American Airlines baggage weight, size, and price restrictions vary on the basis of the type of your ticket and the cabin you are traveling in and also on your loyalty status with American Airlines Reservations. Complimentary bag allowance is given to certain cabins and in case of overweight and oversized bags, fees are charged by the Airlines. All the bag fees are non-refundable and if you apply for an upgrade, it includes free checked baggage. Also, the baggage fees apply per person at each check-in location.

American Airlines Checked Baggage Policy

According to the American Airlines baggage Policy, You can carry 10 checked bags if your trip is domestic, transatlantic and transpacific and you can carry up to 5 bags if you are traveling to/from/through Brazil, South America, Mexico/Central American/ Caribbean. The checked bag allowance on the basis of the class of seats are:-

Checked Bags:-
  • First: 3 complimentary bags
  • Business: 2 complimentary bags
  • Premium Economy: 2 complimentary bags
  • Main Cabin: 2 bags(charges may apply)
Also, complimentary bags allowed on the basis of memberships are:-

1st checked bag is complimentary for:

  • AAdvantage Gold
  • OneWorld Ruby
  • Confirmed Business and Premium Economy customers
  • Eligible AAdvantage Aviator/Citi/AAdvantage Cardmembers

1st and 2nd checked bag is complimentary for:

  • AAdvantage Platinum Pro
  • OneWorld Saphire Member
  • Confirmed Business and Premium Economy customers
  • AAdvantage Platinum

1st, 2nd, and 3rd bags are complimentary for:

  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum
  • OneWorld Emerald
  • Active U.S. military on personal travel
  • Confirmed First Customer

American Airlines Carry On Baggage Policy

  • Some necessary items can be carried by the passengers in the carry on baggage.
  • You are allowed to carry 1 personal item + 1 carry on.
  • The handbag or a purse must fit under the seat or in the overhead bin or else you must valet your bag before boarding which is free of cost.
  • You must label your carry-on as well.
  • Musical instruments are also considered to be a carry-on.
  • Child safety seats, strollers, diaper bags, and medical devices are not considered in the category of a carry-on.

American Airlines Baggage Weight

  • Weight and dimensions of baggage is on the basis of the cabin you are traveling in.
  • Maximum weight:

    1. Basic Economy Class- 23 kilograms/50 pounds

    2. Business Class- 32 kilograms/70 pounds

    3. First Class- 32 kilograms/70 pounds

  • Maximum Dimensions:

    1. 62 inches or 157 centimetres( length+width+height)

  • American Airlines Baggage Policy Fees

Particular fees may be levied on baggage which is based on the type of ticket and destination. The charges are as below:-

  • US domestic

    1. First bag-$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40 USD

  • Mexico

    • 1. First bag-$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40 USD

  • Haiti

    1. First bag-$0

    2. Second bag-$70

  • Cuba

    1. First bag-$0/$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$0/$40 USD

  • Caribbean

    1. First bag-$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40 USD

  • Panama

    1. First bag-$0/$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40 USD

  • Central America

    1. First bag-$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40/$50 USD

  • Columbia

    1. First Bag-$0/$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$55 USD

  • Ecuador

    1. First bag-$0/$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40 USD

  • Guyana

    1. First bag-$30 USD

    2. Second bag-$40 USD

  • South America (except Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana)

    1. First bag-$0 /$45 USD

    2. Second bag-$65 USD

  • Transatlantic

    1. First bag-$0/$75 USD

    2. Second bag-$100 USD

  • Transpacific

    1. First bag-$0

    2. Second bag-$0

American Airlines Oversize and Overweight bags

The fee for oversized and overweight baggage vary according to your destination. This fee is non refundable, even if you cancel your flight and is levied per person. You may have to pay more than one fee as your bags may be overweight and oversized both.

Oversize baggage fee

The oversize baggage fees for checked bags between 62in/158cm-126in/320cm according to the destination are as follows:-

  • Mexico/Caribbean/Central America (except Panama)* - $200
  • South America and Panama-$150
  • Europe (transatlantic)-$150
  • China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (transpacific)- $200
  • Between U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada-$200

Overweight baggage fee

For the weight between 51 lbs / 23 kgs - 70 lbs / 32 kgs the fee for the following destinations is $100:-

  • Mexico / Caribbean / Central and South America
  • Europe (transatlantic)
  • Between U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada
  • China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (transpacific)
    • For the weight between 71 lbs / 32 kgs - 100 lbs / 45 kgs the fee varies according to the destination:-
  • Mexico / Caribbean / Central and South America-$200(Not accepted to/from Cuba)
  • Europe (transatlantic)- Not acceptable
  • Between U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada-$200
  • China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (transpacific)-$450 (Not accepted to/from Australia)

Frequently Asked Questions

American Airlines allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item for free. Personal items may include a purse,laptop bag or a briefcase. The carry-ons must fit the overhead bin or underneath the seat. Its size must be 45 inches/115 centimeters.

You can avoid baggage fees on American Air in the following ways:-

  • Purchase a premium ticket( First, Business or Premium Economy)
  • Hold elite status or travel with a family member or a friend holding elite status
  • Carry special credit cards that provide valuable benefits

If you are an AAdvantage Aviator, AAdvantage Gold members and Citi AAdvantage cardmembers your 1st piece of checked bag is free of cost. AAdvantage® Platinum Pro and AAdvantage® Platinum members get 2 pieces of checked bags complimentary.

American Airlines basic economy does include 1 carry on which is free of cost+1 personal item for free. These two must fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat.

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