American Airlines Baggage Fees and Tips on Covering the Expenses

Key Takeaways

• American Airlines’ baggage fees vary by route, fare class, and loyalty status, with standard fees starting at $50 for the first checked bag on domestic flights.
• Additional fees apply for overweight, oversize, or extra bags, and passengers can save by prepaying for baggage online or via the app.
• Elite status members, premium cabin passengers, and certain credit cardholders may receive complimentary checked baggage allowances.

American Airlines baggage fees are about average among large U.S.-based carriers.

If you fly economy, you pay for all checked baggage on domestic flights and routes to or from Canada and Mexico (excluding some status and credit cardholders). For most transpacific and transatlantic routes, your first checked bag is included, provided you haven’t booked a Basic Economy fare.

American Carry-On Allowance

1 personal item: Free
1 standard carry-on: Free

Size Restrictions

• Personal: 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 centimeters)
• Standard: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 centimeters)

Passengers can use a soft-sided garment bag in place of their carry-on, provided it measures no more than 51 inches (130 centimeters). Bags that require a gate check may incur a fee.

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

• 1 diaper bag per child is permitted in addition to the adult’s carry-on allowance.

Stroller Check Policy

• Each customer is allowed 1 stroller and/or 1 child car seat to be checked free of charge (only 1 item can be checked at the gate).

American Checked Baggage Allowance

All checked bags must be 50 pounds (23 kilograms) or less in economy and premium economy and 70 pounds (32 kilograms) or less in business and first class (complimentary bags only). The only exclusion is economy and premium economy passengers flying to Australia or New Zealand, where a single checked bag can weigh up to 70 pounds (32 kilograms) for complimentary baggage and 50 pounds (23 kilograms) for excess charged bags. Checked bags must have a maximum linear dimension of 62 inches (158 centimeters).

Hot Tip:

When discussing baggage allowances, many airlines refer to “maximum linear dimensions” or similar terms. This is the sum of the length, width (or height), and depth of a piece of luggage. For example, if you have a suitcase that’s 26 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 16 inches deep, its linear dimensions are 62 inches, which is right at the maximum for many airlines.

Seasonal Baggage Restrictions

Oversize, overweight, and excess baggage limitations apply for select cities during certain times of the year. Visit American’s baggage limitations page for more details.

First Bag Fee:

Second Bag Fee:

_{*Round-trip tickets originating outside Cuba pay $0 for the second bag on the return from Cuba. Otherwise, a $200 second bag fee applies seasonally for travel from November 16 to January 15. A $150 second bag fee applies otherwise.}

_{*Round-trip tickets originating in Cuba pay $0 for the second bag on the outbound from Cuba. Otherwise, a $200 second bag fee applies seasonally for travel from November 16 to January 15. A $150 second bag fee applies otherwise.}

Third Bag Fee:

Fourth or More Bag Fee:

*Each passenger traveling to Cuba may only check up to 2 bags with a maximum weight of 70 pounds (32 kilograms) per bag. Up to 3 checked bags are allowed to Havana, Cuba, seasonally. First and second bags are free when departing Cuba for the U.S. or Canada. When departing the U.S. or Canada for Cuba, baggage fees apply.
**Seasonal pricing or fare rules may apply to select routes. Please review the AA checked baggage policy for more details.

Hot Tip: Basic economy passengers do not get complimentary checked bags, even on international flights (except to or from Australia or New Zealand).

Additional and Excess Baggage Fees (One-Way)

Overweight Fees

More than 1 fee may apply per bag that exceeds standard dimensions for both weight and size. The higher fee (oversize or overweight) applies in addition to the checked bag fee.

Over 50 pounds (23 kilograms) to 53 pounds (24 kilograms):

_{^Fee applies to any excess bags above the free allowance.}

Over 53 pounds (24 kilograms) to 70 pounds (32 kilograms):

_{^Fee applies to any excess bags above the free allowance.}

Over 70 pounds (32 kilograms) to 100 pounds (45 kilograms):

Oversize Fees

American Airlines only accepts checked bags with a maximum linear dimension of 62 inches (158 centimeters). Checked bags with a total linear dimension exceeding 115 inches (292 centimeters) are not accepted.

A $30 fee applies for checked bags over 62 inches (158 centimeters) and up to 65 inches (165 centimeters) in total linear dimensions.

_{*Seasonal or year-round checked bag and box limitations apply to some cities in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. For travel to or from Mexico, boxes cannot exceed 80 inches (203 centimeters) in total dimensions (length plus width plus height). If a box is placed inside a bag, box limitations still apply.}

_{^For travel from Madrid (MAD), Spain, the maximum length of any side of a checked item cannot exceed 43 inches (110 centimeters). Items with a maximum total outside dimension of 115 inches (292 centimeters) (length plus width plus height) are accepted.}

_{^^For travel to or from Mexico, boxes cannot exceed 80 in/203 cm in total dimensions (length plus width plus height). If a box is placed inside a bag, box limitations still apply.}

Excess Baggage Seasonal Restrictions

In certain seasons, only 2 bags are permitted for some cities in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. AA has a list of cities with such seasonal limitations.

Excess Baggage Year-Round Restrictions

Only 2 bags are permitted for certain cities in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. AA has a list of cities with such year-round limitations.

Sporting Equipment and Musical Instruments

Hot Tip: American Airlines accepts oversize sporting equipment and musical instruments within the checked luggage allowance, provided the item weighs less than 50 pounds and does not exceed 115 linear inches. This includes equipment such as skis, snowboards, and surfboards, which can now be checked as the first bag for a route-dependent fee of free or up to $75.

Oversize items such as hang gliders, windsurfing equipment, and scuba tanks still incur the $150 fee because of their specific handling requirements. You can find more information about specific items on American Airlines’ website.

Can I Prepay for Baggage?

American Airlines lets you prepay for luggage online or via the mobile app for certain domestic and Caribbean flights. You can pay during check-in, up to 4 hours before departure.

You can prepay in 2 ways:

• Check in for your booking on the American Airlines website and add up to 3 bags.
• Check in for your booking on the American Airlines mobile app and add up to 3 bags.

If you don’t see the option to add baggage when you log in, then you must do it at the airport check-in desk.

Exclusions and Waivers

First checked bag is complimentary for:

• Eligible Citi^®/AAdvantage^® cardmembers (on domestic American Airlines-operated flights)
• AAdvantage Gold
• GOL Diamond Smiles members
• Oneworld Ruby (includes Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Silver)

First and second checked bags are complimentary for:

• AAdvantage Platinum
• Oneworld Sapphire (includes Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Gold )
• Confirmed domestic first customers
• Confirmed business class customers
• Confirmed premium economy customers

First, second, and third checked bags are complimentary for:

• Confirmed Flagship First and Flagship Business Plus customers*
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum
• Oneworld Emerald (includes Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Platinum and Titanium)

*Applicable only to Flagship First International, Flagship First Transcontinental, and Flagship Business Plus. AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, and Oneworld Emerald members traveling in Flagship First may check a fourth bag at no charge

Active U.S. military and/or dependents with ID traveling on orders: Get the first through fifth bags free of charge.

Active U.S. military with ID on personal travel: Get the first through third bags free of charge.

Hot Tip: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards elites get baggage benefits when flying on American Airlines.

Credit Cards That Give You a Free Checked Bag With American Airlines

Nearly all American Airlines-branded credit cards provide a free checked bag on your domestic flights with American Airlines. Friends and family on your itinerary receive a free checked bag.

Check out the details of each card’s checked-bag benefit below:

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