Easy Guide to American Airlines Baggage Allowance

In their quest to book the best and cheapest flights, passengers often forget to pay attention to the baggage allowance, which later leads to them either paying extra money or leaving behind their essential luggage.

Therefore, having deep knowledge of baggage allowance is as important as your flight. But when you fly with American Airlines, you don’t have to worry about it because American Airlines baggage allowance gives you so much liberty and flexibility to pack all your essential stuff in the allowed carry-on, personal item, and checked baggage.

So that you can pack your luggage tension-free and embark on the trip without facing any inconvenience, we will walk you through the American Airlines baggage rules and regulations, as well as American Airlines baggage fees.

What Is American Airlines Baggage Policy?

For a hassle-free trip, understanding the American baggage policy is crucial because it outlines the AA baggage regulations and rules for carrying luggage, including carry on bags and checked bags on your flight.

The American Airlines luggage policy includes all the essential American Airlines baggage information, including allowed baggage, charges for overweight or oversized baggage, and more. It is worth noting that American Airlines baggage allowance and AA baggage policy change with flight ticket, route, and frequent flyer status.

Before moving to the AA baggage allowance rules, you must know which items you can not travel with. Here are the American Airline baggage restrictions that include the following items:

• Beverages with more than 70% concentration of alcohol.
• Sprays that women use for their defense, like pepper spray, tear gas, and mace.
• Explosive items like flare guns, fireworks, and gunpowder.
• Flammable liquid items like paints, carosine, coal, matchsticks, and lighters.
• More than 5.5 lbs of dry ice.
• Drones with a battery of more than 160 Wh.
• Animal products on flights to Europe.
• Damaged or recalled lithium batteries.
• Compresses gases like butane and carbon dioxide.
• Restricted drugs like Marijuana.
• Household products like bleach, drain cleaners, and washing powder.
• Sharp objects like a knife, nail cutter, and scissors.

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What Are The Baggage Rules For American Airlines?

• Carry On Bags: As per the American Airlines baggage allowance, passengers can bring one carry on bag and one personal item to travel without any hassle or inconvenience because American Airlines baggage carry on and personal items are free as long as they match the standard weight and size rules. Additionally, personal items like a breast milk pump, diaper bag, breast milk cooler, stroller, mobility items, and safety seats for children have been exempted from American Airlines baggage charges.
• Checked Bags: Whether the checked bags are free or not depends on the type of ticket purchased by the passenger and the flight’s route, as passengers can check as many as 10 bags on Domestic, Transatlantic, and Transpacific flights, and up to 5 checked bags on Caribbean, South America, Central America, Mexico, and Brazil flights. Please note that the American Airlines checked baggage fee also applies to overweight or oversized bags.

What Is The Baggage Weight Limit For American Airlines?

• Carry On Bags: On American Airlines, you can bring a carry-on bag and a personal item on board without measuring their weights because there is no American Airlines carry-on baggage weight limit in the AA baggage policy.
• Checked Bags: American Airlines baggage allowance by weight varies with the type of ticket purchased by the passengers. Passengers with economy, main cabin, or other standard tickets can bring the first checked bag on board without extra American baggage fees if it is within 50 lbs or 23 kg, while the first class or business class passengers can bring two checked bags each of up to 70 lbs or 32 kg, as per the allowed weight of baggage American Airlines.

What Is The Baggage Size Limit For American Airlines?

• Carry On Bags: American Airlines baggage size policy does not allow carry-on bags, including their handles and tyres, that exceed the limit of 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 56 x 36 x 23 cm. While the personal items’ dimensions should be within the limit of 18 x 14 x 8 inches or 45 x 35 x 20 cm.
• Checked Bags: The standard checked baggage size limit of American Airlines is 62 inches or 158 cm in running which include the sum of bag’s all sides (height, width, and length).

How Much Does American Airlines Charge For Baggage?

If you’ve booked your flight but haven’t packed your luggage yet, you must check American Airlines baggage prices before packing to avoid any last-minute surprises. It goes without saying that there are no charges for carry-on bags or personal items, given that they fit properly in the overhead compartment and beneath the seat in front of them, but American Airlines does charge for checked bags per passenger on each way of the trip.

It is worth noting that American baggage fees are non-refundable. However, the cost of checked baggage on American Airlines varies with several variables, including route, number of bags, weight, size, and travel class. To easily add your baggage to your booking, you can contact AwareTravels at +1 (800) 419-9920.

Read more: How to Book American Airlines Group Travel?

How Much Does It Cost For Baggage On American Airlines Exceeding The Size Limit?

Packed an oversize bag, but not sure about the American Airlines fee for oversize baggage? Here, you can check how much you will need to pay if your checked baggage exceeds the size limit of 62 inches or 158 cm for the combined height, width, and length.

