American Airways not too long ago up to date its coverage relating to checked baggage charges and carry-on pointers. It contains elevated charges for checked baggage and modifications to measurement and weight allowances.
For those who’re flying quickly, it is price finding out up to make sure that you are not confronted with sudden expenses — or, worse, not in a position to examine your baggage in any respect.
In lots of circumstances, American Airways clients will take pleasure in a free first checked bag and even two relying on their vacation spot, elite standing or whether or not they carry one of many American Airways bank cards.
This information will cowl all the knowledge you want to find out about American’s baggage coverage and the way you may be capable of lower your expenses by not paying any charges in any respect.
American Airways carry-on pointers
All passengers are entitled to convey a full-size carry-on bag and a private merchandise onto each flight, even clients who booked an American Airways primary economic system fare.
In response to American, a private merchandise ought to be no bigger than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches, and it ought to match beneath the seat in entrance of a passenger. Examples of non-public objects are backpacks, purses, briefcases, laptop computer baggage and authorised pet carriers.
The utmost measurement of a carry-on bag allowed on an American Airways flight is 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches. All carry-on baggage should match within the sizers accessible on the airport and/or within the overhead bin or below your seat.
Tender-sided garment baggage, as much as 51 inches, are additionally allowed as carry-on objects.
Associated: How you can change or cancel an American Airways flight
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American Airways checked bag charges
For those who’re flying on a home, transatlantic or transpacific American Airways-operated flight, you may examine as much as 10 baggage (with charges connected, defined under).
These touring by Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Brazil can examine as much as 5 baggage — however presumably with some seasonal or route restrictions.
American Airways checked bag charges differ based on a number of components, which embody:
American Airways home and short-haul worldwide baggage charges
For home flights, you’ll now pay:
- $35 for the primary checked bag bought on-line
- $40 for the primary checked bag bought on the airport
- $45 for the second checked bag bought on-line or on the airport
- $150 for the third bag bought on the airport
- $200 for the fourth bag bought on the airport
For brief-haul worldwide flights, together with Canada and Mexico routes:
- $35 for the primary checked bag bought on-line or on the airport
- $45 for the second checked bag bought on-line or on the airport
- $200 for the third and fourth baggage bought on the airport
American Airways baggage charges for different flights
For those who’re boarding a global flight that takes you past North America, you may count on to pay much more to your checked baggage with American Airways.
Transatlantic and transpacific flights
All passengers (besides these on primary economic system fares) get one free bag for transatlantic and transpacific journeys. Primary economic system passengers pays $75 for the primary checked bag.
A second checked bag will value $100, whereas charges for a 3rd bag or extra are $200 per bag.
South America flights
Charges for checked baggage on journey to/from South America — excluding Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname — begin at $60 for a primary bag and $100 for a second bag. A 3rd bag or extra can be charged at $200 per bag.
For those who’re flying to/from Colombia, Ecuador or Peru, primary economic system fares can be charged $45 for the primary bag, $100 for the second, and $200 for the third and every extra bag.
Vacationers flying to Guyana and Suriname on a primary economic system fare can be charged $35 for the primary bag, $45 for the second, and $200 for the third and every extra bag.
American Airways’ chubby and oversize bag charges
Together with modifications to checked baggage charges, American Airways not too long ago modified its payment construction for chubby and oversize baggage for all journey on or after April 17.
Journey booked earlier than this date can be charged below the previous payment construction.
The charges for chubby and oversize baggage are as follows:
| Checked merchandise | Present payment | Journey on/after April 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Bag larger than 50-70 kilos | $100 to $200 | Higher than 50-53 kilos: $30 |
| Bag larger than 50-70 kilos | $100 to $200 | Higher than 53-70 kilos: $100 to $200 |
| Bag larger than 70-100 kilos | $200 to $450 | $200 to $450 |
| Bag larger than 62 linear inches | Higher than 62-126 inches: $150 to $200 | Higher than 62-65 inches: $30 |
| Bag larger than 62 linear inches | Higher than 62-126 inches: $150 to $200 | Higher than 65-115 inches: $150 to $200 |
| Gadgets which can be each oversize and chubby (larger than 50-70 kilos) | $250 to $400 | $30 to $200 (one single payment as a substitute of two) |
| Gadgets which can be each oversize and chubby (larger than 70-100 kilos) | $350 to $650 | $200 to $450 (one single payment as a substitute of two) |
Notice that after April 17, American Airways’ oversize restrict will change from 126 linear inches to 115 linear inches. Luggage that exceed this allowance will now not be accepted on American flights, and also you will be unable to pay further to fly with them.
The airline has detailed guidelines for checked baggage to Cuba and Haiti on its web site.
Touring with sports activities tools on American Airways
Skis, snowboards and plenty of different objects can rely as checked baggage so long as they meet the general measurement and weight necessities. American Airways maintains an intensive listing of things that you would be able to examine.
