American Airlines Baggage Fees 2024

American Airlines Carry On 2024 - Cabin Bag Size & Weight Limit

You can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item on-board all American Airlines flights. On smaller planes, you may be asked to gate-check a carry-on bag if there is limited space. After recent changes, Basic Economy passengers are now allowed both a Personal Item and a standard Carry-On Bag to all destinations.

Your carry-on bag should be:
Up to 45 inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (23 x 36 x 56 cm) including handles and wheels
Able to fit comfortably into the sizer American Airlines provides at the airport
Please note, you’ll also need to be able to lift your bag into the overhead bin [AMZ asins='B00LB7REFK,B082K8ZNQ1,B07ZWLQF9T,B00NW62PCA']

You can travel with horizontal rolling and/or hanging garment bags as your carry-on bag if:
They fit comfortably in the bag sizer
They measure up to 22" length x 14" width x 9" height or 115cm (56 x 36 x 23 cm)
You can also carry on a soft-sided garment bag of up to 51in or 130cm (length + width + height)

Your personal item must be smaller than your carry-on, able to fit under the seat in front of you. The size of your personal item is limited to 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and can include:
A purse
A briefcase
A laptop bag
Similar items such as a tote

Restrictions for BASIC ECONOMY fares
There are no longer carry-on restrictions for Basic Economy passengers. You are allowed both a standard carry-on bag and one personal item, the same as any other economy passenger.

Additional allowed items
Outerwear such as coats, wraps and hats
A book or newspaper
A small bag of food to eat on the flight
An approved safety seat for a lap or ticketed child
A pillow or blanket
An umbrella stroller for a lap or ticketed child
A diaper bag for a lap or ticketed child
Duty free items
Assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, walkers, portable oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines etc.)
Breast pump

Medical Equipment
Hearing aids, heart pacemakers, or other approved medical devices are accepted during all phases of flight. If a passenger must travel with oxygen due to medical necessity, a 48-hour notice is required. You will have the option to indicate a request for special assistance when making your reservation on AA.com. See Special Service Requests for more information.

Musical Instruments
Small musical instruments may be carried onboard the aircraft providing they meet existing carry-on size requirements and fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. We recommend all musical instruments travel in a hard-sided case in the event the item needs to be checked. Case dimensions may not exceed 45 dimensional inches (width + length + height), except for guitars which may be brought on board only if they can be safely stowed in an overhead bin or approved stowage location in the cabin.

The instrument is considered the passenger's one allowed carry-on bag. A personal item is allowed in addition to the instrument.

American Airlines Checked Baggage Fees 2024 - Checked Bag Weight & Size Limits

American Airlines has updated its checked luggage fees and policies on February 20th 2024, increasing the fees for a 1st and 2nd checked bag on US Domestic flights as well as on flights to/from Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Guyana. There have also been updates to the policies on how overweight and oversized bags are treated, which in effect means that American Airlines will be much stricter in the way it applies its overweight/oversized policies than in the past.

The new baggage fees for US Domestic flights are as follows:

1st Checked Bag - $40 USD ($35 if purchased online in advance)
2nd Checked Bag - $45 USD

For flights to/from Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Guyana:

1st Checked Bag - $35 USD
2nd Checked Bag - $45 USD

Baggage Weight and Size Restrictions on American Airlines

For all regions your checked baggage allowance is:
Dimension: 62in/158cm length + width + height.
Weight: 50lbs/23kg

Weight and Size Limits for First / Business Class Passengers:
Dimension: 62in/158cm
Weight: 70lbs/32kg

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AMERICAN AIRLINES CHECKED BAGGAGE FEES ALL DESTINATIONS
Below is a table with all American Airlines checked bag fees, depending on destination. The following information was updated as of February 20th 2024, with the increased checked luggage fees as announced by American Airlines.

American Airlines US Domestic Flights Baggage Fees
1st Bag - $40 ($35 if paid in advance online)
2nd Bag - $45
3rd Bag - $150
4+ Bags - $200 each

Mexico
1st Bag - $35
2nd Bag - $45
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Caribbean
1st Bag - $35
2nd Bag - $45 (Increased to $55 peak season for SAP, TGU and PAP)
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Exception: Cuba - On flights to/from Cuba, different baggage rules apply. You will only be charged on your way to Cuba, but the amount depends on whether your flight is one-way or round trip, as follows. Please note, this refers to all flights to/from Cuba, including departures from Domestic US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, US Virgin Islands, Canada, and the Caribbean.

One-way to Cuba - 1st Bag $30, 2nd Bag $200 (effective January 10 2024)
Round-trip to Cuba - 1st Bag $30, 2nd Bag $200 (effective January 10 2024). Free on return flight.
One-way from Cuba - 1st Bag Free, 2nd Bag Free
Round-trip from Cuba - 1st Bag Free, 2nd Bag Free (1st Bag Free on return, 2nd bag $200)

Exception: Haiti - On flights to Haiti, the first bag costs $35, a 2nd bag will cost you $65 USD. All other baggage fees are the same.

