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American Airlines has a fairly comprehensive policy regarding checked baggage fees and carry-on guidelines. As a large domestic airline, the American Airlines baggage policy more closely resembles that of United and Delta than Spirit and Frontier. In many cases, American Airlines customers will enjoy a free first checked bag or even two. However, that depends on many factors, including where you're flying and whether you have elite status or carry one of the American Airlines credit cards. This guide will cover all the information you need to know about the American Airlines baggage policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for more TPG news, deals and points and miles tips delivered each morning to your inbox. American Airlines carry-on guidelines(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)American Airlines is more generous with its carry-on policy than United. Virtually everyone is entitled to bring a full-sized carry-on bag and a personal item onto every flight, even customers who booked an American Airlines basic economy fare. According to American, a personal item should be no larger than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches and fit underneath the seat in front of a passenger. Examples of personal items are backpacks, purses, briefcases, laptop bags and approved pet carriers. The maximum size of a carry-on bag allowed on an American Airlines flight is 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches. Related:
How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight American Airlines baggage fees(Photo by JT Genter/The Points Guy)The American Airlines checked bag policy is more complex than the airline's carry-on fees. Checked bag fees vary based on what region you're flying to, the weight of your bags, whether you hold a co-branded credit card such as the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® and whether you have AAdvantage elite status. American Airlines baggage fees for flights within the U.S., Central America and the CaribbeanAmerican Airlines checked bag fees for flights within the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean are pretty straightforward, as you can see in the following table:
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The American Airlines baggage weight limit before incurring overweight fees is 50 pounds per bag for economy class passengers and 70 pounds per bag for premium cabin passengers. The airline has detailed rules for checked bags to Cuba and Haiti on its website. American Airlines baggage fees for other flightsIf your flight takes you outside North America, the American Airlines baggage fees get more expensive. Generally speaking, you can expect:
Overweight and oversized American Airlines baggage feesAmerican Airlines charges both an overweight and oversize fee, and the fees can add up quickly. The American Airlines baggage weight and oversize fees are as follows:
Sports equipmentAmerican Airlines maintains an extensive list of items that you can check. Skis, snowboards, hang gliding equipment, parachutes and many more items can count as a checked bag as long as they meet the overall size and weight requirements. In most cases, there are no additional fees beyond any applicable checked bag fees. Scuba tanks and windsurfing boards are two notable exceptions where there is a fee regardless of whether you're entitled to any free checked bags. You can check out the requirements and fees for checking sports equipment on American Airlines' website. Related: The ultimate guide to flying with sports equipment How to avoid American Airlines baggage fees(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)Luckily, there are several ways you can avoid paying American Airlines baggage fees if you want to check a bag. Elite status allowancesAll four elite status tiers in American Airlines' AAdvantage program offer checked bag benefits.
Additionally, Oneworld elite members receive at least their first checked bag free on all American-operated flights. Related: What is American Airlines elite status worth? Credit cardsAmerican Airlines has two primary card issues, Barclays and Citi. With various cards across multiple issuers, the checked baggage benefit varies widely based on what credit card you hold. AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® holders get a first free checked bag for themselves and up to four traveling companions on domestic flights operated by American. The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Meanwhile, the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with a free first checked bag for yourself and up to eight traveling companions on domestic flights operated by American Airlines. But some American Airlines cards, including the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card, don't offer any checked baggage benefits. Related: These 27 credit cards can get you free checked bags Book a premium cabinWhether you're flying in domestic first class, international premium economy, international business class or Flagship First, you'll receive an increased baggage allowance. Passengers traveling in a premium cabin will get at least two checked bags for free, while Flagship First customers can check up to their first three bags for free. Related: Chasing American Airlines elite status? Here are 14 ways to earn Loyalty Points Use card travel credits to cover feesSeveral travel rewards cards come with annual statement credits toward travel purchases. Some cards offer a credit that you can use for various travel purchases, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and its $300 annual travel credit. On the other hand, many American Express cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, offer annual airline fee credits, which are specifically for airline incidental fees. So long as you enroll in this benefit and select American as your airline of choice, you can get American Airlines baggage fees reimbursed by the credit. Bottom lineThe American Airlines baggage policy is somewhat less complicated than its competitor United. Where United uses a dynamic tool to help you understand your baggage allowance on certain flights, American Airlines has simpler charts (and rules) for customers. American provides several ways to avoid checked baggage fees for passengers, and it allows a full-size carry-on bag and a personal item on all tickets. However, note that free bags are for the first and second checked bag fee and can't be "stacked" on top of each other. For example, an American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum member who also holds the AAdvantage Aviator Red card can't get a total of three free checked bags when traveling domestically, even though they're entitled to two as a Platinum member and one free checked bag with the credit card. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. What happens if your checked bag exceeds 50 pounds?That means that if your checked bag weighs more than 50 pounds, your airline will charge you a set fee on top of their standard baggage rate. Most airlines also have a weight limit, usually 70-80 pounds, after which they don't accept bags, even for an extra fee.
Do you have to pay extra if your bag is over 50 pounds?For most airlines, bags over 50 pounds (23 Kgs) are subject to additional fees which start around $50. Many airlines have additional fees for checking sports equipment such as skis, golf bags, and bikes. Also, International flights typically have even higher fees and the prices above are for domestic US flights.
How much does a bag over 50 lbs cost?
How much do you have to pay if your luggage is over 50 pounds Delta?Delta Airlines (DL) will charge the following for bags that are greater than the standard 50 pounds or 23 kilograms on U S domestic flights: 51 to 70 pounds or 24 to 32 kilograms: $100.00 USD extra per bag. 71 to 100 pounds or 33 to 46 kilograms: $200.00 USD extra per bag.
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