first big change American Airlines announced is how you’ll earn miles and Loyalty Points going forward. The good news is that if you are used to booking your flights directly through American Airlines, not much will change for you.

However, if you book through online travel agencies (OTAs), you’ll want to pay close attention.

Beginning in May, only these types of tickets will earn American Airlines miles and Loyalty Points:

• Tickets purchased directly through American Airlines (and eligible partners)
• Tickets booked by AAdvantage Business members or contracted corporate travelers
• Tickets booked through preferred travel agencies, not including Basic Economy fares

The one crystal clear thing is that Americans want customers to book directly with them rather than through third-party websites.

These changes begin with tickets issued on May 1, 2024, and after, so any reservations you have booked or will book through the end of April won’t be affected.

Here’s where some of the confusion begins — American Airlines isn’t publishing its list of preferred travel agencies until the end of April.

That means we don’t know how extensive that list will be. If it includes popular flight booking websites like Expedia and Orbitz, this change won’t matter to most travelers.

However, if American’s preferred travel agencies don’t include those popular and often-used websites, this change will affect many travelers, encouraging them to book directly rather than via these OTAs.

Regardless of what travel agencies end up on American’s preferred list, a significant change will affect travelers who book Basic Economy tickets. Only Basic Economy fares purchased through American Airlines will earn redeemable miles and Loyalty Points. This is disappointing, considering the earning rate on Basic Economy tickets was already slashed down to 2 miles per dollar in early 2023.

The airline wants to present these changes as a benefit for passengers. “We want to make it more convenient for customers to enjoy the value and magic of travel,” said Vasu Raja, American Airlines’ chief commercial officer. “Not only does booking directly with American provide the best possible experience, it’s also where we offer the best fares and it’s most rewarding for our AAdvantage members.”

While it’s true that it often makes the most sense to book airline tickets directly with the airline, it’s never great when additional options are taken away from the consumer.

American Airlines Increased Bag Fees

American Airlines announced another modification that passengers will not be pleased with — increased baggage fees. These new fees will apply for flights booked beginning February 20, 2024.

Here’s what’s changing:

Furthermore, if you travel with a furry friend, the charge for bringing your pet inside the cabin has increased from $125 to $150.

There’s some good news, however — some fees for overweight and oversized baggage are decreasing. These new fees go into effect on April 17, 2024, regardless of when the ticket was purchased.

Final Thoughts

American Airlines is making changes to how some tickets earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points. While the good news is that nothing will change for travelers who book directly with American, the future is less certain for those who use online travel agencies.

For tickets booked on or after May 1, 2024, only those booked directly with American, by AAdvantage Business members or contracted corporate travelers, or through preferred travel agencies (excluding Basic Economy) will accrue miles and Loyalty Points. We’ll know more about which travel agencies are included at the end of April, so stay tuned.

Additionally, there will be higher baggage fees for tickets booked on or after February 20, 2024, and some overweight/oversized bag fees will be reduced starting on April 17, 2024.