American Airlines Baggage Fees: What You Need to Save Money

Navigating baggage fees on any airline is filled with twists, turns, and increasingly higher prices. American Airlines baggage fees are no different.

We all know it by now: The days of getting a free bag on your flight are largely over. Just as on almost any carrier, what you’ll pay when checking a bag when flying with American Airlines depends on how many bags you have, how big they are, how much they weigh, and where you’re flying.

American recently raised its bag fees for the first time since 2018, meaning it’s even more critical to know what kind of fees you’re in for and, with the right approach, how you can avoid them altogether.

So whether you’re looking to check your ski equipment, want to know how to bring your pet aboard, or are looking for the best ways to get your baggage fees waived, this guide has you covered.

Guidelines for American Airlines Carry-on Baggage

It’s not a checked bag, but carry-on baggage allowances might be even more important.

Bringing a carry-on bag on your American Airlines flight is free – even with the cheapest American Airlines basic economy fare. But that’s only true if your bag meets these restrictions.

Personal Items and Carry-ons

With all American Airlines tickets, all travelers can bring one personal item and one carry-on item. But even then, there are rules.

Personal items, like purses or small handbags, must fit under the seat in front of you and cannot exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches in size.

Carry-ons cannot exceed 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches in size, including handles and wheels. This includes both hard-sided and soft-sided baggage. Fortunately, there’s no published maximum weight for American carry-on bags.

All airports with American Airlines flights typically have sizers available where you can test to see if your bag fits. If they are too big, the airline may require that they be checked instead.

How Many Bags Can You Carry On American Airlines Free?

You can bring one carry-on bag and one personal item to any American Airlines flight. Travelers who bring more baggage to their flight may be required to pay to check one or more of the additional items.

Flying with Children and Infants

Families get some special treatment when it comes to baggage. But first, some basics.

When flying with children and infants, travelers are expected to book everyone on the same reservation to ensure the child is seated with at least one adult during the flight. Families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate and are allowed one carry-on diaper bag per child.

Children under 2 are considered lap infants and can sit on the lap of any of the travelers ticketed on the reservation. But children 2 and up need to have their own ticketed fare – and seat – to travel.

Every flyer is allowed one free checked stroller and one car seat, both of which can be checked at the gate before boarding unless it weighs more than 20 pounds.

Nursing mothers can also travel with a breast pump and small, soft-sided cooler in addition to a carry-on or personal item. Neither item needs to be checked and you do not have to be traveling with a child to bring them.

Flying with Pets

Carry-on pets are allowed on all American flights – at least to places where pets are permitted to enter. Carry-on pets cost $150 for each flight (one-way). Pets must stay underneath the seat in front of you the entire flight.

American Airlines Carry-on Exceptions

If you are flying on some smaller, American Eagle-branded regional jets with limited overhead bin space, American Airlines will often gatecheck your bag before boarding.

That means it will be tagged and checked free of charge right at the gate. After landing, you can simply grab your bag on the jetbridge as you exit the plane.

Guidelines for Checked Baggage with American Airlines

American Airlines checked baggage fees are largely based on where you are traveling and what kind of ticket you purchased. But if you’ve got the right credit card in your wallet or have earned elite status with AA, you’re in luck…

American’s Checked Bag Requirements

The standard American Airlines baggage fees apply to most travelers, so long as your checked items are not more than 62 inches (height + width + length) and are under 50 pounds. Those size requirements are pretty standard across U.S. airlines.

Got a bigger bag? Or one that’s too heavy? You’ll be on the hook for overweight or oversize baggage fees, which are even spendier than the standard baggage fees.

American Airlines Checked Bag Fees in Economy

This chart outlines how much you’ll pay in American Airlines baggage fees based on where you are traveling – and what kind of ticket you purchased. These fees apply each way, so double them for a roundtrip flight.

Note that entries marked with an asterisk denote baggage fees for the cheapest American Airlines basic economy tickets, which can differ from a main cabin ticket on some routes.

Follow this chart, and you’ll see that the first bag now always costs $35 for a domestic flight, so long as you pay online at least 24 before your flight. The same is true for Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

You’d get a first checked bag free on a transatlantic American Airlines flight to Europe – unless you bought a basic economy fare, in which case you’d pay $75. And while all travelers previously got two free checked bags on the ultra-long transpacific flights to Asia or Australia, basic economy travelers now have to cough up $75 for their first checked bag as well.

Exceptions to Baggage Fees

Flying first class or a premium cabin? First class customers receive an allowance of three free checked bags. American Airlines business class and premium economy passengers receive two free checked bags.

Have an American Airlines credit card in your wallet like the AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard from Barclays or the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard? You can get a first checked bag free on any domestic American Airlines flight.

Finally, frequent flyers with American who have earned AAdvantage elite status can get free bags, too. AAdvantage Gold members can get their first bag free, while AAdvantage Platinum flyers can get two free bags. But the best baggage benefits are reserved for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum, who can check three bags free.

What’s better than a cheap bag? A cheap flight! Read our guide on how to find cheap flights and our favorite tool to find them, Google Flights! 

Sports Equipment

From javelin poles to windsurfing equipment, AA has a policy for nearly everything you could ask to bring on a plane. You can find American Airlines’ full list of policies here, but here are some of the most popular ones.