American Airlines check in baggage allowance rules do not permit checked baggage that exceeds the extreme size limit of 292 cm or 115 inches in height, length, or width. So make sure your baggage is within the limit of 115 inches or 292 cm. For the oversized baggage, American Airlines levies a fee that varies with the size and the flight’s destination. Check it out:

How Much Does American Airlines Charge For Overweight Baggage?

If your luggage bag weighs more than 100 lbs or 45 kg, you must cut corners, as American Airlines does not allow passengers to check bags weighing over 100 lbs or 45 kg, even with extra charges.

Moreover, the commercial and residential passengers can only check up to two bags of 70 lbs or 32 kg without any fee, while Flagship Business Plus and the Flagship First customers, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, and Oneworld Emerald members can check up to three bags each with the 70 lbs or 32 kg American Airlines baggage weight limit. Here are the American Airlines baggage charges for overweight baggage.

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How Much Is Checked Baggage On American Airlines Up To Three?

American Airlines checked baggage fee to bring one bag:

American Airlines checked baggage fee to bring two bags:

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American Airlines fee for excess checked baggage that applies to all fare options, including Business Class and First Class, is:

How Much Is American Airlines Baggage Fee For Overweight Bags?

Passengers who breach the standard American Airlines baggage allowance of 23 kg or 50 lbs, with their overweight bags, incur an additional fee that varies with the excess weight of the bag and the flight’s destination. For crossing the standard American Airlines baggage weight limit, the AA overweight baggage fee applies as:

Since the American Airlines baggage allowance fee for overweight bags also differs by region, you can check the price for different regions here.

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Who Is Eligible For Free American Airlines Baggage Allowance?

American Airlines also rewards some passengers by giving them free baggage allowance. However, the number of free check in bags is decided based on the passenger’s status, ticket, membership in AAdvantage or Oneworld, co-branded credit card, and service in the US military.

• If a passenger is an active or retired US military officer, they can check up to 5 bags while traveling on order and 3 bags on personal traveling for free as per American Airlines military baggage allowance.
• Passengers with partnered credit cards like AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard, AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard, and Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard can check one bag for free.
• Passengers who have achieved the elite status in AAdvantage program are also eligible for free baggage allowance on American Airlines. Gold members receive one free checked bag, Platinum members receive two, while both Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members are allowed three free checked bags.
• Passengers of premium cabins like Premium Economy, Business Class, and First Class also get free baggage allowance up to 2 checked bags.
• American Airlines flights to some destinations also give passengers a free checked bag.

How Do I Book Checked Baggage On American Airlines?

Want to book a checked bag on American Airlines but are confused about the process? Here we have got you covered with the most convenient ways. The most convenient and hassle-free way to book a checked bag on American Airlines is contacting OTAs (online travel agencies) like AwareTravels at +1(800)419-9920 and the second is through the official website of American Airlines. Here is the step-by-step guide to book checked bag.

How to add baggage on American Airlines through a Travel Agency?

1. Dial the toll-free number of AwareTravels, +1 (800) 419-9920.
2. Share your reservation number and last name.
3. Tell the number of bags you want to add.
4. Just pay the American Airlines baggage fee.

How to add baggage on American Airlines through the Official Website?

1. Visit the official website of American Airlines and log in to your account.
2. Go to the My Trips section to view your booking.
3. Look for the Add Baggage option.
4. Select the number of checked bags to be added.
5. Pay the fee and complete the process.

Learn more: Book American Airlines Red Eye Flights at Low Fares

Can I Use American Airlines Miles To Pay For Baggage?

If you’re a member of the AAdvantage program and have accumulated miles, you might be thinking of using those miles to add checked baggage. But that’s not possible. You can only use your accumulated miles for flight bookings or upgrades. You’ll need to pay the American Airlines baggage fee separately, either with cash or a credit card.

Does American Airlines Compensate For Lost or Delayed Baggage?

Yes, American Airlines compensates passengers for lost or delayed baggage. Although such cases happen very rarely with American Airlines, some passengers have received compensation for American Airlines lost baggage or delayed baggage.

Historically, passengers have received compensation of up to $3800 for American Airlines delayed baggage or lost baggage on domestic flights and up to 1288 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) on international flights. However, it is necessary that passengers lodge a complaint within four hours for American Airlines damaged baggage and 45 days for American Airlines lost baggage to be entitled to compensation.

Final Say

Knowing the American Airlines baggage allowance before the flight not only prevents you from facing inconvenience due to overweight or oversize of the bag, but also helps in saving some money by effectively packing your luggage to avoid the last-minute surprise of the levied AA baggage fee.

Whether traveling within the US or internationally, always keep your carry on and checked bags within the AA baggage limit. If you want to add bags or just have an idea of American Airlines check in baggage price, call AwareTravels at +1 (800) 419-9920 and get assistance from experts.

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