For probably the most half, there are not any extra charges past regular checked bag charges — apart from scuba tanks and windsurfing boards. For these objects, you will be charged a payment no matter any free checked bag entitlements.
For scuba tanks, this payment is $150 as much as 70 kilos. For windsurfing boards, you will be charged $150 for each two items as much as 70 kilos.
From April 17, you may now not journey with javelins, pole vaults or cling gliders on American.
The overall measurement and weight necessities for sports activities tools are as follows:
- Journey on or earlier than April 16: Most linear measurement (size plus width plus peak) of 126 inches, with a most weight of 70 kilos.
- Journey on or after April 17: Most linear measurement (size plus width plus peak) of 115 inches, with a most weight of 70 kilos.
For journey from Spain’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), the utmost size of any facet of a checked merchandise can not exceed 43 inches.
How you can keep away from American Airways baggage charges
Fortunately, there are a number of choices if you wish to keep away from paying American’s checked baggage charges.
Pay with the best bank card
American Airways has two main card issuers: Barclays and Citi. With varied playing cards throughout a number of issuers, the checked baggage profit varies broadly based mostly on what bank card you maintain.
The premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® comes with a free first checked bag for your self and as much as eight touring companions on home flights operated by American Airways. It additionally gives different American perks, resembling Admirals Membership membership and entry for as much as two company touring with you.
AAdvantage Aviator Purple World Elite Mastercard and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® holders get a primary free checked bag for themselves and as much as 4 touring companions on home flights operated by American.
Some American Airways playing cards, together with the American Airways AAdvantage® MileUp®, do not provide any checked baggage advantages.
Additionally, notice that free baggage for the primary and second checked bag payment and cannot be “stacked” on prime of different related offers you might have from a distinct bank card or your elite standing.
For instance, an American Airways AAdvantage Platinum member who additionally holds the AAdvantage Aviator Purple card cannot get a complete of three free checked baggage when touring domestically, although they’re entitled to 2 as a Platinum member and one free checked bag with the bank card.
The knowledge for the AAdvantage Aviator Purple World Elite Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Choose World Elite Mastercard and American Airways AAdvantage MileUp has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: These bank cards can get you free checked baggage
Make the most of elite standing allowances
All 4 elite standing tiers in American Airways’ AAdvantage program provide checked bag advantages.
- AAdvantage Gold and Oneworld Ruby members obtain a primary checked bag at no cost on all flights for themselves and as much as eight touring companions on the identical reservation, as much as 50 kilos per bag.
- AAdvantage Platinum and Oneworld Sapphire members can examine as much as two baggage at no cost on all flights for themselves and as much as eight touring companions on the identical reservation, as much as 50 kilos per bag.
- AAdvantage Platinum Professional, Govt Platinum and Oneworld Emerald members can examine three baggage of as much as 50 kilos apiece on all itineraries for themselves and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation.
Notice that extra checked baggage can be charged the usual quantity for the extra baggage, fairly than charged as if it is your first checked bag.
For instance, say you will have AAdvantage Gold standing and also you’re flying domestically inside the U.S. For those who want to add a second checked bag, you’ll be charged the $45 second-checked-bag payment fairly than the $40 first-checked-bag payment.
Associated: What’s American Airways’ elite standing price?
E book a premium cabin
Passengers flying on premium fares obtain an elevated baggage allowance.
The next fare sorts permit for a minimum of two checked baggage at no cost:
- Home firstclass
- Worldwide premium economic system
- Worldwide enterprise class
Flagship First and Flagship Enterprise Plus passengers are in a position to examine as much as three baggage at no cost.
Associated: Chasing American Airways elite standing? Listed below are 15 methods to earn Loyalty Factors
Use bank card journey credit to cowl charges
A number of journey rewards playing cards include annual assertion credit towards journey purchases. Some playing cards provide a credit score that you should utilize for varied journey purchases, such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve and its $300 annual journey credit score.
Then again, many American Specific playing cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Specific, provide annual airline payment credit, that are particularly for airline incidental charges. So long as you enroll on this profit and choose American as your airline of alternative, you will get American Airways baggage charges reimbursed by the credit score.
Journey to certainly one of these locations
Excluding primary economic system fares, passengers touring to any of the next locations are entitled to 1 free checked bag:
- Transatlantic flights (together with to the U.Okay. and Europe)
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Hong Kong
- India
- Israel
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- South Korea
- Uruguay
Backside line
Whereas comparatively simple when it comes to its baggage coverage, American Airways now has the very best checked bag charges of all main U.S. community airways.
All isn’t misplaced, although. There are nonetheless a number of methods to keep away from checked baggage charges with American based mostly on the flight you ebook, your elite standing or your bank card.
The airline additionally permits a full-size carry-on bag and a private merchandise on all tickets.