Central America
1st Bag - $35 ($45 to/from Panama)
2nd Bag - $65 (some exceptions apply)
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

South America (Including Brazil), except Guayana, Suriname
1st Bag - $0 ($60 for Basic Economy Passengers)
2nd Bag - $65
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Special prices for American Airlines flights to/from Guyana, Suriname
1st Bag - $35
2nd Bag - $45

Transatlantic
1st Bag - $0 ($75 for Basic Economy Passengers)
2nd Bag - $100
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Between Israel and North/South America
1st Bag - $0 ($75 for Basic Economy - effective June 7 2023)
2nd Bag - $100
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

India, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (transpacific), New Zealand
1st Bag - $0 ($75 for Basic Economy - effective June 7 2023)
2nd Bag - $100
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

1st checked bag is complimentary for:
Eligible AAdvantage® Citibank card members (on Domestic American Airlines flights only)
Eligible US Airways MasterCard® and US Airways Visa® card members (on Domestic US Airways flights only)
AAdvantage Gold
oneworld Ruby
Alaska MVP members

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:
AAdvantage® Platinum
oneworld® Sapphire members
Alaska Airlines MVP Gold
Confirmed Business Class customers*

1st, 2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for:
AAdvantage® Executive Platinum
oneworld® Emerald
Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K
Active U.S. military and/or dependents with ID traveling on orders (1st - 5th bags free of charge)
Active U.S. military with ID on personal travel

American Airlines Overweight Baggage Fee 2024 - Extra Bag Fee - Oversize Baggage

American Airlines has made a major change to its Oversize/Overweight luggage policy in February 2024, effectively becoming much stricter in its application of rules and fees for luggage that is slightly overweight or oversized.

Previously, most airlines would mostly turn a blind-eye and let a suitcase fly without incurring the hefty $100-$200 overweight fee when weighing only 1-2 lbs more than the allowed weight limit, but American Airlines has introduced a new so-called "reduced" overweight fee of $30 for suitcases weighing between 50-53 lbs (23-24 kg). What this means is that the American Airlines checked bag weight limit will be much more strictly enforced, and an overweight luggage fee will be charged even if a bag is just barely over the limit. The same new concept has been introduced for XL suitcases, with a new "lower" fee in place for suitcases and items that are just slightly larger than the 62 inch / 158 cm size limit.

One other change introduced by American Airlines in 2024 is that now only a single Overweight/Oversize fee will be charged. This means that if a suitcase is both Overweight and Oversized, only the higher of the 2 fees will be charged. Previously, both fees were charged for a single bag if they were both applicable.

American Airlines Overweight Baggage Charges 2024
Domestic
50 lbs / 23 kgs - 53 lbs / 24 kgs - $30
53 lbs./24 kgs - 70 lbs / 32 kgs - $100
70lbs./32 kgs - 100 lbs / 45 kgs - $200

Mexico / Caribbean / Central and South America (Including Brazil)
50 lbs / 23 kgs - 53 lbs / 24 kgs - $30
53 lbs./24 kgs - 70 lbs / 32 kgs - $100
70lbs./32 kgs - 100 lbs / 45 kgs - $200 (Not accepted to/from Cuba)

Transatlantic (Europe)
50 lbs / 23 kgs - 53 lbs / 24 kgs - $30
53 lbs./24 kgs - 70 lbs / 32 kgs - $100
70lbs./32 kgs - 100 lbs / 45 kgs - Not Accepted

China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (Transpacific)
50 lbs / 23 kgs - 53 lbs / 24 kgs - $30
53 lbs./24 kgs - 70 lbs / 32 kgs - $100
70lbs./32 kgs - 100 lbs / 45 kgs - $450 (Not accepted to/from Australia)

Your suitcase can weigh up to 70lbs / 32kgs at no extra cost if you are flying in:
First Class
Business Class
Executive Platinum
oneworld Emerald

Luggage over 100 lbs / 45 kg will not be accepted as checked baggage.

American Airlines Oversize Baggage Charges 2024
An oversize baggage charge applies for all bags larger than Larger than 62 in / 158 cm. Baggage larger than 126 in / 320 cm will not be accepted as checked baggage.

Like with overweight baggage, American Airlines has added an additional fee category for just "slightly" oversized luggage, meaning that American Airlines will be much stricter in enforcing the maximum size limits and will be charging a fee for all XL suitcases that even slightly exceed the 62 in / 158 cm size limit. This new $30 fee applies for all luggage that is over 62 in / 158 cm up to 65 in / 165 cm, with the standard Oversized Luggage fee charged if larger than that:

All Regions (Over 62 in / 158 cm to 65 in / 165 cm) - $30
Domestic - $200
Mexico / Caribbean / Central - $200
South America and Panama - $150
Transatlantic - $150
China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (Transpacific) - $200

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