Bicycles

Bicycles must be in a hard case, bag, or box. Checked bicycles are considered standard baggage up to 50 pounds. If above 50 pounds, overweight baggage fees apply.

Fishing Equipment

A rod case and an equipment bag or tackle box count as one checked item together. Standard fees apply up to 50 pounds and a overweight baggage fee applies if more than 50 pounds.

Golf Clubs

Golf bags can be checked for standard baggage fees up to 50 pounds. An overweight baggage fee applies if more than 50 pounds.

Hockey & Lacrosse Equipment

One bag and one stick bag count as one checked item together, up to 50 pounds. Standard checked bag fees apply unless over 50 pounds, then an overweight baggage fee applies.

Ski & Snowboard Equipment

One pair of skis or one snowboard and one equipment bag count as one checked bag together. Standard baggage fees apply up to 50 pounds. Overweight fees apply if more than 50 pounds.

Fees for Overweight Bags on American Airlines Flights

Whether you’re flying first class, economy, or basic economy, oversized or overweight checked baggage will still cost you a little more. Make sure your luggage falls within these size and weight categories to avoid paying potentially hundreds in fees.

Oversized Baggage (63-65 inches: height + weight + length)

• Baggage fees domestic:
  • U.S./Puerto Rico/U.S.V.I/Canada – $30
• Baggage fees international:
  • Mexico/Caribbean/Central America – $30
  • South America – $30
  • Transatlantic – $30
  • Transpacific – $30

Oversized Baggage (66-115 inches: height + weight + length)

• Baggage fees domestic:
  • U.S./Puerto Rico/U.S.V.I/Canada – $200
• Baggage fees international:
  • Mexico/Caribbean/Central America/Guyana and Suriname – $200
  • South America/Panama – $150
  • Transatlantic – $150
  • Transpacific – $200

Overweight Baggage (51-53 pounds)

• Baggage fees domestic:
  • U.S./Puerto Rico/U.S.V.I/Canada – $30
• Baggage fees international:
  • Mexico/Caribbean/Central America – $30
  • South America – $30
  • Transatlantic – $30
  • Transpacific – $30

Overweight Baggage (54-70 pounds)

• Baggage fees domestic:
  • U.S./Puerto Rico/U.S.V.I/Canada – $100
• Baggage fees international:
  • Mexico/Caribbean/Central America – $100
  • Cuba – $200
  • South America – $100
  • Transatlantic – $100
  • Transpacific – $100

Overweight Baggage (71-100 pounds)

• Baggage fees domestic:
  • U.S./Puerto Rico/U.S.V.I/Canada – $200
• Baggage fees international:
  • Mexico/Caribbean/Central America – $200
  • Cuba – Not accepted
  • South America – $200
  • Transatlantic – Not accepted
  • Transpacific – $450 (Not accepted to/from Australia)

How You Can Avoid American Airlines Baggage Fees

Now you know what you’re up against. It’s time to learn how to avoid paying these (at times exorbitant) fees altogether.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get around these fees when flying with American Airlines.

Pack in Just a Carry-On Bag

It doesn’t get any simpler than this: If you don’t have to check a bag, don’t! Carry-on baggage fees don’t exist with American Airlines, even for the cheapest basic economy fares.

Some other airlines, including United Airlines and JetBlue, don’t allow flyers with basic economy fares to bring a carry-on bag. But you’re set to bring a personal item and carry-on bag flying with American.

We recommend carrying on whenever possible. It saves you time at check-in and baggage claim, it saves you stress worrying about lost luggage, and it saves you money. We promise you: It’s possible to pack in just a carry-on bag for almost any trip.

Check out some of our favorite carry-on bags if you need to pick one up.

Hold an AAdvantage Credit Card

Almost every co-branded American Airlines credit card comes with at least one free checked bag on domestic flights.

Those cards offering free domestic checked bags are:

Read more: The Best American Airlines Credit Cards

Unfortunately, this benefit only applies to domestic flights. Unlike other airlines that offer free baggage benefits to their co-branded credit cardholders, you won’t always get a free bag heading to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Europe.

On the bright side, you can help out some friends and family with a free bag, too. Up to four companions booked on the same reservation can also get their first bag free. And best of all: You don’t have to pay for your flight with your AA credit card to get that benefit.

Read more: Do You Have to Pay With Your Airline Card to Get Free Baggage?

Earn AA Status

Earning status with either American Airlines or the oneworld Alliance can also earn you free checked bags on American Airlines.

While more expensive and cumbersome to do for the everyday traveler, those who already travel a lot with American or its partner airlines could earn free checked bags. Here are how many bags are allotted to each status level:

1 free checked bag

• AAdvantage Gold
• oneworld Ruby

2 free checked bags

• AAdvantage Platinum
• oneworld Sapphire

3 free checked bags

• AAdvantage Executive Platinum
• Advantage Platinum Pro
• oneworld Emerald

Bottom Line

American Airlines may not have the most confusing baggage policy, but it can still leave your head spinning if you aren’t prepared before your next flight – or forced to fork over extra money.

Generally, you can expect to pay at least $30 each way flying with American – or much more if you’re heading to Europe. Bigger bags, overweight luggage, or checking multiple bags per trip could cost you a small fortune.

But by packing in just a carry-on bag, holding the right credit card, buying the right fare, or earning status, you can avoid paying American Airlines baggage fees altogether.